SASCOC president Gideon Sam has just completed his first year in the hot seat of South Africa’s Olympic governing body. And he’s already looking forward to his next year and facing up to the challenges that lie ahead in 2010.

Speaking at Olympic House in Johannesburg on Tuesday, Sam promised still more commitment to improving the way sport is run in South Africa.

“I must say I have enjoyed my first year in office tremendously. I took charge on November 22 last year and I am just as, if not more, passionate about the whole task.

“The most encouraging aspect to me is the fact that when I travel around the country I get a very real sense that we are back in the business of taking sport seriously. The feedback I get is that we are back on track with running sport like it should be.

“From the word go I have made it clear to both athletes and administrators that no more are we going to accept mediocracy. We are working very hard with our Operation Excellence (OPEX) programme and all the federation bosses know that we need to collectively improve. We’re not quite there yet but we are moving in the right subject. I’m having a summit in late January/early February with all the federation bosses and we’ll move on from there.”

Sam, who celebrated his 60th birthday during his first year in charge, was in Cape Town Friday where he attended the draw for the 2010 Soccer World Cup and although he took heart from a hugely successful event he says South Africa have lessons to learn from it.

“There is no doubting that the successful staging of the draw has put us on a sporting roll right now. So now is the time we need to look at ourselves and look at what other major global sporting events we want to hold.

“You only have to look at Brazil. They got their thinking right and started off on a small scale by first hosting regional events and getting them right. Suddenly they are hosting not only the 2014 Soccer World Cup but the Olympic Games two years later.

“What we as South Africans need to know is: If we are to even think about bidding to host the 2020 Olympic Games or other major events we need to make a start. And to this end we need to ask ourselves whether there is value in bidding for the likes of the World Games (the most recent were in Kaohsiung, Taiwan earlier this year) or the Commonwealth Games.”

In this regard Sam says the hosting of the Queen’s Baton Relay ahead of next year’s Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India is very important.

“The baton is in Africa right now and comes to us here in South Africa early in January. The last time it was in South Africa ahead of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006 it only went to the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan area in the Eastern Cape. This time we are taking it on a more extensive tour around the country. What we need to judge from the baton relay is the appetite of the people to the Commonwealth Games. Is there any allegiance to the queen’s baton, do people even understand the significance of it. I know the last time the baton was here it was a big success but I think this time around it could be even better.”

Sam went on to say that two of the sports that would be be receiving particular attention in the immediate future are athletics and boxing.

SASCOC board member Ray Mali took over the administering of Athletics South Africa after SASCOC suspended ASA president Leonard Chuene and the board over the handling of the Caster Semenya affair.

“We are pleased with the progress of the nine-member ad hoc committee under Ray Mali and are monitoring the situation very closely. What needs to be done now are for the various regions to get themselves organised and personally I am off the opinion that we should see Athletics South Africa occupying their seat at the next council meeting in March.

“As far as boxing goes, I’m very pleased to say that our talent identification programme around the country went off very well. I am very chuffed that we managed to pull it off. I met with SANABO president Barries Barnard yesterday and the next step is that the 120 recruits (men and women) who came through the ranks, will sign up for a six-month basic training course with the SANDF in January. Our next step is to work with the amateur boxing federation to lead a number of conventions to improve the training platform.

“So yes, athletics and boxing are getting a good deal of attention in the coming months.”

Returning to the OPEX programme and Sam said: “We plan to expand the OPEX system and look at those athletes on the periphery and see if they are good enough to be brought on board.

“And as usual, the youth is a very important area. Especially in 2010 with the inaugural Youth Olympics in SIngapore. We are already looking at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics and are going to emphasise to the federations that the spotlight must fall on the youth. We need to find out more about our sporting youth — why exactly they are taking part in sport or alternatively why they are not involved in sport.

“Obviously the youth need to be coached as well and there will be a coaching congress in the Free State province to ensure that there is no gap in the sporting loop. Our coaches need to know the best methods and we won’t hesitate to bring in international assistance to develop this aspect.”