Pretoria - The 2012 National Sports Award will be bigger, better and "blistering", says Sport and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula.
"We are hosting these awards to honour excellence as continuously displayed by our sportsmen and women. We do this fully convinced that our athletes deserve more recognition and appreciation in order for them to reach higher heights in sport and recreation in our country," said Mbalula while tabling his Budget Vote speech in Parliament on Friday.
Mbalula said this year's awards would be hosted in November at a venue yet to be announced.
"We also do this to recognise the sacrifices made by both Andrew Mlangeni and the late Minister of Sport and Recreation Steve Tshwete and as part of a collage of equally significant awards in recognition of the latent talent of our athletes and to celebrate excellence, quality and success in sport in all its facets," he said.
The department's total budget allocation for 2012/13 amounts to R848.4 million, with an increase of R45.7 million from the previous financial year.
