The Gauteng Schools Cross Country Championships will be the main attraction in school sport events this Saturday, with over 1 800 learners from 15 Education Districts of the province expected to compete at this year’s championships.

The event will be held at the Ruimsig Stadium in Roodepoort on Saturday, 7 September 2013, featuring Primary Schools (ages 9 to 13 years) and Secondary Schools (ages 14 to19 years).

The Education Districts participating are: Gauteng North, Gauteng West, Tshwane North Tshwane South, Tshwane West, Ekurhuleni South, Ekurhuleni North, Gauteng East, Sedibeng East, Sedibeng West, Johannesburg East, Johannesburg North, Johannesburg West, Johannesburg South and Johannesburg Central.

The event is hosted by the Johannesburg North District, and is organised by the Gauteng Department of Education, Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture & Recreation, Gauteng Schools Athletics Committee and Central Gauteng Athletics.

Cross country is a popular sport at school level, it also promotes mass participation affords learners an opportunity to develop and showcase their natural athletic talents from an early age.

Gauteng MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Lebogang Maile, has recogniSed the event as one of the key programmes in early athlete development, Maile said, “this programme presents us an opportunity to identify and nurture tomorrow’s champions, we firmly regard school athletics as the bedrock of sport development and will be focusing on growing the venture and encouraging increased learner participation.”

The Gauteng Schools Cross Country Championships are scheduled as follows:

Venue: Ruimsig Stadium, Roodepoort

Date: Saturday, 7 September 2013

Time: 09h00

For media enquiries:

Nomazwe Ntlokwana

Cell: 083 507 8068

Tel: 011 355 2578