The event was a great success with 3000 children from the surrounding communities taking part in the weekend’s challenge and getting involved in a variety of different sports codes as well as being put through their Health of the Nation fitness testing.

Radio partner SAfm broadcasted live on Friday and Saturday and current Mr. South Africa, Adriaan Bergh and music icon ‘AKA’ attended the launch and put themselves through the Health of the Nation testing with some awe inspiting results.

Hip hop star Moki from kolproduk came to close the event on Sunday and his show was well received by all.

With special thanks to our title sponsors Kellogg’s; associate sponsors Virgin Active and KIA Motors; media partner SuperSport Let’s Play and radio partner SAfm and the City of Joburg for their continued support of this groundbreaking project.

Cricket and soccer coaching are hosted at the Constantia Sports Complex, every Friday from 15h00 to 17h00 for the Tiny Tot, Junior and Senior age group.

Come join us and enjoy an active start to your weekend!

The interactive format of the road show sessions have been well received by the participants and the messaging focussing on physical
activity, nutrition, health awareness and general fitness has been absorbed by the eager children.

The Sporting Chance team together with Kellogg’s dieticians have visited the communities of Ocean View, Elsies River, Gugulethu, Langa, Manenberg, Masiphumelele , Mitchell’s Plain, Grassy Park and will finish off in Macassar this afternoon.

The 2011 Kellogg’s Health of the Nation project in association with SuperSport Let’s Play, Virgin Active and KIA Motors with radio partners Good Hope fm, is a Four Phase programme that highlights the importance of physical activity and leading a healthy lifestyle.

Phase 1: the Health Education road show has ensured the children are well prepared to take part in Phase 2: the Kellogg’s Health of the Nation: 50 hour sports challenge and Phase 3: the Research Testing (Phase 3) this coming weekend at WPCC Sports Centre.

Look forward to seeing you there…

KELLOGG’S HEALTH OF THE NATION: 50 HOUR SPORTS CHALLENGE

14h00, Friday 16^th to 16h00, Sunday 18^th September 2011

WPCC Sports Centre, Rondebosch

The 2011 Kellogg’s Health of the Nation project in association with SuperSport Let’s Play, Virgin Active and KIA Motors with radio partners Good Hope fm, is a Four Phase programme that highlights the importance of physical activity and leading a healthy lifestyle.

The Ocean View community are participating in the Kellogg’s Health of the Nation for the first time, which meant they were all eager to be a part of the action. Phase 1: The Health Education road show takes the format of engaged learning, with the participants being divided into sub groups and spending 15-20 minutes at four activity zones as follows:

1. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: This zone highlights the importance of physical activity through a series of fun exercises & drills including shuttles runs, sit  ups, push ups and hand-eye coordination exercises. Variations of the conventional drills focus on emphasising the enjoyment of physical activity with the participants competing in: Sack Races – increase lower body strength; Ball and spoon races – increase hand eye co-ordination; Wheel barrow races – increase upper body strength; Sprint races – increase in speed off the mark; Shuttle races – increase in endurance

2. NUTRITION: This zone is facilitated by Kellogg’s dieticians and highlights the importance of eating a balanced diet & making healthy food choices. The activity includes a workshop focusing on food groups and the benefits attached.

3. HEALTH EDUCATION: This zone focussed on personal hygiene and the importance of washing hands, brushing teeth, keeping your body clean with emphasis on its relation to preventing TB etc. When? Why? and How? we should we carry out this daily routine.

4. FITNESS SPECIFIC: This zone focuses on specialised activities that advise participants on specific exercises to improve their sporting abilities. Through this participants are introduced to the scientific research testing that will take place at the Kellogg’s Health of the Nation: 50 hour sports challenge.

The session concluded with a group ‘Question and Answer’ session to illustrate the life skills discussed before all participants were part of a vibe dance in preparation for their participation in Phase 2: Kellogg’s Health of the Nation 50 hour sports challenge next week.

Day 2 of the road show saw the team visit Gugulethu where the participants from the schools excitedly gathered at NY49 to be a part of the Kellogg’s Health of the Nation project.

Look forward to sharing the rest of the week’s activities…

With these findings in mind and to highlight the importance of physical activity, Sporting Chance initiated the Kellogg’s Health of the Nation 50-hour Sports Challenge in 2006. During the Challenge, children participating in the event keep a ball in motion for an uninterrupted 50 hours, to highlight the importance of physical activity in children’s lives.

