Cape Epic

In March, 1 086 mountain bike riders from around the world will converge on the Western Cape to participate in the world's largest, full-service mountain bike stage race – the Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas.

This eight day race will see amateur and professional riders cover a distance of up to 130 kilometres per day, with the entire route spanning 886 kilometres. Riders will be challenged to a total climb of 15 045 metres as they move through some of the Western Cape's most rugged and remote terrain.

Article Link (http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=185&art_id=iol1171364763766C135)

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Website: http://www.capeepic.co.za/

Cape Town considers F1 bid 2/23/2007 1:16:27 PM

Cape Town could make a bid for a Formula One Grand Prix before the end of the year, as Durban prepares to host an A1 Grand Prix on Sunday.

The head of the South African Grand Prix Corporation, Dave Gant, says he has been meeting with Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool and Cape Town Mayor Helen Zille about the possibility of developing state owned land near the airport. An official bid/organizing committee will first be formed.

I would prefer to see a street race through the CBD to showcase to the world our superb city centre and of course our mountain!!!

I would prefer to see a street race through the CBD to showcase to the world our superb city centre and of course our mountain!!!

South African F1 Grand Prix

Cape Town, South Africa

1 April 2005

Start time: 14:00hrs

Total length : 13.3 km

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This is the most challenging track in modern F1. Only the legendary Nurbergring – 21km known as 'the green hell' – could challenge for this title. If driving the track seems complicated, the pit complex is worse. Just before the start-finish line, the drivers enter the pit complex blind. Reducing their speed to 60km/h is not a problem; trying to manoeuvre between the bus shelters and the stranded taxi's is a test of courage and ability.


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What 1f? Cape Town's F1 street circuit

Words: Sasha Martinengo Photography: Anthony Allen, Touchline Photo/Getty Images, Sutton Motorsport Images, Redbull Racing




South African F1 Grand Prix

Cape Town, South Africa

1 April 2005

Start time: 14:00hrs

Total length : 13.3 km



This is the most challenging track in modern F1. Only the legendary Nurbergring – 21km known as 'the green hell' – could challenge for this title. If driving the track seems complicated, the pit complex is worse. Just before the start-finish line, the drivers enter the pit complex blind. Reducing their speed to 60km/h is not a problem; trying to manoeuvre between the bus shelters and the stranded taxi's is a test of courage and ability.

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A. THE PITS

The pit-lane is not straight and if you're one of the unfortunate drivers who drive for the minnow teams, your pit box is at an angle. It'll be a laugh a minute watching the tyre techies measuring tyre pressures and the fuel men bending the hose to get it into the nozzle.

'The start of a Grand Prix is always a tense and electrifying time. In Cape Town, it is no different. The smell of hi-octane fuel mingling with the ozone and reek of kelp blowing off the Atlantic; the scream of engines readying themselves.

'From the grid, they're immediately into a slight left-hand kink 600m up the track that won't prove too difficult, but in getting out of Turn 1 we expect to see some carnage. Everyone needs to get position in this very tight track as the passing opportunities are few through 17 turns of the 13.3km of circuit.
B. HIGH LEVEL ROAD

'The bank of red lights flash: 30 seconds to go.

'The green lights are on! The 20 drivers accelerate off the greasy surface getting up to 250km/h, all bunching up to what is a very crazy Turn 1!

'Braking from 250km/h is one thing but with cars trying to squeeze past on either side it's rather daunting.

'From 250km/h, brake hard down to 120km/h – very similar to Imola's Variante Alta in the Rivazza – select third gear and hope to hell no-one out brakes themselves and knocks you into the icy Atlantic.

C. THE APPROACH TO
MORTGAGESA CORNER
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'Shell Corner is taken flat-out, at about 180km/h – depending on whether you have a clear track in front of you. If you got Turn 1 wrong, Shell Corner is where you are going to get passed easily. Good acceleration out of Turn 2 and it's the first of the long straights.

'Through the gears up to sixth and reaching 300km/h, the bumpiness of the track will separate the boys from the BOYS.

'Turn 3 and 4 are my favourite corners. Drop to fifth gear, about 280km/h, plant your right foot and get it all right, you will get to 340/km in just under four seconds. Brake hard, third gear, turn right on the wheel, feather the throttle so that not too much traction control slows you down, change to fourth, then fifth.

D. WESTERN BOULEVARD
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'Awesome rush, lateral Gs bouncing your head from side to side, vision gets blurry but it's all about the adrenalin. Through Turns 5 – President Corner – Turn 6, 7 and 8 you're reminded of the intricate section at the Indianapolis raceway, where the cars crawl before they get on to the legendary banking. In Cape Town, it is not that dissimilar. But you're twisting and climbing straight up the mountain.

'After Turn 8 – the notorious Lion's Head Corner – it's flat out for 1.6km – the longest straight in F1 by quite a way. Just watch out for manhole covers.

'Here comes the "How big are your kahoonas?" – Mandela Corner (Turn 9) – similar to Niki Lauda Kurve in Austria – 330km/h, a slight lift, depending on
the set-up and then flat down to Turn 10, aptly named Van der Merwe's Folly. Clear that, another slight lift, and up to 350km/h, hard on the brakes for MortgageSA Corner and then into the Cape Town CBD.

'Great viewing point to watch these awesome machines tippy-toe over turning circles and power slide their cars through four ninety-degree corners. If you're well connected you'll get the best view from the Hofmann Sonnenberg Galombik penthouse.

'Speeds are minimal but car control is imperative. Get it wrong at any one of the four corners and you are a spectator for the rest of the afternoon.

