A team of 125 athletes (67 male and 58 female) will depart to London later this evening, with their locally branded South African Airways Airbus 340-300 aeroplane, together with 46 officials serving in various wide-ranging categories in each sport code.
"Cabinet wishes our national teams well and calls on all South Africans to support Team South Africa during the 2012 London Olympic Games from 27 July to 12 August 2012, as well as our national cricket team (Proteas) who are touring England until 12 September 2012," said Cabinet spokesperson Jimmy Manyi on Thursday.
Last week, President Jacob Zuma bid the Olympians farewell and encouraged the Olympians to bring home many medals for former President Nelson Mandela, who celebrated his 94th birthday on Wednesday.
The President also echoed and reiterated the target of 12 medals set for Team SA by the President of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc), Gideon Sam.
"We want at least 12 medals, nothing less. Anything beyond 12 medals would be a bonus. If we win, it means Africa has won. We are a winning nation and I'm sure that you will win," he said.
Meanwhile, Sascoc and Lead SA are calling on South Africans to go to the OR Tambo International Airport later this afternoon, to send-off their team to the London Olympics in style.
Lead SA has been encouraging South Africans to show support for the team by wearing sports shirts on Fridays in July and August.
