SASCOC boss Barry Hendricks on preparations for an eventful year

SASCOC President Barry Hendricks conveyed to SABC Sport his commitment to engaging with athletes, anticipating a prosperous year for them.

The official commencement of the year kicks off with the Winter Youth Games hosted in South Korea’s Gangwon province from January 19 to February 1.

South Africa is exclusively represented by 16-year-old skier Lara Markthaler, whose actual competition spans from January 21 to 25.

She is already present to familiarize herself with the prevailing conditions.

This year marks both the Olympic and Paralympic events scheduled to take place in Paris.

The Olympic Games are set to commence on Friday, 26 July, and will run until Sunday, 11 August.

Following this, the Paralympic Games are scheduled to unfold from Wednesday, 28 August, to Sunday, 8 September, all unfolding in the capital city of France.

Once the Games conclude; attention will shift to the Olympic headquarters for the election of the new SASCOC leadership.

In extending his heartfelt wishes, Hendricks affirmed SASCOC’s commitment to offering comprehensive support to the athlete and her support team.

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“We extend our sincere best wishes to Lara and her dedicated support network. This event serves as a valuable leadership learning opportunity, and we eagerly anticipate Lara sharing her experience in South Korea with her friends and federation. It promises to be a transformative life experience for everyone involved,” stated Hendricks.

During the eventful year, Hendricks informed the national broadcaster that the announcement of the election date would occur after the conclusion of the Paris Games.

He expressed a desire to avoid allowing politics to overshadow the Olympic year and the athletes' efforts.

Emphasizing that SASCOC’s primary focus is on aiding and preparing athletes for Paris, he highlighted the commitment to ensuring their optimal readiness.

“We are yet to initiate our election campaign, and it is crucial to maintain our concentration on the athletes at this point. The election discussions are scheduled for later in the year, not now. With the Winter Youth Games, Olympics, and the Zone Six Games ahead, our primary concern should be sports, not politics. Our attention needs to be directed towards OPEX (Operation Excellence), strategizing how we can support athletes in the qualification and preparation for Paris, aiming to secure medals. It’s a notably busy year, and our primary emphasis should stay on these sporting events,” Hendricks emphasized.