The 2012 Summer Olympic Games takes place from 25 July to 12 August 2012 in London, England in the United Kingdom. The associated Paralympics takes place from 29 August to 9 September 2012.
News from the Olympic Games
Team SA comes home with six medals from the Olympic games: three gold, two silver and one bronze. This is South Africa's best performance since being re-admitted to the Olympic Games, placing the country 24th on the medals table.
Middle-distance runner Caster Semenya gave South Africans plenty to smile about as she bagged silver in the women's 800m final on Saturday night.
South Africa is proud to have acquired another medal, the first bronze from Bridgitte Hartley at the Olympic Games, in the women's kayak single K1 500m race at Eton Dorney on 9 August.
Oscar Pistorius made history at the London 2012 Olympics on Saturday by becoming the first amputee athlete to compete in an athletics event at the Olympic Games. Sadly he did not make it to the finals.
South Africa's swimming sensation Chad le Clos clinched a silver medal in the 100 metre butterfly event at the London 2012 Olympics on Friday night. For the latest results, see the individual events.
The South African rowers in the men's lightweight four - Sizwe Ndlovu, Matthew Brittain, John Smith and James Thompson - will be bringing back South Africa's third gold medal.
On 31 July Chad le Clos won the gold medal in the men's 200 m butterfly, bringing the total for South Africa to two gold medals. The first gold medal was won by Cameron van der Burg for the men's 100 m breaststroke.
South Africa's latest gold medal hero Chad le Clos. Chad won a gold medal in the 200 m men's butterfly event, beating the United States' Michael Phelps into second place. (Photo: Chad le Clos Facebook fan page)
South Africa's gold medal hero Cameron van der Burgh. He won a gold medal for South Africa and also set the new world record in the men's 100 m breaststroke when he won the final in winning the final in 58.46 seconds.
Message of support to Team SA by Minister of Sport and Recreation Fikile Mbalula.
President Zuma sends off Team SA to the Olympics and Paralympics
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Team SA's Olympic simmwers shows off their their medals at OR Tambo Airport
Magnificent Fridays
The Department of Sport and Recreation (SRSA) launched the Magnificent Fridays on 14 January 2011 and is driving the concept with the Department of Arts and Culture, municipalities and the national federations. The campaign is aimed at generating interest for the Olympic Games, promote nation building, sport development and participation to a wider audience. South Africans from all walks of life are encouraged to wear their sports kit in support of the Olympic Team.
Ekhaya programme
Ekhaya is a hospitality and exhibition centre serving as a home away from home for South Africans in London, athletes and guests at the 2012 London Olympics. Sport and Recreation South Africa put together an exciting programme of activities to drum up support for Team South Africa.
>> Brochure on Ekhaya. Home away from Home[PDF]
>> Film screenings [PDF]
The Minister of Sport and Recreation Fikile Mbalula officially opened Ekhaya on 26 July.
Team SA
A team of 125 athletes (67 male and 58 female) left for London, with their locally branded South African Airways Airbus 340-300 aeroplane, together with 46 officials serving in various wide-ranging categories in each sport code. Some of the athletes representing South Africa are Khotso Mokoena, Oscar Pistorious and the ladies football team Banyana Banyana.
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More profiles
How much do you know about South Africa's history at the Olympics? Catch up on the records and the trivia in the third of three articles covering the 17 Olympic Games the country has competed in. (Source: SouthAfrica.info)
