Hon Speaker, since the year 2004, the Department of Health has prioritised the promotion of healthy lifestyles as one of the critical programmes that need to be advocated throughout the country.
The Healthy Lifestyles Programme was launched to promote health and wellbeing among individuals, communities and populations, enabling them to address the broad determinations of health and to identify risk factors. The critical aspect of the programme is to address the onset and the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases, the dangers of obesity, unhealthy diet and physical inactiveness ...
... eyenza abantu babe yizidudla, bakhuluphale ... [... causes obesity in people ...]
... successful ageing and mental health, and the contribution of alcohol abuse to non-natural deaths.
Therefore, we welcome the Gym for Life initiative and the honour that has been bestowed on South Africa to host this prestigious event which will be held in Cape Town from 10 to 11 July 2013. This event on the international gymnastics calendar will attract between 3 000 and 5 000 participating gymnasts.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that this event will open doors for South Africa to host the World Gymnaestrada, the greatest gymnastic event in the world. This demonstrates the confidence gained by the international community in South Africa's ability to host world-class events after we hosted a very successful Fifa Soccer World Cup. This will be another tourism opportunity gained, promoting South Africa as a tourist destination. I thank you. [Applause.]