R70m windfall for Team SA
THE National Lotteries Commission (NLC) yesterday confirmed a R70-million partnership with the SA Sports Confederation and Olympics Committee (Sascoc) to fund athletes and their programmes for the Rio Olympics and beyond.
The sponsorship funds are to be utilised towards the delivery of Team SA to the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games and the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Games. Some funds will be used for athlete preparation for these games.
NLC chairman Prof Ntshengedzeni Nevhutanda said. “Besides being the largest funder of sport in SA, the National Lotteries Commission has a long-standing partnership with the Olympics and Paralympics through its relationship with Sascoc. We are very honoured to extend this association in the interests of our athletes who will be competing with the greatest of world sports.” Sascoc welcomed the financial windfall. “We would like to thank the National Lotteries Commission for the huge sponsorship they have contributed to Team SA. This relationship with the NLC is not new but dates back from the time when we re-entered the Olympic movement,” said Gideon Sam, president of Sascoc.
Sascoc chief executive Tubby Reddy added: “The NLC has always been partners with Sascoc and we are grateful for their continued support towards the development of our athletes. We have always maintained that sponsorship, as shown by the NLC, is vital to our ability to produce world-class athletes.
“This generous sponsorship from the NLC is a tremendous boost for Team SA as we prepare for Rio 2016.”
The Olympics will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in August.