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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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.
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