(fotodeur Desmond Scholtz)
Die George gemeenskap is besig met voorbereiding vir die Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge 2012, wat op 18 Februarie volgende jaar plaas vind.  Kinders van die Optima Spesiale Dagsorg Sentrum in George is besig met hulle oefeninge ter voorbereiding van die 5km Pretren. Besig met hulle oefeninge is kinders(voor) Eugene Campher (9), en agter (links naregs) Samuel Vaaltyn (9) en Jerobeam Meyer (7).
Om hulle aan te moedig staan plaaslike sang sensasies (van links na regs) voldi George, Michale Lindt en Jovan en Thelma, almal wie al voorheen as vrywilligers opgetree het by die OCC die kinders by.  Die kunstenaars sal tydens die volgende OCC optree as ook ‘n kind in ‘n rolstoel stoot tydens die wedren.

(picture taken by Desmond Scholtz)
The George community is busy preparing for the Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge 2012, which takes place on 18 February next year.  Children from the Optima Day Care Centre in George are in training for the 5km fun race.  Doing their exercises are children (front) Eugene Campher (9), and back (l – r) Samuel Vaaltyn (9) and Jerobeam Meyer (7).  Assisting with the children’s training are local singing sensations (left to right) Jovan, Michael Lindt and Voldi George, and seated Thelma, all of whom have volunteered at the OCC event for many years. The singers will be performing as well as pushing children in wheelchairs in the race.
 

10de Rolstoel resies voorbereidings verenig George se gemeenskap
Die George gemeenskap het hulle gewig in gegooi agter die beplanning vir die 10de jaarlikse Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge (OCC), wat op 18 Februarie 2012 in George plaasvind, vorder goed en hou atlete en organiseerders baie besig met voorbereidings en oefening.
Prysgeld in 44 kategorië met ‘n totaal van R244 000, asook die baie ander voordele vir die deelnemers, verseker die toenemende populariteit van die OCC wedren, wat die pretjiemooi Tuinroete die ideale bestemming maak vir atlete met gestremdhede.
Terviering van George se tiende op een volgende geleenheid om as gasheer stad op te tree vir die wedren, nooi die stad soveel as moontlik toe skouers om die opgewondheid van die atlete in die strate van George tekom ervaar en om die deelnemers te kom ondersteun, vele wat reuse struikelblokke oorkom het om te kom deelneem.
“Ons is byvoorbeeld opgewonde oor die volgehoue ondersteuning van plaaslike glans kunstenaars Jovan en Thelma, Michael Lint en Voldi George, wie almal die gees van wel willenheid voor staan deur elke jaar gratis op te tree op die dag van die wedren, sowel as om kinders te stoot in die pret ren.”
Die plaaslike besighede in die gasvryheids bedryf van George maak gereed vir die toeloop van atlete, helpers en toeskouers, terwyl die hoofborg van die wedren - die “Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA)’s” George Lughawe – ‘n warm welkom aan alle besoekers gerig het.
Baie plaaslike besighede is getroue ondersteuners van die OCC en dit het mee gebring dat die OCC voor uitgaan, en hierdie ondersteuning maak dit vir die organiseerders moontlik om meer atlete teo ndersteun om na George te reis vir deelname.
Watson het met trots die groei van die wedren wat van krag tot krag gegroei het oor die afgelope dekade waar geneem. “Voor heen moes ons intensiewe bemarking doen en atlete aanmoedig om na George tekom. Nou se dae is die wedren so bekend in Suid Afrika, dat atlete ons nou kontak vir inskrywings boekies en meer inligting.”
Die 2011 Handfiets 42.2km maraton kampioen, Stewart McCreadie het reeds ingeskryf en gaan sy titel en roete-rekord verdedig teen ‘n sterk groep deelnemers ingesluit die vorige 42.2km maraton Resies rolstoel wenner, Ernst van Dyk.
Watson het ‘n spesiale uitnodiging aanvroue gerig om in teskryf om die groeiende afdeling van vroue deelnemers tekom versterk, en tekom ervaar hoeveel pret dit is om teoefen en te kom deelneem.
Deelnemers sal bederf word met ‘n gratis ‘carbo-loading’ aandete op die aand voor die wedren, ‘n middagete na die wedren en om die 10de verjaardag tevier, later die aand, ‘n spitbraai en musiek.
George Munisipaliteit ondersteun weereens die wedren en terwille van die veiligheid van die atlete (as ook Internasionale standaarde) word die hoofstraat van George, naamlik York straat gesluitge durende die wedren asook die gedeeltelike sluiting van Courtenay straat sal gedoen word. Die roete is presies dieselfde as in die verlede en sal deur die Verkeers departement van George Munisipalteit beheer word.
Atlete wat vervoer borgskap benodig, moet by die organiseerders aansoek doen op die voorgestelde aansoekvorm waneer in geskryf word. Die Kwa-Zulu Natal Departement van Sport en Rekreasie, die Wes KaapseDepartement van Sport en Kultuur en die Quad Para Vereniging van Suid Afrika – wat almal die wedren ondersteun en goedkeur – het vervoer borgskappe beskikbaar gestel vir atlete wat na George wil reis.
Die wedren in geheel vind onder die vaandel van die sambreel liggaam SASAPD “South African Sports Association for Physical Disabilities” plaas en word, soos in die verlede as ‘n Suid Afrikaanse Kampioenskap sowel as ‘n belangrike maraton vir die 2012 London Paralimpiese maraton erken. Suid Westelike Distrikt Sport vir Gestremdes onderleiding van President MarietOostuizenis dieProvinsiale liggaam onderwie se vaandel die OCC aangebied word.
Vir enige verdure inligting, besoek die webwerf www.georgeocc.co.za of skale die wedren direkteur Esther Watson op 082 421 9359.