Now, Six years on, the programme has grown exponentially and we are excited to confirm that we will reintroduce some of the initial research testing into this year’s project. The project is four phases:

Phase 1: In the build up to the 50 hour sports Challenge, Sporting Chance, in association with the National Department of Health and Kellogg’s dieticians, host health educational road shows in selected communities. These sessions address specific social concerns within communities including nutrition, how to lead an active life, prevent obesity and principles of personal hygiene.

Phase 2: Using the basis of the original Health of the Nation research tests conducted, Sporting Chance together with a team of exercise scientists will test all the challenge participants and in this way gather a database in order to compare the results collected over seven years ago. The tests will also look at BMI and cardio vascular risk.

Phase 3: The sixth Kellogg’s Health of the Nation 50-hour Sports Challenge, in association with Sporting Chance, Virgin Active, Kia Charity and Care and Supersport Lets Play, kicks off in Cape Town in mid September before heading to Johannesburg to coincide with National Nutrition Week in October. Good Hope fm will be the radio partner in Cape Town with SAfm in Johannesburg.

Phase 4: The long term goal of the project is to implement school intervention programmes focused on the importance of physical activity and to show government the value of physical education in the school curriculum.

The 2011 Kellogg’s Health of the Nation 50-hour Sports Challenge has the support of the provincial and municipal Departments of Health, Basic Education and Sport & Recreation, in addition to celebrity health ambassadors, who will promote the project and further encourage healthy and active lifestyles among South Africa’s youth.

Kellogg’s Health of the Nation 50 hour sports challenge:

Cape Town: Fri 14^th to Sun 16^th September 2011 – WPCC Sports Centre, Rondebosch

Johannesburg: October 2011

With five venues operating simultaneously with three major sports codes being played, it’s been an action packed time for the Sporting Chance team.

With the Stormers doing battle on Saturday in the Super 15 semi final, the rugby clinics have been well supported with all the kids emulating their idols as the target tackle bags and execute slick passes. Still in the hype of 2010 and Bafana Bafana’s rise to glory, the soccer clinic numbers have grown and it’s fantastic to see the young Tshabalala’s, Rooney’s and Ferdinand’s showing their skills. The hockey clinics have continued to be popular and it has been great to have SA U21 player Taylor Dart be part of the Sporting Chance coaches on the astro in Bellville as he imparts his valuable advice to the admiring players.

All the Sporting Chancers were in for a treat when SA cricket icon Herschelle Gibbs joined them on the field and spent time doing fitness shuttles and skill sessions, as well as passing on his work ethic philosophy that got him to record breaking status. He may be exceptional with the cricket bat, but give him a rugby or soccer ball and he could still challenge the best. His quick footwork and inspiring co-ordination had all the Sporting Chancers gasping in amazement and his message was simple “Work hard to achieve your dreams.”

 Tomorrow we bring to an end the first week of coaching clinics and we say thank you to all the young Sporting Chancers and our team of dedicated coaches for a wonderful time. Thanks too to our Sporting Chance sponsors: Flip File, Sportsmans Warehouse, GM, Second Skins, BIC, TK hockey and SuperSport Let’s Play for their continued support. We look forward to seeing you in week 3 (Monday 11^th to Friday 15^th July 2011)…

Unlike the Proteas in India the various teams from the Western Cape media got it right on the cricket pitch on Sunday, and it was newcomers to the challenge – SABC 3’s Expresso Rebels that claimed the 2011 title.

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Click here to visit the Sporting Chance Inter Media Cricket Challenge Home Page & Gallery

The morning show’s name will soon appear on the Sporting Chance Inter Media Cricket Challenge trophy after they won the coveted title at Bellville Cricket Club on Sunday 6^th March 2011. With MTN continuing their sponsorship, the six-a-side tournament proved to be bigger and better as teams representing most of the Western Cape media groups battled it out in the “World Cup” themed challenge.

The weather and venue again provided the perfect platform for a day of fun and camaraderie. Courtesy of Sporting Chance and MTN, the Mangwanani Spa ladies were on hand to give both players and spectators some welcome pampering while they sipped on their Glaceau Vitamin Water. The Bellville Cricket Club held their potjie competition in conjunction with the challenge, so the tasty smell wafted over the fields and ensured it was a day for everyone to enjoy.

