Pretoria - The Free State Department of Sport, Arts and Culture is to host a parade to welcome home Olympic gold medallist Wayde van Niekerk.
The track athlete set a new world record in the men’s 400 meters category at the recent Olympics in Rio, Brazil.
On Friday, Free State locals will get the opportunity to see Van Niekerk as he parades through the streets of Bloemfontein in an open top bus.
The welcoming procession will start Hofmann Square on Friday morning then move to Grey College, where Van Niekerk spent his high school years, then on to the University of the Free State, Mangaung Outdoor centre and finish at Twin City mall in Heidedal.
MEC NS Leeto said the people of Free State were immensely proud to have a talented individual like Van Niekerk in their midst.
“He is a testament to what dedication and hard work can achieve, and it is an honour to associate with a world champion as a province.
“Let us now celebrate the return of one of our own in true recognition of what his performance has meant to the people of the province,” she said.
The provincial department supported Van Niekerk through the Free State Sport Science Institute, where Van Niekerk went through an extensive conditioning and sport science programme.
Van Niekerk arrived back into the country on Wednesday for the first time since the Olympics last month. –SAnews.gov.za
