SA ATHLETE VAN DYK TO BE REIMBURSED FOR EXPENSES
She won a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, but to get there it took a whole lot of money funded by her parents. Javelin thrower Jo-Ane van Dyk recently revealed that her parents gave up so many things so that she could get to where she is today.
Unlike other countries, South African athletes get little to no financial support from the government when it comes to funds. That’s something Gayton McKenzie, the new sports, arts and culture minister wants to change.
He’s just announced that his department will reimburse van Dyk’s parents for the money they used to help prepare for the Paris Games.
Once the news broke that van Dyk’s parents had to pay for her to get there, McKenzie took to social media to share his plans for doing more to help South African athletes. He also apologised to athletes who have had to fund their careers out of their own pockets to represent their country.
Team SA arrived back in the country on Tuesday where McKenzie made a public announcement regarding the matter.
“I commit today that the money (her) father put himself into debt for I commit publicly that the Department of Sports, arts, and Culture should give him his money back because that investment paid off.”
Image credit: The Citizen