Pretoria - South Africans are encouraged to participate in the country’s first ever National Recreation Day taking place across the country today.
“Through the National Recreation Day, we encourage South Africans to be active and take part in sports. In that way we are promoting a healthy living lifestyle and that is what it’s all about,” Sports and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula said earlier this week.
With the main aim of the initiative being to encourage South Africans to embrace recreation and a healthy lifestyle, the main event of the day will be held at the Tshwane Events Centre in Pretoria. The event will kick-off at 10am.
The various activities that will take place in Pretoria include dance aerobics, beach volleyball and yoga for adults. The elderly will be able to participate in chess, bowling and card games and children will be able to participate in dance, rope skipping, tug of war and an egg race.
The day will also be commemorated across the provinces.
In December 2014, Cabinet declared the first Friday of October as National Recreation Day, which is aimed at making the nation aware of the need to be physically active.
Speaking at a media launch of the Day earlier this week, Minister Mbalula said recreation is one aspect that has been neglected.
“Every South African can take part in recreation, do something for our wellbeing. Recreation is important and is part of the ingredients and lifeblood of this nation,” he said, adding that a healthy lifestyle helps avoid certain diseases.
South Africa’s National Development Plan (NDP) has a target of ensuring that at least 50% of South Africans participate in active recreational activities. – SAnews.gov.za
