Dear friends of TGM,
July, the month of sport for 2021! With so many huge sporting events happening or coming up, we’d love to take this opportunity to showcase some of our South African talent, the Good Machine way.
It’s an absolute dream come true working with extraordinary beings doing extraordinary things for themselves, others, and our world.
We want you to be inspired too.
British & Irish Lions Tour
The British & Irish Lions will tour to South Africa this month!
As a result of the harsh third wave of the pandemic gripping South Africa at the moment, spectators are no longer allowed at these games.
Along with the tour, The Lions Charitable Trust also chooses charity partners. Most of them are to provide support in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales (Matt Hampson Foundation, My Name’s Doddie Foundation, The Atlas Foundation, Wooden Spoon).
For the first time in 2021 a Lions Series Global Charity Partner was chosen, none other than Laureus Sport for Good!
The partnership will focus on two initiatives locally - Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players Fund and the SA Women’s Rugby Legacy programme. Whilst talking Sport for Development - specifically women and rugby an announcement close to our heart:
Welcome Tori Gardner as CoolPlay CEO!
At TGM we believe in purposeful leadership and we believe that good people with the right
skills and heart can do extraordinary things! We are proud to have been part of this process with CoolPlay and Tori! If you don't know CoolPlay or Tori yet - click below for your daily dose of grace, heart & tenacity - the CoolPlay way. CoolPlay: Aims to equip children with the skills needed to manage the complexities, demands and pressures of everyday life.
Tour de France
From growing up in the township in Cape Town, to representing us as the first black South African in the Tour de France 2021, Nic Dlamini is nothing short of an inspiration for each and every South African today.
Nic had some tough recovery and training ahead of him after being assaulted by rangers at the Table Mountain National Park in 2019 and sustaining a broken arm. His hard work has definitely paid off as he is making South Africa proud in this year’s Tour! Good luck Nic - we are your biggest fans!
When he is not out riding in competitions, and as if there isn't enough on his plate already - Nic is supporting and encouraging youth through the Pedal Project programme.
The programme provides youth with mountain-biking experiences as well as therapy and mental health programmes which equip them with necessary tools to overcome their internal challenges.
Pedal Project launch!
Some good news from Jaco van der Linde (founder of Pedal Project)
"Gita and the team at TGM have been remarkable from the start of my journey to where we are today. Her understanding of the impact space along with the ability to match the right partners together will add massive value to any organisation who is looking to add them to their team. I for one is STOKED to have them in my corner! "
Jaco, an all round 'lekker' human and a man with a dream to do more: left the corporate sector - came to us for guidance and we supported him in building and setting up Pedal Project. Insta @pedalforgood for updates! People like him, make our job easy!
Tokyo 2021 Summer Olympic Games
The 2021 Summer Olympic Games are scheduled to take place in Tokyo, Japan from 23 July to 8 August. The Paralympic Games will be from 24 August to 5 September.
There has been much excitement recently as the South African Olympic teams were announced and we are very proud to have such inspiring humans represent us at one of the biggest sporting events in the world.
Some of the spectacular South Africans chosen to take part in the Olympics are:
NIC DLAMINI
His childhood dream come true! He even received a call from Springboks' Rugby World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi to congratulate him!
CHARL DU TOIT
We are so proud that Charl has been selected as a South African Paralympic sprinter for a third time this year.
After winning gold in the T37 100m and 400m at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, as well as breaking the record in the 400m final, he was named Sportsman of the Year with an Impairment at the 2016 South African Sports Awards.
After qualifying at the South African Championships with a time of 11.45 for the 100m, the third fastest in the world in the past two years, we are so looking forward to watching him at the 2021 Paralympics! Go Charl!
DALLAS OBERHOLZER
For the first time ever, this year skateboarding will be included in the Olympic games! Something Dallas Oberholzer has been advocating for since we can remember. After the last qualifying event, Dallas was the highest-scoring African skater in Park Style landing him a spot in the Olympics!
Why we love Dallas even more and something you perhaps didn't know: is that he founded Indigo Skate Camp as a way to create safe spaces for South African youth where they can feel empowered and supported. With parks in some of the most impoverished and gang-infested areas in South Africa, Indigo Youth Movement hopes to find a way to uplift communities and as Dallas puts it “(make) an attempt at integrating our divided country”. Go Dallas!
Have a look at what some of our amazing “sport for good” clients have to say about The Good Machine!
As South Africa finds itself in a third wave of COVID-19, at least we'll have a lot of sport to watch to keep ourselves busy!
"Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination."
- Nelson Mandela
Keep safe friends, and if you have any queries with regards to the purposeful work you are currently doing or inspiring to do - you know where to find us.
With love:
Gita and the Kindness Curators at the Good Machine