Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Des Erasmus
Published on 2024-02-27 08:08:03
Siya Kolisi, the captain of the Springboks rugby team, and his team have been nominated for the prestigious 2024 Laureus sports awards, often dubbed the Oscars of the sporting world. This nomination comes after the team secured back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles by defeating the New Zealand All Blacks in the final match held in France. The Springboks had previously won Laureus awards for their Rugby World Cup victories in 2007 and 2019.
In the upcoming awards ceremony, the Springboks are nominated in the World Team of the Year category, competing against other teams like the European Ryder Cup, Germany’s men’s basketball, Manchester City men’s football, Oracle Red Bull Racing, and the Spanish women’s football team. Additionally, Siya Kolisi has been nominated in the World Comeback of the Year category for his remarkable return to the field just 119 days after sustaining a partial tear of his ACL, leading the Springboks to victory at the Rugby World Cup.
Kolisi expressed his overwhelming gratitude for the nominations, reflecting on his personal journey of recovery and triumph at the Rugby World Cup. South African Rugby president Mark Alexander commended the Springboks for their remarkable achievement in France and emphasized the team’s impact on nation-building and social cohesion. He also praised Kolisi for his resilience in overcoming his knee injury and leading the team to victory.
Another South African nominee is sailor Kirsten Neuschäfer, who is nominated in the World Action Sportsperson of The Year category for becoming the first woman to win the Golden Globe Race and for her heroic rescue of a fellow entrant during the competition. Additionally, Cape Town-based human rights NPO, Justice Desk Africa, has been nominated in the Sport for Good category for their empowering work with vulnerable groups across Africa.
The nominations were announced at the Casa de Correos in Madrid, with the awards ceremony scheduled to take place on 22 April in the same city. Reflecting on the philosophy of Laureus, former South African president Nelson Mandela once said, “Sport has the power to change the world… It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair.” This sentiment continues to inspire the work of Laureus and its dedication to using sport as a tool for positive change.
In addition to the Springboks and South African nominees, other prominent athletes like Lionel Messi, Novak Djokovic, and Mikaela Shiffrin are also nominated in various categories for their exceptional achievements in the world of sports. The Laureus awards ceremony celebrates the outstanding accomplishments of athletes from around the globe and recognizes the transformative power of sport in uniting and inspiring people across different cultures and backgrounds.
Read the original article on Mail & Guardian
