Question NW2365 to the Minister of Sport and Recreation
17 September 2018 - NW2365
Botes, Mr A to ask the Minister of Sport and Recreation
In light of the fact that one of the intentions of the meeting of Ministers of Sport in the BRICS was to host the Sport Council and finalise the BRICS Sport Charter that will allow the rotation of the BRICS games every four years, (a) what lessons were learnt from the BRICS Sport Council and (b) in what manner will the lessons contribute towards the imperatives of the National Development Plan's 2030 imperatives of (i) equal opportunity, (ii) inclusion and (iii) redress as well as outcome 14 on social cohesion and nation-building?
Reply:
South Africa did not host the BRICS Sport Council of Ministers due to the unavailability of other BRIC Sport Ministers to attend this meeting. However, it’s envisaged that the formation of the BRICS Sport Council of Ministers will assist in providing guidance on how the games should be run going forward. Ministers of Sport from the BRICS Nations responsible for Sport will be able to deliberate and agree on a number of areas pertaining to the games as it was operating in a vacuum since inception in 2016 in Goa, India. The BRICS Sport Charter and the MOU regarding the establishment of this Commission has been drafted and it’s to be deliberated during the BRICS Council of Sport Ministers meeting on the date to be determined by the Minister.
(a) The BRICS Games strengthens the relationship between the BRICS Countries
(b) The games contribute in the following:
(i) equal opportunity,
During the apartheid regime, black South African athletes were not provided/afforded an opportunity to participate in International sporting events to showcase their talents. Thus, the BRICS Games are seen as vehicle to address those disparities to afford our South African athletes an opportunity to compete with the rest of the world.
(ii) inclusion and
Our outcome 14 on social cohesion and nation building indicates that athletes should be afforded an opportunity to compete with the world despite their gender, race and class. Consequently, the BRICS Games seeks to find that balance in sport through the inclusion of every athlete determine to showcase his or her talent.
(iii) redress as well as outcome 14 on social cohesion and nation-building
Outcome 14 emphasized the importance of redress in sport. Redress is essential in sport as it seeks to address the imbalance of the past thereby building a society where opportunities are not defined by race, gender, class or religion.
MS T XASA, MP
MINISTER OF SPORT AND RECREATION