It’s Olympic Games time and once again the world will be united through sport. South Africa has 125 members in its team this year and the entire nation is willing them on to do their best and make us proud.

The London 2012 Olympic Games will get be getting underway soon and it looks to be a fantastic event. South Africa has a host of track and field athletes, chief among them Caster Semenya, who will be the South African flag bearer.  Our team also includes Daryl Impey and Ashleigh Moolman, who will be representing SA in the cycling events.  We will also be extremely keen to see how our men’s and women’s field hockey teams will perform at the Games as they have shown great skill and play.  However, remembering how well Penny Heynes did in prior Olympic Games, we will be expecting the swimming and watersports  teams to do great. Roland Schoeman will also be participating in the 50 meter freestyle this year. S.A. will also be represented in the archery women’s individual event by Karen Hultzer. There are 26 sporting events at this year’s Games and we will be wearing our South African colours with pride.

Even though there are what would consider 25 traditional sporting events this year, making up number 26 is Handball. Unfortunately our team will not be participating. However, there have been some other strange sports that have been played at the Olympics. I was seriously shocked and pleasantly surprised by the following: Pigeon shooting (during the 1900 Games),  Long Jump for horses (1904) and as recently as 1992 there was synchronized swimming for individuals.  At the next games in 2016 the more traditional sports such as 7’s Rugby and Golf will be played again.

For those of you who are privileged enough to go to London during the Games, please be sure to be safe and 100% sure of your travel arrangements and accommodation.  In the event that you will be staying right here in South Africa – but still traveling to Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban or other SA cities to enjoy the Games with family and friends – keep warm with as many layers of clothes as possible because unfortunately it is not summer here yet (although much can be said about the London “summer” as the same applies – layers!).

And…even though you can’t watch the Games live in London, you can certainly catch them on the many DSTV Sports Channels, with great technology such as Plasma TV’s making it feel as if you are right there in the midst of all the action.
So, sit back, relax and enjoy all the action from the 2012 London Olympic Games.