A press conference to launch the 60th anniversary of the National Championships for the physically disabled was held at the Birchwood hotel and conference centre in Ekurhuleni today.
The first national championships for the physically disabled was held in 1962, sixty years later, the championships continue to be the cornerstone of disability sport in South Africa.
The 2022 Toyota SASAPD National Championships will be hosted by the City of Ekruhuleni, Gauteng from the 19-22 March and will feature Para Athletics, Para Powerlifting, Boccia, Para Cycling, Goalball, CP Football and Judo for the blind.
The return of a number of sport codes after a COVID-19 reduced competition in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape in 2021 is an indication of the tireless efforts of the federation whose mission it is “To provide an environment for: athletes; coaches; classifiers; administrators and technical officials to ensure vibrant growth and sustainability of Para-Sport in South Africa.”
The last edition of the competition saw 3 world records, 8 African records and 48 South African records being set across two sporting codes, powerlifting and athletics. With another busy year ahead in disability sport, more record-breaking performances are expected.
Track and field athletes from 11 African countries have entered the athletics meet as it is a World Para athletics sanctioned event, offering a qualification opportunity and world ranking points ahead of the Commonwealth Games in July and the world championships in August. The powerlifting competition will also offer lifters the chance to impress national selectors ahead of the Commonwealth Games while the Boccia competition is an important test event for the players who hope to represent their country at the upcoming Africa Championships in May that will be hosted by South Africa.
The slogan for the championships in 2022 is “Start your impossible” in a year that is set to unveil the next generation of rising stars.
The opening ceremony will take place on Saturday the 19th of March at the Birchwood hotel and conference centre.
