|
|
|
|
|
|
SPORT & OUTDOOR
 World
Rope Skipping Championships
Venue: Good Hope Centre, Sir Lowery Rd, Cape Town. Tel: (021)
671 4818.
Time: -
Price: -
Performances: 22 - 28 Jul 2008
|
‘Double Dutch’, ‘Double
under Toad’ and ‘Single Rope’ are one of the many techniques that the
South African Rope Skipping Team is practising hard to master in
preparation for the 2008 World Rope Skipping
Championships from 22 - 28
July at the Good Hope Centre
in Cape Town.
Rope skipping has become a popular sport worldwide
and this year our homegrown talent will be competing against fourteen of
the world’s top rope skipping countries
including the US, China, Belgium and Australia.
This event, which showcases local talent and
South Africa as a world class sporting destination, is
hosted by the South African Gymnastics Federation (SAGF) in partnership
with the Federation de sauter a la corde and the International Rope
Skipping Federation.
|
article continues below
|
|
|
SA champion Sibusiso Mabele, 17, from Khayelitsha, is passionate about
the sport and is looking forward to defending his title.
His list of achievements includes being Western Province’s “Most
Promising Sports Person 2007” and winning Gold, Silver and Bronze at the
Rope Skipping World Championships in Canada in 2006.
“It’s going to be the best Championships ever. We
are going to increase our combo’s, flips and dance moves and are going to
wow the crowds,” says Sibusiso.
Since 2002 rope skipping has been introduced as a development sport in
South Africa, with a focus on empowering children from disadvantaged areas
to develop their skills.
“We constantly witness how shy children who join rope skipping become
more confident. Many have grown to love the sport and mass participation
has increased since inception,” says Anna Gutter from SAGF.
Skipping is the ideal sport for everyone, regardless of age. It is
cost effective, can be practised anywhere and is exceptionally good for
health and fitness.
Not only does it increase muscular strength and cardio vascular
fitness but also improves coordination and endurance. When it comes to the
crunch it is an excellent exercise that is relatively easy, has a
multitude of benefits and a low injury risk factor.
“Rope skipping is an activity that the entire family can do.
All you need is a skipping rope,” ends Gutter.
|
|
|
