The 2019 team will be hoping to replicate the successes of recent years, according to a statement released on behalf of the athletes. 

"The 2017 national team of 24 athletes returned victorious from the Winter Games in Austria with 27 medals, which included 16 gold, four unified gold, two silver and five bronze medals. In 2015, the team of 61 athletes won 17 gold, 20 silver and 24 bronze medals," said the statement.  

The event runs from March 14 to 21, where more than 7 500 athletes from 170 countries will compete in 24 summer sports. They will be assisted by 2 500 coaches and 20 000 volunteers, making this the largest international sporting and humanitarian event of the year.

This is also a record turn-out for the Special Olympics, founded in 1968.

The Special Olympics South Africa team comprises 71 athletes, 20 coaches and six support staff, and will represent the country in football, futsal (five-a-side female soccer), table tennis, equestrian, bocce, open-water swimming, athletics, and golf.

Dr Mathews Phosa, chairman of Special Olympics South Africa, thanked citizens for supporting the team.

"To put a delegation consisting of 97 individuals on a plane in some cases is not a small feat, so we thank the nation for supporting our national team. We look forward to more gold medals in all of the sporting categories, we know that our national team will make us proud. We still have the budgetary constraints, but we will not leave an athlete behind so we’ve made a plan. 

"We’ve streamed and saved, we will worry about them when we get back. What we want now more than ever is to make sure every single one of our athletes goes there and has the opportunity that they worked so hard for.”

African News Agency (ANA)