Team South Africa’s Olympic and Paralympic stars on Tuesday evening paraded the kit they’ll be sporting at the Paris Games later this year.
The fashion show, held at the Maropeng centre in the Cradle of Humankind, kicked off after nearly an hour of speeches.
Deputy sport minister Nocawe Noncedo Mafu, one of several speakers, pulled many laughs as she pointed out that she wasn’t sure if she would be able to see the team off — not knowing in which portfolio she might be, if any, after the May 29 elections.
The Olympics run from July 26 to August 11 and the Paralympics from August 28 to September 8.
Mafu pointed out that sport was the one endeavour that united South Africans and called on the athletes, perhaps with some tongue in cheek, to “make us forget our miseries”.
The athletics will be staged in the same Stade de France arena where the Springboks retained the Rugby World Cup last year.
Swimmer Erin Gallagher showed rhythm and style on the catwalk, while 400m hurdler Zeney Geldenhuys put in a commanding performance with her own signature style. Badminton player Johanita Scholtz showed off some impressive modelling skills and Pieter Coetzé, one of the country’s main medal hopefuls, looked a little shy in his swimsuit and towel.
The kit, for all occasions from ceremony attire to competition, is manufactured by Mr Price Sport, the apparel sponsor of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc).
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