1.1 This memo serves to inform the Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture on the National Deiphic Council of South Africa, the proposal received by the National Delphic Council of South Africa to host the III junior Delphic Games as a national event in South Africa and the role of national, provincial and local government in the process.

2.1 The National Delphic Council of South Africa is a member of the International Delphic Council and affiliated as an associate member to the South African National Commission for UNESCO.

The International Delphic Council identified Ms Jill Sumption as the licensee for the National Delphic Council. DAC has questioned the mandate for Africa.

2.2 The organisation seeks to present the cultural diversity of the world in competitive but peaceful events. It has its origins in ancient Greece and Was the equivalent cultural and spiritual event to the Olympic Games.

2.3 The International Deiphic Council (IDC) is the executive organ of the Delphic Movement and the Delphic Arts and Culture games internationally with over 30 member countries. The International Delphic Council issued a mandate in March of 2001, for the regional directorate for South and Sub-Saharan Africa. A short description of the International Delphic Council is attached at Annexure A.

2.4 Every 2 years South Africa will participate in the International Delphic or Junior Delphic Games, hosted annually by a different member country of the JDC.

2.5 The games are comprised of competitions and presentation whem artists participate in a variety of artforms and cultural activities. For example: The Performing Arts Category would incorporate a minimum of 10 disciplines from dance, music, theatre and song.

2.6 The games encompass competitions within a variety of art forms from performing arts to social and literal arts.

2.7 DAC has questioned the representivity of the Board in the past, but this has been rectified by the NDC. A list of the current board member are attached at Annexure B

3.1 The South African National Delphic Council won the bid to host to the 2007 International Junior Delphic Games in South Africa. Attached at Annexure C is the letter from the International Delphic Council.

3.2 The event is dedicated to give the youth the same opportunity as adult artists to help plan and give expression to their unique perspectives and values in displays of artistic talent rooted in their cultural heritage.

3.3 It also allows them to learn from artistic intercultural exposure, thereby helping humanity to create a better future for themselves and the countries they represent.

3.4 Through hosting of the games and pre-qames marketing internationally, SA has a platform to address the following:

• hosting up to 60 nations in SA - approximately 7 000 artists showcasing our cultural heritage through to the rest of the world

· creating wider accessibility to the arts of the world to SA

· assisting in growing and boosting the cultural I craft industry

· showing the ability to host big events

· affording our artists the opportunity of gaining international exposure within South Africa.

3.5 The concentration of events will be held at the Newtown Cultural Precinct and greater Johannesburg. There is a partnership between Johannesburg Development Agency and the National Delphic Council, with partners like Gauteng Tourism Authority and SA Tourism. Blue IQ's mandate for the development of a cultural identity for greater Johannesburg is heightened with the hosting of the 2007 Junior Delphic in Newtown and greater Johannesburg. This also allows access to outreach programmes in relative proximity and accessibility such as Soweto, Alexandra and their project bases for cultural development and identity creation. Motivation on why Newtown Cultural Precinct is the ideal venue for the games are attached at Annexure D

3.6 The Games will be preceded by Provincial and National Games in South Africa in order to select young artists and performers for participation in the International Games. Attached at Annexure E is a

3 year role out plan for SA in preparation for the games in 2007.

4. ORGANISATIONAL AND PERSONNEL IMPLICATIONS OF THE 2007 GAMES

4.1 Liaison, planning, infrastructure and technical requirements of the event will be managed by National Delphic Council. The NDC will also manage the Provincial and National Games.

4.2 The NDC wishes to create a cooperative understanding, working relationship and partnership with the Department of Arts and Culture.

4.3 It was proposed that a government steering committee be engaged by the Department of Arts and Culture for the purposes of the 2007 games.

4.4 The National Department of Arts and Culture have agreed to place relevant members onto the Board of the 2007 Organising Committee.

4.5 The NDC have been endorsed by the following Ministries:

• DAC
• DEAT
• Education

4.6 Various stakeholders on provincial level have also been consulted. This was done through one on one meeting with the HOD's or MEC's of the respective province1 independently by the National Delphic Council.

4.7 Detail regarding the 2007 Junior Delphic Games Organizing Committee is attached at Annexure F for your information.

5.1 The Delphic Council will require R3,4 million seed money from government departments. The funding will be considered by the joint government steering committee This seed money will be sourced from Departmental budgets.

5.2 The rest of the funds to host the games will be sourced through corporate funding structures.

6.1 To date the following departments have been consulted:

· Department of Arts and Culture

· Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

· Department of Education

· Department of Public Enterprises

As the games will move into the implementation phases, the following departments will be consulted:

· Department of Foreign Affairs

· Youth Commission

· Department of Home Affairs

· South African Police Services

· Department of Safety and Security

· Government Communications and Information Systems (GCIS)

6.2 Other bodies outside of government have also been consulted, such as SATOUR, Johannesburg Tourism Agency, SAA, etc. Attached at Annexure G is a complete list.

7.1 DAC has been approached by the National Delphic Council of South Africa to endorse the Council and to approach Cabinet on their behalf to host the 2007 Junior Delphic Games in 2007.

7.2 To date, two steering committee meetings was held at the Department of Art and Culture in preparation for the drafting of a Cabinet Memorandum to be presented to Cabinet by the Minister of

Arts and Culture.

7.3 This process has however been put on hold due to the fact that the department is also involved with other organisations such as CIOFFSA, IMC, IFACA, ISME and PASME, which is as also affiliated to UNESCO.

7.4 DAC needs to formulate a strategy internally on how it will continue its relationship with associations such as the NDC and CIOFF-SA, IMC, IFACA, ISME and PASME.

7.5 DAC therefore would like to brief the Portfolio Committee on the status to date on the planning of the 2007 Junior Delphic Games. DAC will only proceed with the Cabinet Memorandum after a strategy has been formulated for a way forward.