On behalf of the City of Cape Town, I would like to join the rest of the country in wishing Team South Africa well for the 2012 London Olympic Games. I encourage you to support our team in their quest for success at what is arguably the world’s most prestigious sports competition.
Competing at the Olympic Games is every competitive athlete’s dream. Their mere participation in the games is a special sporting accomplishment that few sportsmen and sportswomen can hope to attain.
It is the culmination of long hours in training perfecting their chosen discipline.
Many of them have made considerable sacrifices to reach this level. Some resigned from well-paying full-time jobs in pursuit of their Olympics dream. Others have invested all their own resources into training at the best facilities throughout the world to be in peak condition for the games.
They have spent time away from their families and friends to realise their ambition of competing against the best athletes at a global sports competition of this magnitude.
Their resilience in overcoming the tough difficulties they have faced throughout their individual journeys to the Olympic Games reaffirms that even the unimaginable is attainable when hard work complements natural talent.
The Olympic Games are the pinnacle of excellence in sports. Competing and winning a medal at the games can be a life changing achievement for any participating athlete.
And I hope that our local sports heroes will emulate some of the most celebrated sports legends by leaving an indelible mark in the history books with victories at the Olympic Games.
Patricia de Lille
Executive Mayor
City of Cape Town
