In my spare time I am a DJ & Promoter and often put on music events around South Africa with DJ's from around the world. My production company is called INISHI8 and this is the first time we're fortunate enough to participate in an event where we have the opportunity to raise funds for a very worthy cause. Ultimately giving something back to the developing South African community.
INISHI8 is currently part of a collaborative effort called Elektronika. It is going to be a 24 hour long Electronic Dance Music Festival held on Sat 4 February. It is a fundraising event for a project called the "UBUNTU Olympic Sports Village" (details below). It is going to be held on a farm near the Hartebeespoort Dam.
Background information: Ubuntu Olympic Sports Village
An initiative of the “Ubuntu Sport, Recreation and Nutrition for Africa”, a Section 21 company.
Company Registration number: 2004/035581/08
OVERVIEW
Over the last decade, South Africa has delivered many World Class sport stars. These athletes have proven themselves in the international arena and in diverse disciplines such as Rugby, Soccer, Cricket, Athletics, Swimming and Golf.
One of the contributing factors to the success of these athletes is the climate in which they grew-up and had their formative training and development. South Africa provides excellent climatic conditions, throughout the year in which athletes can develop and maintain their skills.
Unfortunately, not all athletes benefit from these ideal conditions, as many enrol in overseas training facilities to utilise better infrastructure, access to top instructors and bleeding-edge technology. Had these athletes access to the above, South Africa would have been the perfect environment to train and develop their capabilities. To this end, the concept of the Ubuntu Olympic Sports Village (UOSV) was born.
It is envisioned that such a village will provide potential and current athletes with:
• state-of-the-art sporting facilities and infrastructure;
• top professional coaches of international calibre; and
• a balanced environment that will cater for the athletes training, health, nutrition, academic, body, mind and living requirements.
Although such a concept is not unique, as evidenced by the Olympic Villages established specifically to cater for Olympic Game athletes, these villages are built for a specific purpose and duration.
South Africa currently has no full time facility available for our talented sporting youth that caters for all 28 Olympic Sports, in house. As such, it is envisioned that the UOSV will cater for all Olympic Sports and Professional Sports for Youth of School going age.
The 28 Olympic sports are as follows:
1. Aquatics
2. Archery
3. Athletics
4. Badminton
5. Baseball
6. Basketball
7. Boxing
8. Canoe / kayak
9. Cycling
10. Equestrian
11. Fencing
12. Football
13. Gymnastics
14. Handball
15. Hockey
16. Judo
17. Modern Pentathlon
18. Rowing
19. Sailing
20. Shooting
21. Softball
22. Table Tennis
23. Taekwondo
24. Tennis
25. Triathlon
26. Volleyball
17. Weightlifting
28. Wrestling
Another distinction of the UOSV is that it will not be focussed purely on developing the sporting abilities of the athletes, but will also have a strong emphasis on formal academic training, and educating athletes on attaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle.
Also, the UOSV will not only grow existing sporting talent in South Africa, but will help identify, develop and market young and upcoming sportspeople from all walks–of-life.
The vision of the UOSV can be summarised by the following statement:
“The Ubuntu Sports Village will be a world class facility that will integrate Sports, Recreation, Education, Nutrition, Arts and Culture in an holistic environment, based on South African values and beliefs, conducive to achieving excellence on all levels in society, by providing equal opportunities for all”
To achieve this vision, the “Ubuntu Sport, Recreation and Nutrition for Africa” company was established in 2004, under South African Law. It is a registered Section 21 Company (NGO), Non-Profit Organization.The company also complies with the South African Government regulations to promote Employment Equity and Black Economic Empowerment (BEE).
The UOSV project is negotiating 800 hectors of prime land located in Magaliesberg, close to major Metropolitan areas and the Cradle of Humankind. The Village will comprise of the following elements of International Standard:
• All Sporting facilities for Olympic Sports and Professional Sports;
• Accommodation facilities (boarding school) and Guest Lodge;
• An Academic Education facility (Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Levels);
• Sports Scientists, Coaches and Teachers Centre;
• Holistic Wellness and Nutrition Centre;
• A sport equipment warehouse;
• State of the art Gymnasium;
• Recreational, Arts and Culture Centre(s);
• Corporate Health and Fitness Estate
From a financial perspective, the UOSV will strive to be financially self-sufficient. This will be achieved by offering its services to students at predetermined fees for:
• Academic tuition;
• Sports training;
• Use of facilities;
• Boarding fees;
• Nutrition and Wellness etc.
In addition to achieving the main objectives of the USV, and to supplement its revenue base, commercial opportunities will also be explored by management to ensure that the UOSV is financially feasible and sustainable.
Such commercial opportunities include:
Corporate Business Units, incorporating Health and Fitness Estate
• Making the venue available for Lodge/Hotel accommodation, Corporate functions, sporting events, training, conferences and conventions, team building and weddings etc;
• Hosting countries/athletes for 2010 Soccer World Cup, 2016 Rugby World Cup and potential for 2020 Olympic Games
• Generating revenue from all Sporting facilities including e.g. selling of Golf memberships and subscriptions;
• Selling of sports equipment to the public
• Selling products produced at the Village e.g. herbs, vegetables, fruits, cheese and handmade African products (Organic Market).
• Restaurants and shops
• Bottled spring water
• Adventure Park, and more….
FUNDRAISING
To kick start the project and create awareness USV will be hosting the first of it’s kind, A Collective Electronic Dance Music Festival on the 4th of February 2006, this will be our first fundraiser. This event will be the first of many and will eventually be hosted at the school thereby continuing to support this project. 20% of the turnover will be given back to the project, 20% will be given back to the production’s companies involved, 40% will be used to create the event, this incl: sound, décor, venue, marketing. The remainig 20% will be put back into Elektronika to keep this aspect of fundraising alive. Elektronika aims to raise R1 Million this year for the UOSV, through Dance, Music and Recreation. See www.elektronika.co.za for more information. We are currently inviting all Radio, Media & Television and Independent Companies involved in the development of Sport like SASCOC, Standard Bank, Nedbank, Sasol, MTN, Vodacom etc to the VIP Corporate Fundraising Lounge at the Elektronika Event on 4 Feb 2006.
Should Companies wish to sponsor toward Corporate Social Responsibility for this Epic project, please contact janet@elektronika.co.za
Contact Details:
Director & CEO: Janet Joel
Ubuntu Sport, Recreation and Nutrition for Africa
Physical Address:
764 Puttick Ave
Sundowner X15Randburg
Postal Address:
Postnet Suite 87Private Bag X8
Northriding
2162
Cell: 072 027 1450
Email: ubuntu@elektronika.co.za
