THE IFP RECORDS ITS DISGUST AT THE TREATMENT OF SOUTH AFRICA'S PARALYMPIC TEAM

The IFP must record its disgust at the reported treatment of South Africa's Paralympic team currently preparing to compete in Beijing. That a world class athlete, Mr Oscar Pistorius, has seen fit to divert his attention from his training to reveal what is going on speaks volumes.

Even worse is that the bullying response of SASCOC (South African Sport Confederation and Olympic Committee) is that athletes have "signed a contract" not to speak about SASCOC in an attempt to shut them up!

It is quite simply mind-boggling that our disabled athletes were squeezed into economy class airline seats on the long haul to China while officials stretched out in business class. Who are these officials? South Africa needs to know and we need to see the faces of these arrogant and insensitive men and women plastered over our newspapers and on our television screens.

What do they have to say about their behaviour?

Who at SASCOC had given any attention whatsoever to the medical consequences of such cruel negligence? That amputee Arnu Fourie has not been able to train "because his stump is so swollen" from being squashed in economy should be a national outrage.

The IFP has been trying to research various issues relating to SASCOC's administration of our Olympians with little success. Nobody is talking and not even Parliament's research office has been able to find out.

For instance, the IFP is still trying get the name or names of who were given the contract to design and manufacture the uniform for our Olympic team which was voted fourth-worst in Beijing.

Who did not groan in disappointment when "our" team stepped out into the stadium? With an audience of billions around the world, what better way for South Africa to make a fashion statement? Was there a tender? A competition? How much did it cost? Who was given this huge honour and on what basis? South Africa boasts many of the Continents most innovative fashion designers. We have a wealth of talent and yet it most surely was not reflected in the bedraggled outfits on display which in no way whatsoever showcased South Africa. To add insult to injury, the "uniforms" are said to have even got the spelling of Beijing wrong and turned it into "Beiling"!

Now we hear from Mr Pretorius that, yet again, our South African team has been supplied with the "ugliest outfit yet seen" for the opening ceremony of the games, which begin on Saturday. The team is said to not want to "embarrass" our country by having to appear in outfits that Mr Pistorius describes as looking like "cheap linen pyjamas". The team fears that this time South Africa will be voted as having the "ugliest" uniform instead of the fourth ugliest uniform.

To complete the farsical situation, the team's training kit is not even in Beijing and is only being dispatched from Johannesburg today!

Heads should roll. What are these "officials", whoever they are, being paid? The IFP will call for Parliament to debate the issue in its entirety as soon as possible. We also support the call for a "summit" to examine the entire Olympic and SASCOC saga.

Statement issued by Suzanne Vos MP, Inkatha Freedom Party, September 3 2008