By
Honorary life President of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) Dr. Sam Ramsamy has been inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in the United States.
Celebrating this milestone ahead of his 86th birthday on January 27, Ramsamy considers it a significant early birthday gift following a remarkable career spanning five decades, during which Ramsamy held various key roles in sports.
"For five decades, I devoted myself to my responsibilities with unwavering honesty and integrity – a fact beyond challenge," Ramsamy told SABC Sport.
"My aspiration is to imprint a legacy characterised by diligence and integrity in South African sport."
He recently announced his decision to step down as President of African Swimming in two weeks, while concurrently serving as an honorary life board member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
"As the New Year approaches, I’ve decided to step back from majority of my roles, redirecting my attention towards quality time with my family," he added.
"My desire is to be recalled as an individual who committed a lifetime to the world of sports. It brings me immense pride to acknowledge the recognition I’ve received while still living."
The upcoming year marks the SASCOC elections, and Ramsamy – appointed by the IOC as its observer during the tumultuous 2020 elections – reflects on the chaotic period.
"The elections faced challenges over the past four years, but we’ve successfully addressed those issues. I oversaw the elections four years ago, and external assistance was necessary at that time," he admitted.
"Currently, all proceedings are conducted properly, with a combination of face-to-face and online meetings. It is unlikely that many will challenge the upcoming elections, as everything seems to be in order, and the new board is performing exceptionally well."
