Crowds Cheer On South Africa's Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge

February 20, 2009 at 4:26 PM | by femmefatale | 0 Comments

If you happened to be in the historic town of George in South Africa�s Western Cape last weekend, you�d have seen an extraordinary sight. At 8.15am on Valentine�s Day, 625 competitors were lined up at the start of the world�s biggest, brightest wheelchair race: the Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge.

Buggies, tricycles, adapted bicycles mingled with sleek racing wheelchairs and hand cycles. South African Paralympic hero and world record holder Ernst van Dyk prepared himself for the marathon alongside athletes who had traveled from France, Namibia and Zimbabwe and all over the country to attend.

On the other side of the partition were a motley collection of participants in the fun race � from disabled 2-year-old babies to a 95-year-old granny in a buggy. It was both bizarre and wonderful.

Bizarre because South Africa is not generally known as a pioneer in promoting disability rights. That may be changing.

For the first time in Beijing last year, the South African government granted its Paralympic and Olympic athletes equal funding. And the Outeniqua race certainly attracted celebrity support: Fanie Lombaard (several times South African Paralympic gold medallist), Breyton Paulse (ex-Springbok rugby player) and actor Neels van Jaarsveld were all to be seen pushing disabled kids in the fun race.

Wonderful because the Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge is the most inclusive event of its kind in the world. Eight-five percent of participants were from disadvantaged communities, and 80 percent of those were black. Many had obtained sponsorship in order to travel the thousands of kilometers necessary to attend the race. Everyone was just happy to be there. There was something for everyone: 21.1 km half marathon, 10 km timed race, and a 7 km fun race for those who needed a push as well as the full 42.2 km marathon. And hot corn cobs, cold beer, and steaming vats of pojtiekos (traditional stew) for all involved.

The marathon was won by French sportsmen Denis Lemeunier (in a time of 1:42:48) and Alain Fuss (in a time of 1:44:29), after a puncture cost Ernst van Dyk his expected victory.

Related Stories:
· Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge [Official Site]

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Tags: Sporting Events / Wheelchair Races / Paralympics / Accessible Travel / → All Tags