Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge (OWC) SUNDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2018
A wheelchair race exclusively for disabled athletes! The City of George annually welcomes more than 1500 of national and international participants and with the cumulative monetary and logistical support of ACSA George and George Municipality an event of international standards is put forward.
The Rotary Club of George is proud to be part of this unique event and have been involved over previous years with catering duties, this year was no different and Rotarians and Partners handed out 1500 food parcels to all the participants many of whom are Polio survivors. By becoming involved Rotary will make a conscious investment (however big or small) in the future of the local disabled community and impact on the national and international disabled communities, by giving a donation to Rotary Internationals “Polio Plus Fund”. Every year it is getting bigger and better! The number of entries has increased dramatically, with disabled athletes and other persons in wheelchairs flocking to this annual event.
The Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge has been staged successfully during the past fifteen years, growing from its humble beginnings of only 27 entries in 2002 (then known as the Outeniqua Chair Challenge -OCC) to the magnificent race it is today. The Challenge is not only unique as being the first and only event exclusively for the disabled in South Africa, but it is staged in the picturesque town of George in the Southern Cape, and has over many years successfully hosted this event which is endorsed by the South African Sports Association for the Physically Disabled (SASAPD), South African Sports Confederation (SASCOC) and Disability Sports South Africa (DISSA).
Athletes in racing wheelchairs, adapted bicycles, hand cycles, basketball chairs and ordinary wheelchairs take on the challenge which is not only about speed, but also endurance in different race categories which include the 42,2kmmarathon, 21,1km half marathon, 10 km race and a five kilometre fun event have made this into the premier sporting event for the disabled on the South African sporting calendar. It undoubtedly has the potential to develop into one of the best events of its kind in the world!