Question NW3058 to the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
19 December 2023 - NW3058
Van Dyk, Ms V to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
(1). Given that the Republic has not won a medal for three years in a row at the World Athletics Championships (WAC) (details furnished), (a) how will the Government support (i) Athletics South Africa and (ii) the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic can team leading up to the Olympics next year. (2). What (a) total amount has been spent on officials and athletes attending the WAC in Budapest, Hungary this year and (b) is the breakdown of the specified amount in terms of the (i) number of officials and athletes who attended and (ii) cost of flights, accommodation, meals, allowances and any other specified expenses?
Reply:
1a(i). Athletics South Africa( ASA) is one of the priority 16 Sport Codes and is therefore a beneficiary of the conditional grant that is accessed through provinces for sport events, competitions, capacity development for coaches, managers, technical staff, and other areas as identified by ASA and the respective provinces. Through the grant, DSAC supports ASA (through its affiliate South African Schools Athletics (SASA) to unearth new talent through the countrywide school’s athletics programme which starts at school/local level and culminates with a National Championship. The Department further funds ASA through transfer funds for the development of athletes, including support for international events. In 2021/22 the Department transferred R 6 million to ASA and in 2022/23 a transfer of R 4 650 000-00 has been allocated.
a(ii). The Department provides South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) with funding to deliver multi-coded teams to International Events only, e.g., Olympics, Paralympics, and Commonwealth Games. Further, SASCOC works with National Federations (NF) including Athletics South Africa (ASA) to prepare and deliver the teams to these international events. The Department does not channel any support for the development of athletes through SASCOC but directly with the National Federations (NF).
Having engaged athletics, the poor performances of our athletes is attributed to dwindling financial resources and an inability to provide comprehensive support to athletes. This includes but is not limited to required services such medical support, training camps, support with competition costs, international travel for competition and suitable training facilities.
2(a). R 2 321 561-10 was spent.
(b)(i)(ii). A total of R 1 463 596-10 was spent on athletes and R 857 965-00 on officials as per the below tables.
|
AMOUNT SPENT ON ATHLETES |
|
|
HEADING |
AMOUNT |
|
Accommodation and Meals Domestic |
R 206,781.62 |
|
Flight - Domestic |
R 119,252.75 |
|
Flight - International |
R 668,598.00 |
|
Visa |
R 42,273.00 |
|
Medical |
R 69,850.00 |
|
Per Diems |
R 72,000.00 |
|
Training Camps |
R 257,097.23 |
|
Safeguarding |
R 27,743.50 |
|
TOTAL |
R 1 463 596-10 |
|
AMOUNT SPENT ON OFFICIALS |
|
|
HEADING |
AMOUNT |
|
Accommodation and meals |
R 97,700.00 |
|
Transport Domestic |
R 26,880.00 |
|
Transport International |
R 605,777.00 |
|
Visa |
R 55,608.00 |
|
Per Diems |
R 72,000.00 |
|
TOTAL |
R 857 965-00 |