Johannesburg - The SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) has shot down media reports which say athletes will be paying will have to pay for their own flights to get to the Rio Olympics next month.
In a statement Sscoc said: “We would like to clarify the erroneous reports in the weekend media relating to athletes travelling to the Rio Olympics next month.
“All athletes travelling with Team SA will be departing on July 23 on a SAA flight to Brazil. No athletes will be paying for their flights.”
It has been the policy of Sascoc for every Olympic Games that any breakaway athlete, who will not be accompanying TeamSA and who will be making their own way to the Games, will have their flights paid for by their Federation, who will then be reimbursed by Sascoc.
“At the last Olympics in London, athletes who travelled on their own were reimbursed R10 000, while this year we are paying them R12 000. It is strange that this matter is only being raised this year. “The reports in the media implying that all athletes have to pay for their flights are a complete distortion of the facts,” said Chief Executive Tubby Reddy.
“We expect the majority of athletes to travel on July 23 and those few athletes choosing to travel to the Games independently of the Team will have their flights paid for by their Federation. The Federation will then be refunded. “Athletes have been fully briefed on this matter by their respective Federations,” added Reddy. - African News Agency (ANA)