September 20, 2005
By Lucky Sindane
THE Delphic Games flag has landed in Johannesburg, which will host the Junior Delphic Games in 2007, as mandated by the International Delphic Council.
It arrived here from Kuching, in Malaysia, where the South African Delphic team recently excelled in their different categories in the 2005 Delphic Games.
Christine Walters, the member of the mayoral committee for community development, roads and parks, led a 40-strong delegation to the games, which took place from 1 to 7 September.
The delegation included Eddy Khosa, the acting chief executive officer of the Johannesburg Tourism Company; Jill Sumption, the chief executive officer of the South African National Delphic Council; and praise singer Zolani Mkiva.
The visit formed an integral part of the build up to the staging of the Junior Delphic Games in August 2007 in Newtown, Johannesburg.
In the South African team, 21 performers participated in different categories. They brought home gold medals - shared with India - in traditional music and traditional dance, and again for winning the audience prize in music and dance.
Masoja Msiza (storytelling), Diek Grobler and Ernest Kgasoe (painting), Joseph Ndlovu (textiles), Simon Mthimkulu (sculpture) and Jan van der Merwe (installation art) all won individual gold medals.
Walters received the Delphic Games flag to bring back to Johannesburg during the closing ceremony of the Kuching games.
"We held our heads high in Malaysia," Khosa said.
"Our performers excelled and I believe that with the experience they have had in Malaysia, they will raise their standards even higher at the next event," he added.
"For all of us - the performers and those who will be involved in the 2007 games in Johannesburg - Kuching was a learning curve."
Sumption said South Africa's team spirit was a winner. "There was a wonderful spirit in the South African team, which was applauded by many of our international counterparts."
The Delphic Games are an international arts and culture competition. The junior games are open to anyone 18 years old or younger, and 5 000 participants from around the world are expected to be in Johannesburg for the event.
"We are looking forward to broad participation from each of our nine provinces at the games in 2007," Walters said.
Participants will compete in a wide range of categories, including the performing arts in music, theatre and dance, visual arts, fine arts, graffiti, film making, photography, storytelling, poetry and fashion, among others.
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