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Free State gears up for 18th OR Tambo games in Welkom

───   REFILWE BEKANE 13:00 Thu, 23 Oct 2025

Free State gears up for 18th OR Tambo games in Welkom | News Article
The competition starts at the ward level, progresses through local municipalities, and culminates in the provincial finals, where top athletes are selected to represent their districts. Photo: Freepik

The Free State department of sport, arts, culture and recreation, in collaboration with Mangaung metro and various district municipalities and sport and recreation councils, is preparing to host the 18th annual OR Tambo games.

This provincial sporting event is scheduled to take place in Thabong, Welkom, from Friday (24/10) to Sunday. The games are held annually in October to honour the birth month and enduring legacy of Oliver Reginald Tambo, a revered global icon and freedom fighter.

“The inaugural OR Tambo games were hosted by Thabo Mofutsanyana district municipality in 2005, followed by Fezile Dabi district municipality in 2006,” said the department.

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“The games are aimed at promoting sport and recreation in the province, and through these games players have been selected to represent the province at national and international levels.”

The competition starts at the ward level, progresses through local municipalities, and culminates in the provincial finals, where top athletes are selected to represent their districts.

This structured process has successfully identified and developed players who have gone on to achieve representation for the province at both national and international levels, the department said.

The games will run throughout the weekend, concluding with the closing and award ceremony on Sunday at 16:00, at the same sports centre. Photo: Freepik

Key events and competition codes include:

  • softball (male and female teams);
  • volleyball (male and female teams);
  • football (female teams only); and
  • boxing (male and female categories).

The three-day event kicks off with a special commemorative ceremony, a gala dinner and a memorial lecture on Friday at 18:00 at the Ferdie Meyer Hall in Welkom. Mangaung mayor Gregory Nthatisi is set to deliver the keynote address.

Tournament schedule

The main sporting action starts on Saturday at 08:00 at the Kopano indoor sports centre in Thabong. 

games will run throughout the weekend, concluding with the closing and award ceremony on Sunday at 16:00, at the same sports centre.

The 18th edition of the games promises to be a spectacular display of provincial athletic prowess, upholding the memory and ideals of Oliver Reginald Tambo, the department said.

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OFM News/Refilwe Bekane mvh 

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