South Africa's dismal performance at the Beijing Olympics highlighted the need for more funding, the country's Olympic Committee said on Tuesday.
This was the silver lining to the team's poor showing in Beijing, SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) president Moss Mashishi told journalists in Johannesburg.
"It's a multi-stakeholder issue. We realize that to be a world-beater we have to work together with government, schools and experts and energize the country around what needs to be done," he said.
"No question, as a team we would have liked more medals but we are extremely proud of them.
Mashishi said the team in Beijing reached 17 finals and broke two African records.
Only three members of the swimming team out of 25 did not achieve personal bests.
"So it is quite clear that collectively and individually the team performed."
Controversy surrounding open water swimmer Natalie Du Toit was dismissed by chef de mission Hajera Kajee.
"Natalie wanted to be treated as an able-bodied athlete," said Kajee.
She said Natalie's manager requested a golf cart for transport around the Olympic village but the advice received from the embassy and the village's mayor was that this would not be allowed.
"The bottom line is that her manager wanted Natalie to get preferential treatment but we did not want that."
Addressing the issue of South Africa's future Olympic performance, Mashishi said the depth of the Beijing team was "exceptional" and provided a strong base for the 2012 and 2016 Olympics.
Out of the team of 135 athletes, 57 were strong prospects for the 2012 Olympics.
"They are very young -- between 18 and 25."
Mashisi specifically mentioned as young talent, mountain biker Barry Stander, BMX rider Sifiso Nhlapo and Benoni canoeist Calvin Mokoto, who only got into a canoe for the first time in 2005.
He said it was also paramount to optimise the funding already available.
South Africa would look at best practices used by other countries like Great Britain who dramatically moved up the medals table from 10th in Athens to fourth place at these Olympics.
He congratulated long jump silver medalist Khotso Mokoena on his achievement. He won the team's only medal.
On Tuesday, Mokoena received a cheque from Absa for 500,000 rand as part of the bank's incentive programme.
Source:Xinhua
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