Update Video
GEORGE NEWS & VIDEO - The 2019 Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge (OCC) in George will take place after all. If all goes as planned, it will take place on the weekend of 21/22 September. An announcement of the final date is expected before the end of April.
For now the news brings an end to a lot of uncertainty where the athletes were on the receiving end. At this stage it is not known who the main sponsor will be, but the organisers are confident they will secure enough sponsorship for the event to go ahead.
According to information George Herald received, much behind-the-scenes talking took place after the recent announcement by the municipality that the event would not take place because of the late withdrawal of the main sponsor, Acsa.
Chairperson of the George Business Chamber, Dr Dennis Farrell, one of the main driving forces behind the latest development, acted as facilitator at the meetings. Last Friday, representatives of the Disabled Road Race Foundation (DRFF), members of the George Municipal Council, the business community, a representative of the mayor's office and also Ansie Swart, a previous organiser, held a meeting where an agreement was reached.
This was confirmed by Alewijn Dippenaar, chairperson of the DRRF.
The decision came as a relief for many. Over the last 16 years, the OCC has become a beacon event among the disabled community in South Africa and abroad, drawing more than 1 000 athletes last year.
On Monday Dippenaar said the organisers are busy securing national sponsorship. The George Municipality has indicated that they will again be involved as one of the sponsors.
The event will also take place at its usual time in February next year and preparations for both this September and February 2020 have already started.
This year's race will be smaller than usual, focusing on the competitive aspect, but there will also be a fun part. There will be four distances: a 5km fun race and the competitive 10km; 21,1km and 42,2km races. The event will have international status. The plan is to have it in its extended form again in February next year.
Watch a video below:
The well-known international athlete Ernst van Dyk has indicated that he will compete in September. Dippenaar did not want to talk about criticism regarding last year's race. "That is water under the bridge. It is important to move on with the process that Dennis [Farrell] started so that we can stage a successful event."
According to Dippenaar there will be new members on the DRFF board. Both Mike Barkley, the George chamber's business person of 2018, and Ansie Swart, a previous organiser, have indicated that they are prepared to serve.
Farrel said he is excited about the latest development.
"There is still a lot of hard word to be done. We do have the commitment of the municipality through the mayor and councillors. It is a team effort." He says this is seen as a business and community initiative. "We will depend largely on their participation and support."
Read previous articles:
- 2019 OCC to go ahead
- Hope still alive for 2019 OCC
- Acsa withdraws OCC sponsorship
- Acsa drops OCC bombshell
- OCC: Mayor gives reasons for cancellation
- OCC cancelled
- Nuwe vrae oor die aanbied van die OCC
- OCC needs volunteers
- 2019 OCC date announced
- Athletes want a date for OCC
- OCC date announced this week
- May day for OCC
- OCC 2019 going ahead
- Gaan die OCC weer plaasvind in Februarie?
- Aankondiging oor OCC dalk volgende week
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