The match format was a ‘Pro 4 over’ with two pools of 5 teams. There was little room for error in this quick format of the game, so teams had to find the middle of the bat right from the start. Teams were drawn randomly and the rule of rotating the batting order ensured all team members contributed to their team’s performance throughout the day.

The fierce competitiveness and critical tactical decision-making began at each toss, with crowd support, hot conditions, rotating the batting line-up and the ability to read the pitch all being carefully considered by the captains of the respective teams. No one was left in any doubt that each team was there for one thing… to win!

‘The Sport 24 Fine legs’ proved that practice does make perfect as their year-long training programme came good when they recorded their first ever victory in the three years they have been competing. Their maiden victory soon became a trend and in the end the most improved team fell just short of making the final.

Click here to visit the Sporting Chance Inter Media Cricket Challenge Home Page & Gallery

Debutants ‘The Top Billing Tough Team’ were a welcome addition to the playing line-up, but unfortunately they couldn’t take their renowned style onto the cricket field.

It was also fantastic to welcome the travelers aka ‘eTV Sports Fan Radicals’ who made the trip from Joburg to ensure they were a part of the action. Sadly they won’t have any extra luggage in the form of a trophy to take back, however they are sure to make the trip an annual occasion.

The ‘Community Kings’ showed that miss-fit combinations can come good as the players from Radio Helderberg and Radio Houtstok combined to put up a strong challenge in their pool.

The ‘Primedia Proteas’ unfortunately emulated their namesakes, our national team, as they failed to live up to their potential and will have to wait another agonising year before they get close to the coveted trophy.
Despite living it up as always under their tent and savouring  their spit braai, the ‘Good Hope G6’ failed to take their superiority onto the field and their elders the ‘Good Hope fm Masters’, despite their vast experience walked away with the wooden spoon in their pool.

The format played out wonderfully and the Pool A clash of the day was the ‘Expresso Rebels’ against the ‘Cape Argus Deadly Deadlines’ with a final spot up for grabs. The last match in Pool B proved to be an unofficial semi final with the unbeaten and determined ‘eTV Eternals’ and the vastly improved ‘Sport 24 Fine Legs’ vying for the final spot. In the end it was the ‘Expresso Rebels’ and the defending champions the ‘eTV Eternals’ that claimed victories to progress to the final.

In a nail biting final with two mainstream television stations going head to head it was more than professional pride at stake. The ‘eTV Eternals’ batted first and posted a formidable total, but it was beginners luck for the ‘Expresso Rebels’ as they comfortably reached the required total with balls to spare and with that became the 2011  Inter Media Cricket “World Cup” Champions!

The day concluded with a fantastic prize giving where the top performers and a few memorable moments were honoured with fantastic prizes from MTN, Second Skins and Distell. No team walked away empty handed and overall the day was a phenomenal success.

We look forward to next year’s challenge with great anticipation. Sincere thanks to all the teams who took part and for their ongoing support of the Sporting Chance Development Foundation and their projects throughout the year

2011 participating teams: ‘Expresso Rebels’, ‘eTV Eternals’, ‘Sport 24 Fine Legs’ ‘Cape Argus Deadly Deadlines’, ‘Primedia Proteas’, ‘GoodHope fm Masters and Good Hope fm G6’, ‘The Community Kings’, ‘Top Billing Tough Team’ and the ‘eTV Sports Fan Radicals’

Click here to visit the Sporting Chance Inter Media Cricket Challenge Home Page & Gallery

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The aim of the event, which took place at the Western Province Cricket Club Sports Centre from 2pm Friday 17 until 4pm Sunday 19 September, was to highlight the importance of physical activity in children’s lives. The participants, who hailed from 32 schools throughout the Peninsula, played 15 different indoor and outdoor sports over the course of the weekend including soccer, cricket, hockey, table tennis, badminton, netball, basketball, squash and touch rugby.

The Kellogg’s® Health of the Nation 50-Hour Sports Challenge, in association with Sporting Chance, Virgin Active and Kia Charity and Care plus media partners Good Hope FM and Let’s Play, is the largest sporting event of its kind in the country.
According to Brad Bing of Sporting Chance, the youth sports development agency that conceived and co-ordinated the event, for many of the participants it was a first time experience.

