Athletes from across Africa flock to George for Outeniqua Chair Challenge
George, Garden Route (January 2024) – This year is the 20th occasion for George to host the Outeniqua ‘Chair Challenge (OCC) on February 24 – and still many local citizens need reminding that this dual competitive and fun event is not only for wheelchairs. What’s more, there’s a most memorable experience to be gained from getting involved.
“The two categories in our competitive section are open to quadriplegic and paraplegic athletes, and then subcategories cater for competitors depending on the type of chair used,” explains organiser Alewijn Dippenaar. These include, among others, racing chairs, hand cycles, and basketball chairs.
So it’s no wonder that parts of George come to a vital standstill for several hours on OCC Day each February, with an extensive course blocked off for racing snakes on the 42.2km route, part of which is used for the 21.1km and 10km races.
There is also a fun 5km course completed by competitors in wheelchairs pushed by an array of awesome helpers. And among all entrants across the board will feature a colourful mix of not only South Africans from every corner of the country, but also nationals from Namibia, Ghana, Zim, Nigeria and Botswana.
OCC 2024 takes place at Carpe Diem School on Saturday February 24, but the premises will be buzzing with activity from Friday the 23rd between 11am and 6pm, when participants arrive in droves to confirm their registration.
“At 6 o’clock on Friday evening, as is the norm, we host the official opening ceremony for participants, and by Saturday morning the first riders start off at 7 o’clock – nice and early on that late summer’s morning,” says Dippenaar.
Once all competitive and fun races have been completed, an award ceremony concludes procedures at lunchtime on Saturday – and everyone is invited.
“Members of the public are very welcome to join us on the Friday night and Saturday morning, at no cost,” he adds, reminding that there are food stalls on hand for spectators, and many different ways to get involved.
“As per previous years there is a special category for businesses, each of which gets its own ‘kaskar’ that is powered by members of their team.” George enterprises and offices that have participated in this event before, taking place just before the start of the 5km fun race, will know that this ‘business boxcar’ category delivers on marketing mileage and much hilarity at the same time.
Of course, nothing gets done without the generous hearts of volunteers, and Dippenaar now invites members of the public to sign up as marshals on the route, or to help setting up the venue on Friday and assist with registration. On
Saturday the 24th, help will be needed to stock refreshment tables, to move athletes around, and finally to knock down the venue.
So if you would like to rub shoulders with the likes of racing legend Pieter du Preez – who won gold in the 2020 Paralympics in Japan, and is the first quadriplegic in the world to complete a full Ironman – get in touch with Alewijn Dippenaar at dyndev@mweb.co.za or on 082 457 5675.
Sponsors of this year’s OCC are again headlined by George Municipality as premier partner, and joined by Lancewood, Safari, the Premier’s Office, Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs & Sport, Eden Sports Council and Algoa FM.
AFRIKAANS
Atlete van regoor Afrika stroom na George vir Outeniqua Chair Challenge
George, Tuinroete (Januarie 2024) – Dit is vanjaar die 20ste keer wat George die Outeniqua ‘Chair Challenge (OCC) op 24 Februarie aanbied – en steeds moet baie plaaslike burgers daaraan herinner word dat hierdie kompetisie, wat beide kompeterende en pretlopies insluit, nie net rolstoele betrek nie. Nog daarby waarborg dit ‘n onvergeetlike ervaring vir almal wat betrokke is.
“Die twee kategorieë in ons mededingende afdeling is oop vir kwadruplegiese en paraplegiese atlete, en subkategorieë maak voorsiening vir mededingers afhangende van die tipe stoel wat gebruik word,” verduidelik organiseerder Alewijn Dippenaar. Dit sluit onder andere resiesstoele, handfietse en basketbalstoele in.
Dit is dus geen wonder dat dele van George vir etlike ure op OCC-dag elke Februarie tot stilstand kom nie, met ‘n uitgebreide baan wat beteken dat strate afgekamp is vir die hoogskompeterende jaers op die 42.2 km-roete, waarvan ‘n deel gebruik word vir die 21.1km en 10km wedrenne.
Daar is ook ‘n 5km pretresies vir deelnemers in rolstoele wat deur ‘n verskeidenheid van helpers gestoot word. En onder deelnemers in alle kategorieë sal daar ‘n kleurvolle mengsel wees van nie net Suid-Afrikaners van elke uithoek van die land nie, maar ook burgers van Namibië, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Nigerië en Botswana.
OCC 2024 vind op Saterdag 24 Februarie by Carpe Diem Skool plaas, maar die perseel sal vanaf Vrydag die 23ste tussen 11vm en 6nm reeds bedrywig wees, wanneer skares deelnemers opdaag vir registrasie.
“Vrydagaand om 6-uur bied ons oudergewoonte die amptelike openingseremonie vir deelnemers aan, en teen Saterdagoggend spring die eerste ryers om 7-uur weg – lekker vroeg op daardie laat-somersoggend,” sê Dippenaar.
Sodra alle mededingende wedrenne en prettopies gedaan is, sluit ‘n prysuitdeling die verrigtinge Saterdag teen middagete af – en almal word uitgenooi om dit saam te kom geniet. “Lede van die publiek is baie welkom om die Vrydagaand en Saterdagoggend gratis by ons aan te sluit.” Hy herinner dat daar kosstalletjies vir toeskouers beskikbaar sal wees, en baie verskillende maniere om betrokke te raak.
“Soos in vorige jare is daar ‘n spesiale kategorie vir besighede, wat elk hul eie kaskar kry wat deur lede van hul span aangedryf word.” George-ondernemings wat al voorheen deelgeneem het aan hierdie byeenkoms – wat net voor die aanvang van die 5km-wedren plaasvind – sal weet dat hierdie kaskarkategorie terselfdertyd belangrike blootstelling en baie pret oplewer.
Natuurlik word geleenthede so groots soos die OCC nooit ‘n werklikheid sonder die warm harte van vrywilligers nie, en Dippenaar nooi nou lede van die publiek uit om aan te meld as roetebeamptes, of om Vrydag te help met die oprigting van die lokaal en registrasie. Op Saterdag die 24ste sal hulp benodig word by die verversingstafels, om atlete rond te beweeg, en uiteindelik om tente af te slaan en op te ruim.
As jy dus wil skouerskuur met renlegendes soos OCC24-ster Pieter du Preez – wat goud in die 2020 Paralimpiese Spele in Japan verower het, en die eerste kwadrupleeg op die planeet was om ‘n volle Ironman te voltooi – kontak vir Alewijn Dippenaar by dyndev@mweb.co.za of 082 457 5675.
George Munisipaliteit is weer eens vanjaar die OCC se voorste vennoot, en borge sluit in Lancewood, Safari, die Wes-Kaapse Departement van Kultuursake en Sport, die Premierskantoor, die Eden Sportraad en Algoa FM.
Vir bykomende inligting, kontak asseblief vir Shaun Butler, voorsitter van die Gestremde Padrenstigting, by 083 701 8387.
Stuart McCreadie during the 2022 OCC event.