Some people believe that the range of sports offered to people with disabilities is limited, but British Paralympic athlete Anton Raimondo is out to prove that notion wrong
In 2014, which offers men and women with a disability the opportunity to stay fit and social. Raimondo and his wife Tina introduced Sitting Volleyball to South Africa. The husband-and-wife power team hope to see South Africa competing against the best teams in the world at future World Championships, or even the Paralympic Games.
Sitting volleyball is very popular in the rest of the world but is still relatively unknown in South Africa. People with and without disabilities can compete, making this sport a great platform to encourage open and free discussion, inclusivity and socialisation.
It is unique in that people with one leg have an advantage over people with two, as the reduced weight allows them to move around the court faster. Although it resembles volleyball, it has a different court and its own rules.
Players sit on the ground, but do not make use of any prosthetics or aids. They use their arms, sliding around the court to play the ball.
The sport has been welcomed by the sporting community in South Africa and is growing. Events and competitions are taking place across the country, as well as in neighbouring countries such as Zimbabwe, where a competition is set to be held soon.
In support of the competition, World Paravolley will be hosting training courses for all the coaches, referees and officials required for the tournament.
Hook, line and sinker
The second freshwater South African Championship for Anglers with disability is set for October 2017. The first championship was hosted by the South African Freshwater Bank Angling Federation (SAFBAF) in partnership with Freshwater Fishing for the Disabled in October last year.
Piet de Witt won the first championship with a total of 103 fish weighing in at 126 kg. Riaan Bornman and HJ Kuhn shared a joint second. Bornman caught 81 fish weighing in at 106,4 kg, while Kuhn bagged 69 fish at 111,8 kg. Freshwater Fishing for the Disabled was established in November 2014.
“We found that there is no place where anglers with a disability can compete against each other,” Bornman says. The social club dubbed “Rainbow Angling Club” encourages families to join in with the activities and gives people with various disabilities the opportunity to meet more of their peers.
“The beauty of this sport is that almost any person with a disability can enjoy it. As they say, a bad day’s fishing is better than a good day’s work,” Bornman comments.
If you are interested in participating in freshwater fishing, contact Riaan Bornman on 071 889 5230 or email him at oerie30@hotmail.com.