DISTRICT FINAL GAMES: A CELEBRATION OF RESILIENCE, STRENGTH, AND THE UNDYING SPIRIT OF COMPETITION

By Lerato Khatheane

• Over 250 older persons in the Mangaung Metro and Thabo Mofutsanyana districts showcased their skills in various sports as part of the 2024 District Final games, marking the conclusion of Women’s Month celebrations.
• The programme, a collaboration between the Departments of Sports, Arts, Culture, and Recreation, and Social Development, selected top participants to represent their regions in the upcoming Provincial Active Ageing programme.
• With 36 athletes selected in Dihlabeng and the Maluti a Phofung eliminations set for 26 August, Free State seniors are eagerly preparing for the National Golden Games in North West Province.

As the curtain fell on this year’s District Final games, the atmosphere was electric with anticipation. Athletes over the age of 60 had pushed their limits across a wide array of sports, marking the conclusion of the 2024 Women’s Month celebrations. The Free State DSD districts were already gearing up for the National Golden Games, which would be held in North West Province.

The programme was a collaborative effort between the Department of Sports, Arts, Culture, and Recreation, and the Department of Social Development. The Mangaung Metro District Technical Team had hosted the District Active Ageing programme, which aimed to select participants from the Mangaung Metro District for the Provincial Active Ageing programme. The selection took place at Dr Rantlai Molemela Stadium, with all seven towns within the Mangaung Metro participating. Organisers Ms Mahlaba and Ms Makaula noted that participants were chosen based on their performance in various sporting codes, including:

1. Passing the ball
2. Rugby ball throw
3. Ring the stick
4. Jukskei
5. Ball pass and kick
6. Dress up
7. Duck Walk
8. Ball shooting
9. Relay
10. Brisk walk

On the day of the programme, 252 older persons from the Mangaung Metro District participated. A dedicated team was selected to represent Mangaung Metro at the provincial eliminations, which were scheduled for September 10–11, 2024.

In the Thabo Mofutsanyana District, Dihlabeng Municipality in Bethlehem took the initiative to form a stakeholders’ forum to foster collaboration and prevent siloed efforts. An integrated meeting was held with Ms T. Vanga, Director of Community Services for Dihlabeng Local Municipality, to prepare for the local and district programmes for older persons within the municipality. The stakeholders’ meeting was scheduled for mid-August.

Out of approximately 100 participants in the Dihlabeng local Municipality, 36 were selected to advance to the provincial level. Additionally, the Maluti a Phofung Municipality in Qwaqwa held its eliminations on Monday, August 26, to select participants for the Provincial Active Ageing programme.

The final selections in Thabo Mofutsanyana, involving four districts Dihlabeng, Setsoto, Nketoane, and Mantsopa—were particularly significant. These programmes showcased not only the physical prowess of the participants but also their stories of perseverance and camaraderie. Each athlete embodied decades of experience, facing life’s challenges with the same determination they brought to the field. The excitement was palpable as the final athletes were chosen to represent their regions, proving that vitality and athleticism know no age. From Jukskei to track and field, the Golden Games served as a powerful reminder that age is merely a number and that the passion for sport never fades.