Hundreds of young athletes participate in Cape Town's Area Games
Learners participate in various sporting codes during the Area Games in Delft.
Image: Supplied
Cape Town’s Recreation and Parks Department has launched its annual Area Games series, drawing hundreds of young participants to Voorbrug sports field in Delft on Human Rights Day.
The event marked the first in a series of build-up activities leading to the much-anticipated Cape Town Games at the end of April.
Learners competed in a variety of sporting and recreational activities tailored for under-14 and under-16 age groups. These included tag rugby, morabaraba, Fast Five netball, five-a-side soccer, dominoes, dodgeball, puca, 3 Blikkies and table tennis. Pickleball was also introduced through a demonstration and coaching clinic.
Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Francine Higham, said the turnout highlighted the positive role of sport in youth development.
“It’s inspiring to see so many young people coming together through sport. Sport promotes healthy competition, it’s a great way to make new friends and helps develop skills that could unlock future opportunities. The game days are a great way to spotlight the City’s recreational programmes, and I hope that it will also encourage more young people to join after school programmes at their local facilities. The City has a range of activities to keep people of all ages engaged, so please make use of these services,” she said.
The Delft event is one of four Area Games scheduled ahead of the Cape Town Games, which will take place on Freedom Day, an annual highlight on the department’s calendar since 2013.
Last year, about 300 learners took part in the Cape Town Games hosted at Erica Park in Belhar.
Learners interested in participating in the upcoming Area Games or the main event are encouraged to visit their nearest recreational facility for more information.