GEORGE NEWS - It's that time of the year again and the city of George is gearing up to host the Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge (OCC) for the fourteenth year with an expected 3 000 visitors attending the event. The event is endorsed by the South African Sports Association for the Physically Disabled (SASAPD), South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and Disability Sports South Africa (DISSA), and the organisers of this prestigious race are urgently looking for volunteers to act as marshals.
One hundred and twenty marshals are needed along the route on 20 February to assist traffic and law enforcement officials with traffic and crowd control at crucial crossings. Marshals are allocated to a specific location on the route and must be available from 07:00 to 12:00 depending on the location.
The event will continue even in bad weather, which requires marshals to be dependable. Any person or organisation willing is asked to urgently contact Jenny Becker on 083 6282 494 or e-mail beckerja@telkomsa.net
A marshal meeting will be held on Monday 15 February at Emmaus in Memoriam Street at 18:00. Anyone interested is welcome to attend.
Participants have to take part in a wheelchair but many arrive in George without one because they are not wheelchair-bound. Due to the shortage of wheelchairs they then walk the 10km and Fun Event.
Anyone able to lend a wheelchair to the OCC can contact Cynthia Boltman on 044 802 2000 or e-mail Cynthia@george.org.za to make arrangements for collection.
"The OCC has a reputation of being one of the safest races in the world and we would like to continue this with your assistance and support," said committee member Marita Swanepoel.
George Municipality has always supported the OCC and as presenting sponsor with George Airport, welcome the hundreds of national and international participants from Zimbabwe, Ghana, the UK and all nine provinces of South Africa.
The OCC is not only a race for world-class athletes but also provides the opportunity for the ordinary person or child in a wheelchair to participate in a major sporting event. Top athlete Ernst Van Dyk, winner of the Boston Marathon for a record 10 times, will this year participate in his 14th OCC race in his racing chair for preparation for the marathon in Tokyo a week later.
George Municipality has acted as OCC host for the past 13 years, providing monetary and essential logistical support. The municipal traffic and law enforcement officials will provide essential support on the day and assist in maximising the safety of the route with roads closed to traffic. Look out for details of the road closure in the George Herald, and the municipal Facebook page and website.
Entry forms for the OCC have been distributed to all the clinics in the George municipal area and entrants are welcome to enquire at their local clinic for entry forms or on the web at www.georgeocc.co.za.
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