“Most of the learners have not had the opportunity to play sports such as badminton or squash before and the Kellogg’s® Health of the Nation 50-Hour Sports Challenge gives us the chance to introduce as many kids as possible to as many different sporting codes as possible,” said Bing. “The idea that kids play one sport limits opportunities for children who might not be good at football or cricket, but have talent to play tennis or badminton. The WP Badminton Association for instance, is in partnership with Sporting Chance and if they see a talented youngster they’ll help him or her to have more access to the sport.”

“The prime objective of Sporting Chance is to make sport available to as many children as possible irrespective of race, gender or social class,” said Bing. “Team sports are a great way of teaching children essential skills that can be applied throughout their lives. Sport shows us the beauty of friendship, camaraderie and team spirit and it helps us to deal with the hardships of failure, frustration and disappointment.”

Bing said the Challenge was originally born as a direct response to the results of the Health of the Nation research findings1, which were released in 2008. The study to investigate the physical fitness levels and lifestyles of South African children revealed that schoolchildren, from all backgrounds across the country showed a tendency towards the onset of obesity, similar to that seen in developed countries more than a decade ago.  “It was obvious that South Africa faced a serious task in getting the nation to keep active and participate in physical activity to create a healthy lifestyle,” said Bing.

Western Cape MEC for Education Donald Grant who officially kicked off the event on Friday is also an advocate for encouraging physical activity amongst South African youth. “Research has shown that healthy, physically active children learn more effectively and achieve more academically,” said Grant. “I wholeheartedly support the Health of the Nation initiative as it encourages children to be physically active and educates them in the importance of health through balanced diet and exercise.”

“Up to a certain age, all boys and girls should ideally be exposed to sport,” continued Bing. “Research has shown you develop your habits by the age of 12. If you’re not playing sport or leading an active and healthy lifestyle by then, the chances are that sport and physical activity will not feature in your adult lifestyle. The Health of the Nation research that we pioneered with Tim Noakes proved that.”

“Health of the Nation is a groundbreaking project that focuses on the importance of physical activity and the positive role it plays in a child’s life,” said Sarah Mansfield, corporate spokesperson for the Kellogg Company of South Africa.   “Whether at a social or competitive level, it is fundamental in the development of their personality, co-ordination and social development.

As a brand, Kellogg understands the importance of creating awareness and supports the work being done by Sporting Chance in encouraging self improvement.”

Kim Webster, CSR Manager for co-sponsor Virgin Active added, “Virgin Active believes that life’s more fun when you move. And with partnerships like this one with Sporting Chance and our Club V product we can introduce children to movement at a young age and encourage them towards adopting active and healthy lifestyles when they grow older.”

The Kellogg’s® Health of the Nation 50-Hour Sports Challenge is supported by the national Department of Health, the Department of Sport and Recreation, Education and Social Development and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of South Africa.

The Johannesburg leg of the Kellogg’s® Health of the Nation 50-Hour Sports Challenge runs from Friday 15 to Sunday 17 October at the Southern Suburbs Recreation Centre in Rosettenville to coincide with National Nutrition Week during October.
Schools or individuals wishing to participate in the Kellogg’s® Health of the Nation 50-hour Sports Challenge can contact Natalie at Sporting Chance on 021 683 7299 or log onto www.sportingchance.co.za

On arrival the participants were given a thorough warm up before being divided into their respective age groups and skill stations. Each participant received  specialised individual attention from the coaches and was instructed in fielding, bowling, wicket keeping and batting drills.. Groups rotated every half hour between stations ensuring that they worked on and improved all aspects of their game.

The teachers from each of the participating schools were introduced to a number of new coaching techniques by clinic co-ordinator Mark Khoabane and were each given a mini cricket handbook to use as a guideline for future coaching.

“We hope that each of the teachers present will take what they have learnt back to their school and pass on the knowledge to the rest of the children who were not present” said Sporting Chance MD Brad Bing. “There is an abundance of talent in Gugulethu and possibly one day the Gugulethu CC will be a force to be reckoned with in the WPCA leagues.

“A special thanks to the Solstice Foundation for making these clinics possible and for assisting in the development of young sportsmen in this community. We look forward to seeing the children displaying their newly acquired skills at Street and Calypso Cricket.”