Sandton, 14 March 2019 – Senamile Dlamini, an 18-year-old athlete is fulfilling her dreams by representing the South Africa national team at the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019.
The Games is a multi-sport international event for athletes with disabilities that runs from 14 to 21 March, providing an opportunity for them to compete against the best in the world, of which Senamile is a part.
Senamile hails from KwaNongoma on the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal. The young athlete, who has been running since the age of seven, will take part in the half marathon, a road running event, on 16 March.
“I feel proud to represent my country and am excited to learn about different cultures,” she said. This is Senamile’s first time travelling outside the country and she hopes to make her friends and teachers at Musa Special School, as well as all South Africans, proud.
Senamile has worked hard to accomplish representing South Africa in the half marathon, so much so that the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee noticed her talent and invited sponsorship for all the athletes, and Alexander Forbes took the opportunity to sponsor this rising star.
“The Alexander Forbes Community Trust has been making a difference in disadvantaged communities for over 15 years, providing developmental, financial and other support to several programmes and projects. People with disabilities are among the most marginalised in our country, and we wanted to play an active role in impacting on people’s lives. When the opportunity to sponsor Senamile as part of Special Olympics Team SA was presented – an athlete who has overcome challenges which would have defeated many of us – we were excited to pledge our support,” said Amanda Khoza, Alexander Forbes Group Empowerment Executive.