Ernie ambassador for SA Olympic and Paralympic team
Ernie Els was announced as one of five ambassadors ‘to inspire and mentor' athletes when South Africa's Olympic committee marked the 100-day countdown to the London Games with a live TV broadcast on Wednesday 18 April. "Obviously I was proud to have been asked to be an ambassador for the South African Olympic and Paralympic teams," said Ernie at the time. "As kids taking up sport we all dream big...and dreams don't get bigger than representing your country. It is said that the spirit of the Games isn't the winning but the taking part and that it is more important to fight well than to conquer. That may be true, but the Olympics is also about striving to be the very best and ‘Going for Gold'. Like all proud South Africans I wish our team every success."
In the build-up to the start of the Paralympic Games on 29 August Ernie added, "Part of the ethos of this summer's games is to inspire a generation and the incredible exploits of our Paralympians in London will surely do that. I have so much respect for what our athletes have done in order to be competing here and I know they'll do South Africa proud. Even though I'm busy with tournament golf I'll enjoy watching some of the action on television."
