An important event in the annual disability sport calendar and with the Paralympic Games just five months away, the 2024 edition of the Toyota SASAPD National Championships will take place in Bloemfontein in the Free State from 21 and 25 March this year.
Head of the LOC, Jan Wahl and his committee have been working tirelessly to ensure that the province is ready to welcome close to 1000 athletes, officials, and carers from around the country and beyond South African borders.
“I welcome you all to the centre of South Africa, let us enjoy the Champs and let us
The Championships are multi-discipline event with eight codes being contested over days in and around the University of the Free State. Swimming will make a splash at the UFS Swimming pool, and the defending CP Football champs Gauteng are set to defend their title at the UFS soccer fields.
The road cycling event is scheduled to take place at the Brandkop racetrack, while the track cycling and athletics competition will feature several established Paralympic and World Championship stars including Louzanne Coetzee, Puseletso Mabote, Simone Kruger and Mpumelelo Mhlongo, and will take place at the Free State Athletics track.
Kim McDonald, who jumped to a new long jump National Record and came first in the F5 100M Women’s race at last year’s games, says she is a little nervous, but she always has fun and is confident ahead of the games.
Speaking on the importance of the games, not just for her, but for all the athletes, McDonald said:
Long jump and F5 100M defending champion, Kim McDonald
“All I need to do is show up. I am looking forward to those who’ve already qualified and will be participating at Paralympics 2024, and I cannot wait to see how they do.”
Boccia will take place at the Callie Human Hall, with Elanza Jordaan and Karabo Morapedi set for a historic Paralympics Games appearance in France. Goalball for the visually impaired is a sport like Boccia that is specially designed for people with physical disabilities, and this year teams will battle for national honours at the Temple Indoor Centre.
