Speech of Minister Anroux Marais at Sports Medicine Association (SASMA) Congress

Speech Of Western Cape Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Anroux Marais at The South African Sports Medicine Association (Sasma) Congress 2017

25 October 2017

Good morning, goeiemôre, molweni nonke.

It gives me great pleasure to warmly welcome all delegates participating in the 17th biennial Congress of the South African Sports Medicine Association (SASMA) to Cape Town. The Western Cape Government is honoured to host you and trusts you will enjoy your stay with us, while experiencing all the splendour the Mother City and the greater Western Cape has to offer. 

I am especially pleased to be a part of this very significant Congress as it is revered as the flagship academic and clinical meeting for professionals involved in sports medicine and exercise science in South Africa. The 2017 theme has certainly sparked a sense of innovation which is always exciting. This year’s Congress will focus on emphasising the importance of integration across various platforms in order to accelerate and improve outcomes and elevate sporting performance.

South Africa is fast becoming renowned as one of the esteemed sporting nations in the world. We do not only have our athletes competing on international stages to thank for this accolade but also our dedicated medical personnel, who are always going the extra mile in ensuring our athletes perform at their ultimate best.

It is then indeed paramount to have congresses inclusive of leaders in the field, sportspeople and implementers to engage on ways to allow all involved to flourish. This Congress will undoubtedly afford all delegates the opportunity to network, exchange ideas, share experiences and good practices and also continue to develop impactful programmes, projects and partnerships to enable fruition in various spaces in South Africa and the world at large.

We trust this Congress will not only prove insightful and successful in its goal to encourage dynamic and meaningful conversations around latest research and best practice, but that it will inspire the motivation to contribute to the wellbeing of our sportspeople to attain their optimal potential.

I thank you.

Media Enquiries: 

Stacy McLean Spokesperson for Minister Anroux Marais Email: Stacy.McLean@westerncape.gov.za Tel: 021 483 4426 Cell: 083 504 1171