The City of Cape Town is planning to roll out the red carpet to welcome back South Africa’s Olympic heroes.
Mayor Patricia de Lille says plans are already underway to host a “celebration to remember” at the Grand Parade, accompanied by a bus procession through the CBD followed by an event at the Green Point stadium.
“The athletes are a true inspiration and they have shown that hard work, dedication and a will to win, against the greatest odds can bring sweet victory,” she says.
“It’s going to be big, truly massive, a celebration to remember.”
The Rio 2016 Olympics ended yesterday with the closing ceremony having taken place in the early hours of this morning.
The South African team walked away with a total of 10 medals, of which a record-breaking gold was won by Kraaifontein sprinter, Wayde van Niekerk, while Paarl long jumper Luvo Manyonga got silver.
A date for the celebration is still in the works as organisers need to confirm when Van Niekerk and Manyonga will be available.
Wayde is currently in Italy but will return home in a few weeks’ time, according to his family.
The mayor said “these young people have made us proud to be South African”.
“We want Van Niekerk and Manyonga to speak to the people from the same podium at City Hall where [former President] Nelson Mandela spoke to the people on the Grand Parade when he was released from jail,” adds De Lille.