Fight your flab – for free!

Sport, arts and culture

The community of Paarl in the Western Cape has been given a helping hand to get into shape.

Getting fit has never been as easy or as fun, say the residents of Paarl. This after the handing over of a new outdoor gym by the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport.

Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport in the Western Cape Anroux Marais attended the handover.

“Today we are officially opening an environment for sustainable development while promoting healthier living, especially amongst our youth.”

The community faces a number of social challenges, including poverty, substance abuse, teenage pregnancies and gangsterism.

“Together, we have to do the hard yards to provide our youth and the greater Drakenstein community with an alternate healthier lifestyle; a lifestyle that instils hope motivation to want to be better versions of oneself to rise above vulnerable circumstances,” she said.

She urged the community and sport fraternity to take ownership of the facility.

“Let this facility become the safe space needed to increase the social inclusion of all. It offers a free outdoor space in which the community at large can exercise together because essentially we are better together.”   

 Minister Marias also believes that sport and recreation have proven to contribute to the social inclusion of our diverse population.

The Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport allocated over R180 million for the 2017/18 financial year to promote sport development in the province. This includes providing accessible and affordable sport facilities, programmes and services.

The funds will also promote school sport by assisting with structures, competitions, talent identification, development, as well as specific and next-level activities.