A big congratulations goes out to the Special Olympics South Africa (SOSA) team. The Special Olympics South Africa team competed against 7000 athletes from 180 countries and managed
to bag 22 Gold Medals.

The SOSA team got a whopping total of 49 top awards, including 22 Gold, 20 Silver, and 7 Bronze Medals. The Special Olympics team comprises 64 athletes and 21 coaches from all regions of
South Africa. As a result of exceptional accomplishments during the 2022 South African
National Summer Games held in Limpopo, the SOSA team earned their place at the
Special Olympics World Games 2023.

South Africa’s national team were welcomed to the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, Germany, on 17 June 2023, and we can proudly say they brought home the Gold. The Special Olympics World Games theme for 2023 was #Unbeatable Together. During the Special Olympics opening ceremony, each nation poured water from their homeland into a pool in the centre of the stage to symbolize the togetherness of the event.

The 3-day Special Olympics showcased the talents of athletes in 8 different sports. The sports included athletics, aquatics, basketball, boccie, football, futsal, netball, table tennis and ten-pin bowling. 

Some of the Winners

Kamogelo Moncho won the first Gold for South Africa by winning the Men’s 5000-meter final.
The next medal was awarded to Cornelia Fowler for the Ladies’ Open Water Swim. The third
Gold Medallist, Goitsemodimo Mosepele, won the 25m Freestyle in swimming. Molekuhle
Dube won yet another Gold for South Africa in the 100m Breaststroke and Wynand
Swanepoel got a Silver for Bocce – Individual.

Sipho Masondo and Banele Makhubo shone to win first place with the Gold Medal for Golf Level 1. Innocentia Msikinya and Kedihentse Matebesi received their Gold for Table Tennis, and Tshedza Rathumba and Puleng Gabamoele took the Silver for Table Tennis.

About Special Olympics South Africa (SOSA)

Special Olympics South Africa was founded in 1991 and is home to more than 45 000 talented athletes trained in 18 competitive sports. SOSA provided training all year round for men, women and children with intellectual disabilities. SOSA aims to transform their lives through the joy of sport and to transform the lives of their families and communities.

The 18 competitive sports that SOSA offers training in are the following:
Aquatics, Athletics, Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Cycling, Equestrian, Soccer, Speed skating, Netball, Golf, Floor Hockey, Figure Skating, Open Water Swimming, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Ten-Pin Bowling, Young Athletes Programme, and Futsal.

According to Dr Matthew Phosa, Chairperson of Special Olympics SA, the outstanding medal tally not only celebrates the athletes’ achievements, but it also serves as a symbol of hope and inspiration for those living with intellectual disabilities.

Hero’s Welcome for the Special Olympics Team

The South African Special Team truly make South Africans feel proud, and they received a hero’s welcome at OR Tambo on 27 June 2023 from the National Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (NDSAC) Deputy Minister Nocawe Mafu.

Tsepo Mhlongo, DA Shadow Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, said, “Their dedication, skill, and unwavering spirit have brought immense pride and joy for our country…by investing in the growth and advancement of our sportsmen and women, we not only contribute to their individual success but also foster a culture of wellness, competition, and national pride. Supporting our athletes not only promotes physical health but also encourages unity, national cohesion, and social development.”

At the Official Welcoming Ceremony, Deputy Minister Mafu was joined by a Special Olympics South Africa delegation and the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) to praise the South African Special Olympics athletes and celebrate their victories.

Deputy Minister Mafu said, “The Special Olympics South Africa National Team has shattered barriers, defied expectations and emerged as a beacon of inspiration for the entire nation.
They are a testament to the transformative power of sports and the positive impact it has
on individuals and communities.”