Polokwane - A Limpopo team of 50 gymnasts jetted off to Europe on Thursday morning to participate in the week-long 14th World Gymnaestrada world sports festival, which kicks off on 10 July.
The event, which will be held in Lausanne, Switzerland, until July 16, is the biggest non-competitive mass-participation sports festival in the world. The theme this year is Meet the Magic.
"These young people are going to be afforded the opportunity of a lifetime. They will be experiencing the culture of a country other than the one they know and they will be participating in one of the greatest sporting events in the world sports calendar," said Sport, Arts and Culture MEC Joyce Mashamba during a send-off ceremony in Polokwane on Wednesday evening.
The Limpopo gymnasts form part of the 530-strong South African Gymnasts Federation team, which will interact with 20 000 participants from 55 federations from across the world.
Two teenagers from Rietfontein farm near Sekhukhune said they were over the moon for being part of the Limpopo team.
"I have never been out of the country. It will also be for the first time for me to board a plane and I'm little bit scared, but I'm looking forward to enjoying myself," said Candy Rampedi, 15.
Her friend, Junior Komane, 14, said: "I am proud to be a South African because this democratic country affords us opportunities like this."
Their trainer, Johanna Lebepe, said she was also excited about the opportunity. "I will be very happy if I meet FIFA President Sepp Blatter so that I can shake his hand and thank him for helping us to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup," said Lebepe.
Meanwhile, the Limpopo team had to leave behind coach Maggie Malatji, who has been sick in hospital since June 30.
"We are very disappointed about this because Malatji [our] coach ... and deputy chairperson for the federation of Gymnaestrada in the province," said Zakes Mapinga, who is the sports promotion officer at the department.
According to the Gymnastics South Africa website, 70 percent of the total number of participants was funded by provincial departments dealing with sports and recreation.
"The biggest group of gymnasts and officials will be from the Northern Cape, having a representation of 101 participants. The youngest participant is 11 years of age and the oldest 70 years of age," reads the site.
