By Nick Butler

SASCOC are participating in the 20 years of Freedom celebrations which have taken place throughout South Africa ©Getty ImagesApril 27 - South Africa's sporting fraternity played a part in the widespread celebrations held across the country today to mark the 20th anniversary since the end of apartheid.


The occasion, which marks the first National Freedom Day since the death of Nelson Mandela at the age of 95 last December, was hailed by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) as a first opportunity to showcase the transformative progress made in different areas, including sport, over the past two decades. 

SASCOC was present at a special commemoration at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, an event hosted by the Department of Arts and Culture in partnership with the Gauteng Provincial Government.  

They claimed Freedom Day provides the opportunity to "takes us back down memory lane, to the history of sport where South Africa could not participate in international events such as the Commonwealth Games, because of South Africa's then apartheid policy".

They added that, since Mandela symbolically stated his wish for South Africa to participate in the Commonwealth Games in Victoria 1994, South African sport has "grown from strength to strength" and they are proud that "on the five occasions that South Africa has competed to the Commonwealth Games since democracy, the medal tally has been very impressive".

South Africa marked their return to the sporting world by competing at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria ©Getty ImagesSouth Africa celebrated the official end of the apartheid regime by competing at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria ©Getty Images




"We join the nation in celebrating our democracy and freedom as a country this weekend," said SASCOC chief executive Tubby Reddy.

"We especially recognise the positive strides we have taken in sport, through participating and excelling in various international Games.

"Sport has hugely assisted in uniting the nation and we urge our athletes to continue raising the South African flag still higher, especially as we prepare for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games in Scotland on the road to Rio [2016].  

"To all the athletes participating in the National Freedom Day celebration, make the best of it and continue to carry the legacy of Tata Madiba who fought for our country's participation in various sporting events."

Meanwhile, on a national level the celebrations came at a poignant time just 10 days before elections which are expected to keep the African National Congress (ANC) party in power, with current President Jacob Zuma also appearing at the commemoration event in Pretoria. 

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