Give shooting medalists their due
April 13, 2006 Edition 1
I am gravely disappointed at the manner in which South Africa's Commonwealth shooting team has been treated by the press.
South Africa brought home five shooting medals in total: one gold, two silver and two bronze - a full 13% of South Africa's total medal haul - and no one even knows about it.
Diane Swanton won a gold medal at the Women's Trap Shooting event, and Byron Swanton won a silver medal in the Men's Double-Trap event, beating two Olympic gold medal winners in the process.
The sport is expensive, sponsorship is almost unheard of and South African shooters have to go through hell getting firearm licences approved for their various shooting disciplines.
Simply replacing an outdated or damaged firearm with which to compete can take up to two years - and getting permission for two firearms (one as a back-up) is fraught with bureaucratic red tape, and is more than likely to be refused by the police. One would never expect a tennis player to turn up at an international event with only one racquet.
There is clearly talent in this sport in South Africa considering how many shooters performed at world-class level at the Games despite all of the financial challenges and a declining sport-shooting population (which has been devastated by South Africa's new, oppressive and ill-conceived firearm laws).
Maybe it's time these sportsmen and women are given the recognition they deserve for their dedication. We need to encourage youngsters to participate in these international and Olympic shooting sports to ensure our country's long-term success at these events.
This cannot be done without the press raising the profile of these sportsmen and women to the same level as any of the other successful South African athletes.
Give these sportsmen and women their due, they deserve it.
H Smith
Somerset West
