Warm (and LOUD) Welcome Home for South Africa’s Olympic Heroes
JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s athletes have returned to a heroes’ welcome… as they arrive home from their record-breaking Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil – where they scooped more medals than they won in London (2012) and an equal tally of 10 from Antwerp (1920) and Helsinki (1952). Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula was on hand to welcome the […]
JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s athletes have returned to a heroes’ welcome… as they arrive home from their record-breaking Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil – where they scooped more medals than they won in London (2012) and an equal tally of 10 from Antwerp (1920) and Helsinki (1952).
Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula was on hand to welcome the over 130 athletes as they touched down at OR Tambo International Airport Tuesday morning. (See a breakdown of which SA athletes won what at the Olympics.)
He said winning 10 medals “is not child’s play” and that Wayde van Niekerk will receive an extra R150,000 on top of his gold medal incentive because he broke the world record. Other medalists who participated in the Rio Olympics will receive additional prize money, said Mbalula.
Van Niekerk was not amongst the returning athletes as he’s gone straight to Paris for the IAAF Diamond League meeting but South Africa’s “golden girl” Caster Semenya was in the house!
Gold medalist Caster Semenya at OR Tambo Airport #teamSArise pic.twitter.com/kDfb8eLSR4
— @SAgovnews (@SAgovnews) August 23, 2016
Listen to the cheers of the fans below…
The athletes will be presented with their medals and cheques at a press conference this morning.
SA stands tall, singing the National Anthem shortly after Team SA arrives back in the country from Rio #teamSArise pic.twitter.com/w2LxllV3bV
— @SAgovnews (@SAgovnews) August 23, 2016
https://twitter.com/MbalulaFikile/status/767979179757473792
https://twitter.com/MbalulaFikile/status/767975371392290816
The moment @teamsa16 arrived! The crowd goes wild! OR Tambo International is filled with elation! #teamSArise pic.twitter.com/d66vZW9yjw
— Jacaranda FM (@jacarandafm) August 23, 2016
Heartwarming stuff at OR Tambo international as #TeamSA returns home from #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/UvVxf7kl6b
— Nomsa Maseko (@nomsa_maseko) August 23, 2016
#teamSArise Excitement at OR Tambo as we welcome SA Olympic team #proudlysouthafrican @Brand_SA pic.twitter.com/4i1xQcKn7H
— Matalane (@matalane) August 23, 2016
Stay winning! The Boks met up with @caster800m & @teamsa16 at the Sao Paulo airport en route to Arg.
📷 @Springboks pic.twitter.com/eysHGNfzlf— vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) August 23, 2016
https://twitter.com/MbalulaFikile/status/767969295422853120
https://twitter.com/MbalulaFikile/status/767972177463345152
https://twitter.com/MbalulaFikile/status/767972510239514624