GEORGE NEWS - Monday 23 June's official opening of the World Athletics Class 2 accredited track at Rosemoor marked the start of a new era for George and the Garden Route.
"We're gong to change the Garden Route with sport, because we have a mayor that spends the money correctly," said the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, committing to release funding for more sports facilities and infrastructure such as swimming pools.
The state-of-the-art R40m tartan track's World Athletics accreditation clears the way for full provincial and national competitions, including throwing events, to be held in one city. Since the lapsing of its accreditation, the Oudtshoorn Athletics Track (OAT) has lost the ability to host throwing events such as javelin and hammer throw.
As a consequence, such events have had to be split between the OAT and Hoërskool Outeniqua in George (an hour's drive apart) to accommodate the full range of track and field events.
"The dream is to get the track up to a Class 1 and host international competitions. But for now, I want to invite all international athletes who want to come and train in our beautiful city. We have a top-class facility, a top venue and top surroundings ... why not?" said George Municipality's sport manager, Granville Campher.
He also alluded to already having received enquiries from international coaches who want to bring their athletes to George for training, but would not be drawn into further comment.
Ready for action
While there is still some outstanding work to be done on the fencing and grandstands, the track is set to become operational on 1 July and could, in theory, receive its first batch of pounding feet on 2 July.
"We have formulated a tariff structure, Council has adopted it and operations kick off on 1 July. Athletes can contact the sport development office from that day to make bookings, and we'll advise further on how to get access," said Campher.
Asked about maintenance and security to keep the track in tip-top shape, Campher explained the municipality had that covered.
"Holistically we have forged a sports development master plan for infrastructure and security, within which funding and resources, specifically for this track's maintenance as well as the training of staff to look after the track, have been allocated," he said.
When it comes to security to prevent vandalism, Campher said anyone who wanted to be famous should hop the fence and try something. "We have installed a series of CCTV cameras that are monitored 24/7 at a central control room," he said. In charge of access control is a full-time caretaker who lives on site.
Social change
Melvin Roelfse, MMC for Social Development, highlighted the track's potential to transform the community.
He explained that a lot of young people didn't have a vision, which often leads to despondency, which eventually sees them turning to social ills like drugs and gangsterism.
"Our community is broken, and sport brings communities from all races, languages and genders together," he said.
Roelfse explained how sport taught kids discipline while drawing them away from the spaza shops and off the streets, giving them a platform where they can have a career, and possibly travel internationally and represent their country.
As a qualified social worker, Roelfse expressed his delight in the municipality's recent shift away from a purely infrastructure development and maintenance mindset to a strategy that looks at the holistic development of communities through sports.
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