Johannesburg – SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) President Barry Hendricks on Wednesday announced that the organisation can afford to send full teams to the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
There have been concerns that some athletes and national federations would have to contribute themselves to make the trip to Japan, with the average cost per athlete in the region of R50,000.
But at a function in Johannesburg to mark 100 days to the Olympic opening ceremony, Hendricks allayed that fear while announcing Veldskoen as the latest sponsor to sign up with cash-strapped Sascoc.
“We will be able to send [teams] to both events without a problem‚” said Hendricks.
In late 2019 national federations voted to ease the qualifying criteria for the Olympics, with the proviso that they be allowed to pay for themselves if Sascos was not able to.
The eases standards will mean the largest Olympic-bound Team SA, which is expected to number more than 200 athletes. The contingent that went to Rio 2016 numbered 138.
Since a new Sascoc board was elected late last year, the organisation has landed a few sponsors, including Mr Price Sport and Planet Fitness.
