Page 2 P H Y S I O T H E R A P Y June, 1964

The First S.A. Paraplegic National Games 

March, 1964

By

ALFRED ROTHBERG, Vice-Chairman, S.A.S.P. Vice-Chairman S.A. Paraplegic Games Association.

The first S.A. Paraplegic Games, organized on a nation­
wide basis, and with participation from Southern Rhodesia, 
were held at the Wanderers’ Club in Johannesburg. They 
truly made history. What the sponsors and the Executive o f 
the Paraplegic Games Association had not expected even 
in their most hopeful dreams, has become reality. In less 
than fifteen months, almost out o f nothing, a truly national 
organization has been created which was able not only to 
send a representative and most successful team to the Inter­
national Games in Stoke-Mandeville, but also to put on the 
map our own National Paraplegic Games.

There is much we have to be thankful for. The support 
from the public was wholehearted. Commerce, Industry, 
Sport and Social Organisations, the Press and Radio, 
Government Departments, the M ed ical' and the Para­
medical Professions, to mention only a few, all rallied to the 
appeal to help brighten the lives o f paraplegics and similarly 
handicapped persons. Perhaps most encouraging was the 
attitude o f the S.A. Games Committee, which accepted 
without argument paraplegic sports and games as just 
another sporting activity. This became most evident, when at 
the presentation o f awards the paraplegic champions received 
the same medals—Gold, Silver, and Bronze—as the able- 
bodied athletes.

The Paraplegic Games extended over three days. Six 
Regions—Southern Transvaal, Northern Transvaal, Western 
Province, Griqualand, Natal, and Rhodesia—took part, 
and nine international records were broken. The Southern 
Transvaal Region were hosts, and all the organizers, and 
the Committee o f the Wanderers’ Club, deserve highest 
praise for the competency with which attention was given 
to every detail. Spontaneous letters o f appreciation from 
every participating region, received by the S.A. Paraplegic 
Games Association, prove that competitors, escorts and 
supporters all regarded these games as a memorable event.

We trust that from these Games inspiration will come to 
those paraplegics who until now thought that participation 
in sport and games was outside their grasp. We shall certainly 
try to advance every paraplegic sportsman to the highest 
degree o f his or her potential. But no one not coming up to 
the high International Stoke Mandeville standards need be 
despondent. We shall find adapted, adjusted, and additional 
activities which will make it possible for handicapped 
people o f any degree o f disability to enjoy participation 
under rules designed to leave no one outside the aims o f 
the S.A. Paraplegic Games Association. On the other hand, 
numbers o f paraplegics have achieved such a degree o f 
mobility and ambulation, that they are reluctant to use a 
wheelchair just for the purpose o f participating in paraplegic

games and sports. For them, too, adequate outlets for their 
energy must be found, and competitions in the standing 
position with appropriate supports may have to be evolved. 
We owe much to the Stoke Mandeville Rules, and we are 
following them ardently. However, in South Africa, we 
encounter some problems o f our own. Especially where we 
have to deal with Non-European participants, we frequently 
come up against a certain dislike or lack o f understanding 
o f the value o f formal athletics, governed by established 
rules. These participants seem more easily attracted by 
competitive activities containing an element o f play. Perhaps, 
in due course, we may be able to contribute our share to 
the development o f paraplegic activities by increasing their 
scope.

Physiotherapy and physiotherapists in the past have been 
privileged to play an important part in the rehabilitation o f 
paraplegics. In this field, physiotherapists stand side by side 
with the representatives o f many other callings. Their con­
certed effort is bound to produce formidable results.

The preparations for the S.A. Paraplegic National Games 
for Non-Whites are nearly completed. These Games are 
scheduled for May 9th, 1964, at the Baragwanath Sports 
Field. Here, too, great enthusiasm has been shown. Partici­
pants will come from the Western Province, Orange Free 
State, Northern Transvaal and Southern Transvaal. The 
number o f entries is most encouraging. The Press, and this 
includes the Bantu Press in particular, have drawn the 
public’s attention to the importance o f sports activities for 
paraplegics and have prepared the ground well. Thousands 
o f Non-White spectators watched the wheel-past o f a team 
o f paraplegic sportsmen at the opening o f the Non-White
S.A. National Games, and greeted them with acclamation. 
It is hoped that the Non-White Paraplegic Games will prove 
to be an important milestone in the advancement o f the 
cause o f the paraplegics.

P.S.—

Since this article went to press, the Non-White National 
Paraplegic Games have been completed, too. They were, 
indeed, an unqualified success. In an atmosphere o f camara­
derie, goodwill, friendliness and good sportsmanship, 
contests in archery, table-tennis, javelin, discus, club 
throwing, and putting the shot took place, and culminated in 
the finals o f the Basket Ball match. Participants and specta­
tors alike enjoyed every phase o f the Games. The presen­
tation o f awards by the Chairman o f the Non-White Games 
Committee closed a meeting which augurs well for the 
future.

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