Hon Chairperson, on (1), it is not correct to say that the SA Olympic Team is not able to get sponsorship. When one compares it to the sponsorship for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, one sees that that team had no sponsorship at all. The 2012 team has been rewarded with more sponsorship.
The hon member will have noted by now that sponsorship from the private sector is complex, as companies are always looking for a return on their investment. Currently, the recession has not been favourable towards sport sponsorship, as companies are constantly considering cost-cutting measures. An example thereof is the latest Vodacom Challenge.
On (2)(a), the 2012 SA Olympic Team continues to receive promotion from the department, the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee, Sascoc, and the federations. We are using all public platforms to canvass for more sponsorship for the SA Olympic Team.
On (2)(b), the department and Sascoc continue to mobilise and canvass for sponsorship and support for the athletes and Team SA. In this regard we have been able to successfully lobby the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund to make available R70 million, in addition to an amount of R31 million that the department made available, and approximately R45 million from the private sector.