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Discovery brings the spirit of soccer to those with special needs
Discovery brings the spirit of soccer to those with special needs

Press release -

Discovery brings the spirit of soccer to those with special needs

Discovery brings the spirit of soccer to those with special needs

29 July 2016, Johannesburg

Sandton yesterday played host to a vibrant soccer coaching clinic aimed at involving South Africans with special needs in the beautiful game. Jointly developed by Discovery and the Gauteng Department of Social Development, the inaugural Discovery Soccer Festival took place at the Illovo-based Discovery Soccer Park.

Head of Discovery Vitality Wellness, Dr Craig Nossel, said, “The first Discovery Soccer Festival was a huge success with all our participants enjoying the soccer training and games. Sport truly goes a long way in bringing people together and helping them feel part of something.”

Zandi Mahola, Social Work Policy Developer for the Gauteng Department of Social Development, said that they strive to take measures to enable Persons with Disabilities to participate fully in recreational, cultural and sports activities. “We want to ensure people have the opportunity to develop and utilise their creative, artistic and intellectual potential, not only for their benefit but also for the enrichment of the society.”

Adding the spirit of the Olympics shortly before the opening of this year’s Games, well-loved Olympian Natalie du Toit opened the festival. Also a Paralympic and Commonwealth Games gold-medallist, Natalie said that the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics build-up reminds us of how sport can bring people together and create opportunities for everyone.

“For each and every one of you, there is opportunity – you have to find it! Its not about your disability or your ability, it is about having a goal you want to achieve. We cannot all go to the Olympics or Paralympics but we can all enjoy our lives through sport and have goals and dreams,” du Toit said.

Fifteen youth volunteers committed their time to run the sessions.

ENDS

For media related queries:

Taryn Kerr

TarynKe@discovery.co.za

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Discovery information

About Discovery Limited

Discovery Limited is a South African-founded financial services organisation that operates in the healthcare, life assurance, short-term insurance, savings and investment products and wellness markets. Founded in 1992, Discovery was guided by a clear core purpose – to make people healthier and to enhance and protect their lives. Underpinning this core purpose is the belief that through innovation, Discovery can be a powerful market disruptor.

The company, with headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa, has expanded its operations globally and currently serves over 5 million clients across South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States, China, Singapore and Australia. Discovery recently partnered with Generali, a leading insurer in Europe, and has partnered with John Hancock in the US. These new partnerships will bring Discovery’s shared-value business model to protection industries in Europe and the US.

Vitality, Discovery’s wellness programme, is the world’s largest scientific, incentive-based wellness solution for individuals and corporates. The global Vitality membership base now exceeds three million lives in five markets.

Discovery is an authorised financial services provider and trades under the code “DSY” on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange. 

Follow us on Twitter @Discovery_SA

Contacts

Felicity Hudson

Felicity Hudson

Press contact Head of Reputation Management Discovery Group 0115294514
Nthabiseng Chapeshamano

Nthabiseng Chapeshamano

Press contact Senior Reputation Manager Invest, Cogence, Long & Short Term Insurance, and Sustainability
Zeenat Moorad

Zeenat Moorad

Press contact Senior Reputation Manager Banking | Vitality | Sponsorships
Karishma Jivan

Karishma Jivan

Press contact Senior Reputation Management Consultant Healthcare & Sustainability
Sesona Ngqakamba

Sesona Ngqakamba

Press contact Reputation Management Consultant Banking | Vitality | Sponsorships
Lianne Osterberger

Lianne Osterberger

Press contact Senior Manager: Media Relations and Reputation Management 083 27 27 313
Hannah Newbold

Hannah Newbold

Press contact Reputation Management Consultant Insure & Invest