The DIRCO Sports Teams strengthen Sporting Ties with South Africa’s Neighbours

Almost 60 members of the DIRCO Sports Council - representing various sporting codes such as women's soccer, soccer, netball and volleyball - will depart this morning, 27 August 2010, for the Kingdom of Lesotho where they will participate in a sub-regional sports competition against Botswana, Lesotho, and Swaziland. The team will return to the country on Sunday, 29 August 2010.

"Since time immemorial, sport has played - and continues to play - a vital role in the development of human kind and the promotion of peace and stability," says Mr James Mogale, Public Relations Officer of the DIRCO Sports Council. "Sport is used as a tool to promote the spirit of friendship among different nations of the world.

"As DIRCO Sports Council, one of our mandates is to promote social interaction and mutual understanding among our staff members through sports. Moreover, this strategic need to forge social interaction and mutual understanding among our people goes beyond the limits of the South African borders, as we also encourage it among ourselves and peoples of other countries," concludes Mr Mogale matter-of-factly.

The theme of the sub-regional event is "Sports without boundaries - Consolidation of the African Agenda". This, therefore, acknowledges the centrality of sports diplomacy, and people-to-people contact, in pursuing regional integration strategic intent.

For more information on the sport competition or the council itself, please do not hesitate to contact Mr James Mogale, Public Relations Officer of the DIRCO Sports Council, at +27 12 351 1079, fax him at +27 12 329 0348, or email him at mogalet@foreign.gov.za.

Issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation
OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
RIETONDALE
0001

27 August 2010