Gayton McKenzie’s trip to 2024 Paris Olympics cost SA taxpayers R800 000

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture revealed it spent R27.9 million sending Team South Africa to the recent 2024 Paris Olympics.

This figure was disclosed by the department’s minister, Gayton McKenzie, in reply to a parliamentary question.

Gayton McKenzie one of eight officials

The amount was allocated for the preparation, support and travel of the 146 athletes who represented the country in France.

“The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee, in their response, has indicated that invoices are still being processed for the Olympic Games and are therefore unable to quantify the cost per athlete at the time of this response.

“However, the budget for the support, preparation, and delivery of Team SA to the Olympics was R27 892 000 and covers costs related to athletes and technical support only,” McKenzie said.

McKenzie said eight officials, including himself, also travelled to the Olympics.

“A total estimated budget of R1 805 335 was approved by the minister for officials travelling to the Olympics.”

McKenzie’s trip alone reportedly cost R804 597.

This amount included flights, insurance, accommodation and ground transport, which amounted to half of the total amount.

Basic maths shows that the other seven officials cost R1 million between them – or R143 000 each.

South Africa won six medals

As reported by The South African website, Team South African won six medals at the Paris Olympics – one gold, three silver and two bronze.

That was good enough for a tie for 44th place in the final medal standings.

South Africa finished in third place among the 12 African countries which won medals in Paris.

Tatjana Smith was the ‘big’ winner for South Africa, collecting gold in the women’s 100m breaststroke and silver in the women’s 200m breaststoke.

Jo-Ane van Dyk in the women’s javelin and the men’s 4x100m relay team also picked up silver medals for South Africa.

Alan Hatherly (men’s mountain bike cross country) and the men’s rugby sevens team won bronze medals.

Project 300

Meanwhile, looking ahead to the next Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028, McKenzie has ambitious plans to send even more athletes to the games.

Speaking at the recent South African Hall of Fame’s induction banquet at Montecasino in Sandton, McKenzie revealed that his plan to get 300 athletes to Los Angeles.

“We are going to take money from our department. We spoke to Lotto, we spoke to SuperSport, we are speaking to different companies that are willing to put money into Project 300 where we are going to search for talent in South Africa.

“We are starting Project 300 because it’s a disgrace that you have a country with five million people taking 150 athletes to the Olympics while we have 60 million and we’re taking the same amount of athletes to the Olympics,” McKenzie said.

“We must make sure we take a minimum of 300 athletes to the Olympics. Corporates have told me they’re going to put money in. I spoke to a lot of people and they’re willing to get involved.”

McKenzie was referring to New Zealand who sent 195 competitors to the Paris Olympics and won 20 medals, including 10 gold.

Is a bigger Team South Africa squad necessarily better?

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