SA swim team gets Royal help- 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00
South Africa's Olympic swimmers preparing for the London Games have received a boost after an offer of help from Princess Charlene of Monaco, an ex-South Africa Olympic swimmer, has invited the swim team to camp in the principality in June for their final build-up to the Games.
Swimming South Africa (SSA) revealed on Monday that Charlene Wittstock, who married Prince Albert of Monaco last year, will provide royal aid through training facilities and accommodation.
SSA spokesperson Godfrey Monei told The Associated Press that details are still to be worked out but the princess will host the athletes for about a week around the Mare Nostrum swim meet on 11th and 12th June.
‘She said she would like to assist the team in its preparations for the Olympics,’ Monei said. ‘She will assist with facilities, maybe she will pay for accommodation for the swimmers.’
The princess competed at the 2000 Games in Sydney where she was part of South Africa's 4x100 freestyle relay team that finished fifth.
Wittstock retired from competitive swimming in 2007 despite qualifying for the Beijing Olympics.
Monei said the princess had helped out some South Africans with accommodation for last year's Mare Nostrum, and she had indicated she would definitely help again ahead of the Games.
South Africa is expected to announce its final swim team for London in mid-May, after which the princess would give more details on her offer, Monei added.
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