10th wheelchair race preparations unite George community
The George community has thrown its weight behind preparations for the 10th annual Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge (OCC), which takes place on 18 February 2012 in George; keeping athletes, organisers, local celebrities and volunteers busy with training and preparations.
Prize money totalling R244 000 over 44 categories, and many other perks for contestants, have ensured the ongoing popularity of the OCC event, making the picturesque Garden Route a destination for athletes with disabilities.
Marking George’s tenth consecutive hosting of the event, the City has invited as many spectators as possible to line the streets and share the excitement while supporting the athletes, many of whom overcome great hurdles to participate.
Race director Esther Watson is heartened at the community support for the event. ‘The magnitude and success of the Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge has grown through collaboration from many different quarters over the years,’ she said.
‘For example, we are delighted at the ongoing backing from local singing celebrities Jovan and Thelma, Michael Lindt and Voldi George, who have upheld the community spirit of the event by volunteering each year to perform on the day as well as pushing children in wheelchairs for the fun race.
The local hospitality industry is preparing for an influx of athletes, helpers and spectators, while the presenting sponsor for the event – the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA)’s George Airport – has pledged a warm welcome for all visitors.
Many local enterprises are regular supporters of the OCC Challenge, and have helped it to flourish. With this support, event organisers can assist more athletes to travel to George to participate.
Watson observes, ‘The event has growth from strength to strength over the past decade. Previously, we had to call extensively for entrants. However, these days the race has become well known enough that many athletes are contacting us in advance to get their entry forms and sign up.’
The 2011 Hand cycle 42.2km marathon champion, Stewart McCreadie has already entered, and will defend his title against a line-up of strong contenders, including previous winner of the Racing Wheelchair 42.2km marathon, Ernst van Dyk.
Watson has extended a special call for more women athletes to enter and join the growing number of female competitors with disabilities who have discovered how much fun there is to be had on the day and during training.
Race entrants will be treated to a free ‘carbo-loading’ dinner the night before the race, lunch after the event, as well as a special 10th anniversary spitbraai celebration that evening, with live music.
The George Municipality will be supporting the event as always and, in compliance with international safety standards, will close the main road (York Road), and partially close Courtenay Street, for the duration of the race. The route will be the same as in previous years and controlled by the Traffic Department of George Municipality.
Athletes who require travel sponsorship should apply for support when entering. The Kwa-Zulu Natal Department of Sport and Recreation, the Western Cape Department of Sport and Cultural Affairs and the QuadPara Association of South Africa – all of whom fully endorse the event – have made some transport sponsorship available.
The OCC wheelchair challenge is hosted under the umbrella body SASAPD (South African Sports Association for Physical Disabilities), who acknowledge the OCC as a South African National Championship, as well as an important qualifying race for the London 2012 Paralympic marathon. South Western Districts Sport for the Disabled is the Provincial body overseeing this sporting event.
To enter on-line, please visit www.georgeocc.co.za, or call event director Esther Watson on 082 421 9359. The closing date for entries is 31 January 2012.