Last year, the South African Paralympic team was the toast of Beijing after breaking nine World records and eight Paralympic records and finishing 6th on the gold medals table. Overall the team ended 13th out of 148 countries, with their medal tally also including three silver and six bronze medals.

With the London 2012 Games just three years away, there is much to do to ensure that South African disabled sport continues to produce athletes capable of winning gold medals.

Disabled sport in South Africa is governed by the South African Sports Association for the Physically Disabled (SASAPD). This is a nationally-recognized sports organization for persons with physical disabilities, visually impaired and blind, and it has produced a host of internationally-recognised stars in recent years including Natalie du Toit, Shireen Shipiro, Zanele Situ, Ilse Hayes and Philipa Johnson.

SASAPD relies on dedicated sponsors like Nedbank, who have been one of its biggest Corporate supporters for the past 18 years. The bank currently sponsors the Nedbank National Championships, hosted by SASAPD. This sponsorship runs for a four-year cycle up to London 2012.

SASAPD is the only sports organization in South Africa that represents five disabilities in the realm of sport: visually impaired and blind, cerebral palsy and related neurological conditions, amputees, spinal cord injuries and les Autres (the other).

SASAPD affiliates to three international bodies: Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CPISRA), International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) and International Wheelchair & Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS).

Ernesta Strydom, who sits on the National Executive Committee of the South African Sports Association for Physically Disabled, says: “Participating is sport has many positives for an individual with a disability – to improve motor skills which can be used in everyday life, improved psychosocial attitude, and improved self esteem.

“These benefits are the same as an able-bodied person would experience. But the most important benefit for athletes with and without disabilities is having fun through the participation in sport activities.”

According to Strydom, transport and finances are two of the biggest challenges facing disabled sport.

“This is not only for disabled in the rural areas – one find that a person can live 500m from a training venue, and if there is no accessible means of transport, the implication is that one cannot get to the training venue.

“Following transport is the matter of finances. Many persons with a disability do not have a job and several are dependent on a monthly government grant. This is not enough to support in all the needs. So the first priority is to “survive”, and then sports can fit in as a lower priority.”

Strydom says SASAPD is dependent on a wide range of volunteers, teachers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, family members, coaches, administrators and clubs who assist wherever they can.

“We have a strategic plan that addresses several key areas. We will make funding available to do training and mentoring clubs in regions to be able to keep the administration at an acceptable level.”

SASAPD can be contact at their head office on 071 670 0878 / 087 7218262

SASAPD website is www.sasapd.org.za

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