![Audrey Lawrence (West Coast Sportswoman of the Year) and Adv. Lyndon Bouah (Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport). Audrey Lawrence (West Coast Sportswoman of the Year) and Adv. Lyndon Bouah (Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport).](https://www.westerncape.gov.za/sites/www.westerncape.gov.za/files/audrey_lawrence_west_coast_sportswoman_of_the_year_and_adv._lyndon_bouah_department_of_cultural_affairs_and_sport.jpg)
A richly deserved certificate and a trophy brought delight to sport personalities at the West Coast Sport Awards ceremony held at the Longacres Wine Estate in Langebaan on Friday, 1 February 2013.
The event was hosted by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, the West Coast Sport Council and the Saldanha Bay Municipality. A total of 23 sport awards were handed over to winners in the various categories, inspiring them to follow their dreams of representing their country at the next Olympic Games.
Since 1996, the Department and its partners have annually honoured elite sports people in the various regions of the Western Cape. The awards are for recognised competition sports achievements in the period 16 October 2011 to 30 September 2012. These regional award ceremonies all lead up to the main provincial Sport Awards ceremony to be held in March 2013.
The athletes of the West Coast Kickboxing and Netball Federations received the majority of awards. Their success indicates that they are leaders for sport development in the region. Hopefully they will make use of this momentum and build towards the Olympic vision.
The Executive Mayor of Saldanha Bay Municipality, Mr Francois Scheepers, said the achievements by the athletes and administrators made the West Coast proud. “We are confident that you will continue to reach greater heights, with the region rallying strongly behind you,” he told nominees.
The Department was honoured to recognise the athletes of the West Coast. Mr Bennett Bailey of the Directorate: Sport Promotion motivated the nominees by saying that, through sport, we can bring tolerance and mutual respect to society. “Our vision is to see the West Coast produce an Olympic gold medallist, and the winner might just be amongst us tonight,” he added.
It was a thrilling moment for the Sportsman/Woman of the Year winners, both from the Kickboxing Federation, who expected to win the honours after a highly successful year. Lucky Mokate and Audrey Lawrence thanked their support structures for turning their dreams into a reality. They will set their sights on representing South Africa in the international kickboxing arena. It is clear that the sport awards inspired many athletes in the province to reach their goals together.
Cornelius Malgas
West Coast Regional Office
Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport
Tel: 022 713 2727/ 072 268 4604
E-mail: cjmalgas@westerncape.gov.za
or
Tania Colyn
Communication Service
Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport
Tel: 021 483 9877
E-mail: Tania.Colyn@westerncape.gov.za