The first of its kind for Africa – the four-day International Forum on Elite Sport – will run from the 23rd to the 26th of August at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.
With August being Women’s Month, this 10th International Forum on Elite Sport also offers the sporting world an opportunity to celebrate with Durban as the event also highlights the important role that women play in sport and the continual efforts to continually improve the experience of women in sport.
President of The South African Sports Confederation And Olympic Committee (SASCOC), Gideon Sam, emphasized that not only is this a “coming together of the world’s top sporting brains “an honour for South Africa”, but also for the entire African continent as this is the first time that Africa will host the International Forum on Elite Sport.
“In the constantly evolving world we are always looking at ways of ensuring that South Africa is part of the bigger global picture in the quest for sporting excellence. As economies the world over feel the pinch, this International Forum on Elite Sport is just one way of doing exactly that. There’s no doubt that this event is going to filter all the way down through South African sport and matters like athletes’ development should duly benefit from the Forum,” said Sam.
The primary focus of the Forum is to build camaraderie, share learnings and transfer knowledge. Within each organization there are leaders who are building ‘pockets of greatness’ and there is a shared understanding of the importance of helping others.
Chair of the Local Organizing Committee, Brendon Goodenough, said that the LOC has worked hard to ensure that there will be a legacy for Sport in the Province after the Forum.
“This includes a donation of equipment from one of the sponsors to rural sports facilities in KZN, the establishment of a training camp and a Sports Tourism Industry for Durban and an exchange and support programme with two Dutch Olympic Training Centre’s that will benefit local athletes,” said Goodenough.
Reigning Comrades champion Bongmusa Mthembu who’s is one of KwaZulu-Natal’s premier athletes, said that it is quite amazing to be part of the forum and insisted that he still wants to learn more.
“It’s quite an amazing opportunity for me I am quite humbled and it is a good opportunity for me to learn more in terms of running and in terms of behaving as an athlete,” said Mthembu.
After sixteen years in existence, it has become evident that there is a need to have a common place for the leaders of high performance training centres and related organizations that work in the field of elite sport to exchange experiences and information. There is a real desire to drive excellence in sport and improve competition by sharing knowledge and ideas.
“I urge all stakeholders to immerse themselves for the entire three days of activities as this forum offers a truly unique opportunity to make a meaningful difference to sport in our rainbow nation,” said Gumede.
Mayor of Durban, Zandile Gumede, said how “this vibrant city with a rich cultural and sporting heritage” is proud to be hosting the 10th International Forum on Elite Sport this month.
“We welcome the Forum and its delegates to our beautiful City and trust that they will have a wonderful experience with us. We are grateful for the opportunities that it will create in furthering sport development internationally and within country as a whole. We feel that the Forum theme of Sustainable Performance is highly relevant and captures the essence of our sporting objectives in Africa. See you in Durban, it is worth the trip,” said Gumede.
10th INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON ELITE SPORT
Durban, South Africa | Sustainable Performance
Over 20 keynote presentations including:
o Tokyo Update: What to expect in 2020.
o Leadership and Creating a Winning Culture with Garry Kirsten.
o Tech innovations from FC Barcelona and INSEP.
o Gold Coast 2018 Update and Rio 2016 Feedback.
o Alex Baumann: How to Attain and Sustain Excellence in your Centre.
o Roger Barrow, 2016 World Rowing Coach of the year: Excellence on a Small Budget.
o OTC NOC Relationship models: Strategy and Practice.
o Women in Sport with Amanda Dlamini and Penny Heynes.
