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Social media campaign for Olympic hopeful

Staff Writer
By Staff Writer, ITWeb
Johannesburg, 22 May 2012

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has initiated a social media campaign to help Olympic-hopeful Lebogang Moeng raise funds to participate in the Olympic Games and qualifiers.

Moeng is one of 11 local athletes to reach qualifying standards in their events, and is currently the SA 400m champion.

The social media campaign to raise funds is being run across Facebook and Twitter, with the hashtag “GoLeboGo”. Another campaign to help Moeng is also running on Sponsor Me.

Twenty-two-year-old Moeng hails from Ganyesa, in the North West, and says his only wish is “to be successful and to come home with an Olympic medal”.

DA shadow minister for sport and recreation, Winston Rabotapi, said he had spoken to Moeng on Thursday last week: “He conveyed to us that he was informed by telephone earlier this morning that Athletics SA was unsure of whether they would be able to handle the costs of his kit and that he may have to pay for this himself.”

According to Rabotapi, the 11 athletes received R200 000 from Athletics SA (ASA) for reaching the qualifying standards, amounting to roughly R18 000 per athlete.

“This prize money would most likely be used to pay their way in Europe as many of the athletes, including Lebogang, would have to reach the standards again in international competitions, in line with the strict qualifying criteria set out by the South African Sports Confederation Olympic Committee (SASCOC).”

Where's the money?

ASA was originally said to be covering the athletes' flights, accommodation and kit. Food, transport to and from basecamps, and other amenities would have to be funded by the athletes themselves. It is estimated that each athlete will incur at least R15 000 in costs not covered by the current funding programme.

Rabotapi says, according to a reply he received from the minister of sports and recreation, the department has allocated R31 million to prepare Team SA, there was also a donation of R70 million from the National Lottery, and a further R45 million was made available by the private sector.

“Where did this money go if athletes who are now ready for Olympic participation cannot be fully funded?” asks Rapotapi, adding that other athletes, including the national men's and women's hockey teams, are in a similar predicament.

“The Olympic hopes of Lebogang Moeng and other South African athletes should not be compromised by a lack of funding.”

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