City parade for Cape Town’s Olympic heroes

“We want Wayde van Niekerk and Luvo Manyonga to speak to the people from the same podium at City Hall where Nelson Mandela spoke”.

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Cape Town - Cape Town will host a “celebration to remember” to welcome our Olympic heroes home, says Mayor Patricia de Lille.

A celebratory ceremony for the victorious athletes is planned for the Grand Parade, along with a bus procession through the city’s streets and a huge event at the Green Point stadium, De Lille said on Saturday.

“The athletes are a true inspiration and they have shown that hard work, dedication and a will to win, against the greatest odds, can bring sweet victory.

“It’s going to be big, truly massive, a celebration to remember.”

The mayor said there could be no doubt South Africa’s Olympic team had given their very best.

She said the city was working closely with Premier Helen Zille to put on an event that would demonstrate the city and province’s appreciation of the athletes and their remarkable accomplishments.

The welcoming team was hard at work with preparations and a public announcement would be made as soon as the city finalised the dates when world 400m record-breaker Wayde van Niekerk and long jump silver medallist Luvo Manyonga were available.

“We want Van Niekerk and Manyonga to speak to the people from the same podium at City Hall where Nelson Mandela spoke to the people on the Grand Parade when he was released from jail.

“These young people have made us proud to be South Africans and we want to hold them up as true symbols of inspiration, because they have proven that you can be victorious with hard work and dedication.”

She said Van Niekerk’s world record on the track and Manyonga’s defeat of his drug addiction to win silver in a dramatic fashion at the games could inspire young people to reach great achievements.

The heroes’ welcome would include high school and primary school pupils who would be brought from across the city to see their heroes and listen to their stories.

“They have done us proud and will welcome them together as heroes.”

Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula appealed to South Africans to give the Olympic team a warm welcome next week.

While some of the team are already home, most will land at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Tuesday morning.

“Let’s all come out in numbers and welcome Team SA back from Rio,” tweeted Mbalula on Saturday.

The athletes are expected to arrive on home soil between 7.30am and 8.30am.

*The Rio de Janeiro Olympics ends on Sunday.

The closing ceremony will be broadcast at 1am on Monday South African time.

Weekend Argus