'Coming out of Turn 13 – past the Cape Town International Convention Centre – and the final ninety-degree right-hander. This is about straightening the car and pushing up to 220 km/h through a manufactured left-right, the 'S Sweep'. Then, just as you thought the right-angles had gone, there is one final right-hander which is insane. Portswood Corner will test the best. Braking from 200km/h, it's wickedly sharp-right through Portswood a quick spurt on the accelerator, then hard braking again for the tricky BMW Corner.

'Coming out of Turn 16 is very much like Stowe at Silverstone. Just under 200km/h, hard on the brakes, lateral Gs of 2.2 in fourth gear, drop down to third and make your way to the end of the tour.
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'Up to 300km/h, the super-fast left sweep of Scheckter Corner awaits you just before the start-finish line. Cape Town or F1 will never be the same again.'

Says Patrick O'Shea, CEO of Engel & Völkers: 'Monaco – watch out!'

Sorry to say this, but as good as it looks & sounds, I cant see it happening

LOL that was the fantasy F1 tracks they had in the Property Mag. They did street tracks for Durban, CT and Joburg as a bit of a laugh i guess.

LOL that was the fantasy F1 tracks they had in the Property Mag. They did street tracks for Durban, CT and Joburg as a bit of a laugh i guess.

yeah sacha did go a bit overboard.
it might be naiive thinking, but an F1 event near the airport could stimulate "that side" of cape town. A project of this scale is needed and the city must plays its part in the future of this part of cape town. It certainly does not solve problems, but it certainly would have done more than just plonking an oversized stadium in an area that certainly could not support/sustain its future.

Big Walk attracts thousands

By Natasha Prince

The annual Jive Big Walk, the largest 10-kilometre walk in Africa, had 2 010 participants pacing through the city in the name of charity on Sunday.

Dr Elias Parker, events co-ordinator and sponsorship manager, said it went off "brilliantly" in excellent weather.

One participant, however, was rushed to hospital after a heart attack and there were a few cases of dehydration.

Parker said the event was growing, with more entrants signing up each year.

"We decided to stop at 2 010 entrants in light of the (2010) World Cup soccer tournament."

He said Sunday's temperatures had reached ideal highs of about 24°C to 25°C.

The walk began outside Green Point Stadium at 8am and ended inside the venue.

The winner received a trip for two on Qatar Airlines to any destination in the world, including spending money, and other prizes.

Western Cape premier Ebrahim Rasool and Cape Town mayor Helen Zille were at the opening and closing ceremonies.

Zille completed a 5km walk and handed R130&nbs;010 to the main beneficiary, the Red Cross Children's Hospital. A cheque was also presented to an Islamic community library.

ICC Board meeting set for Cape Town on Thursday and Friday, 1 and 2 March



Thursday and Friday, 1 and 2 March, will see the ICC Board meeting in Cape Town, South Africa.



The meeting will be held at the Arabella Sheraton Grand Hotel, Convention Square on Lower Long Street and the following are among the items that will be covered over the two days:



The process to select the next ICC President



The Board will receive a report from the Nominations Committee following the latter’s meeting with the two prospective candidates to become the next ICC President in succession to the incumbent Percy Sonn. Those candidates are the Chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board David Morgan and Sharad Pawar, the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.



The Board will consider its options in the light of this report.



The role of the ICC match referee



The Board will discuss the recommendation of the ICC Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC) which, at its January meeting, suggested an amendment to the ICC Playing Condition that relates to Law 21.3 (“Umpires awarding a match”).



CEC had been asked to look into the role and title of the ICC match referee following discussions at last November’s ICC Board meeting in Mumbai, where the events of the Test match at The Oval last August were discussed. On that occasion the two umpires awarded the match to England when Pakistan was deemed to have refused to play.



The Board will consider the CEC recommendation that it should be the ICC match referee that is responsible for making decisions on the termination of a match.



Appointments to a revised ICC Cricket Committee



The Executive Board will discuss appointments to the ICC Cricket Committee having previously approved a recommendation of CEC concerning its taking on a revised structure.



That new structure would see the Cricket Committee no longer made up simply of nominations from each of the Full Members (Boards and players) and leading Associates.



Instead it would include two past players; two nominees of Full Member team captains representing current players; one current Full Member coach; and one representative each from Member Boards, umpires, match referees, the Marylebone Cricket Club, statisticians, the media and Associate Members.



Commercial update



The Board will receive a report on the latest developments concerning the ICC’s ongoing negotiations with potential commercial partners for the eight year period from mid-2007 to 2015.



The ICC has already concluded a broadcasting agreement for the same period with ESPN STAR Sports. The first ICC event covered by any new agreements will be the ICC Twenty20 World Championships in South Africa in September.

African Continental Cycling Centre (ACCC)

For the 3rd consecutive year, the ACCC welcomed on 15 February 28 athletes from 13 African countries, including elite women, who will train and race in South Africa as part of their preparation for the 2007 B World Championships, which will take place in Cape Town from 26 June to 1 July. One of the athletes, Namibia's Petrus Lotto from Namibia; will also ride the Giro and arrive at the Continental Centre afterwards. He is no stranger to the ACCC having attended the Centre from July to September last year.
The Championships will act as a qualifier to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
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Ecclestone supports CT's F1 bid
Author: Hailey Philander 01/03/2007 14:10

Cape Town - A Cape Town-based consortium, with the support of various government departments, aims to bring F1 to a purpose-built circuit within the city.

Though South Africa has a rich motorsport heritage, the country has been largely excluded from top international racing for several years.

"There is no motor racing venue in South Africa that can host a Formula One anymore, and we want to build a brand new one close to the Cape Town International Airport," Davie Gant, chief executive of the South African Grand Prix Bid Company, said.

Realising that the current organisers of the world's most technologically advanced sport are eager to extend their reach beyond Europe, potential organiser Gant and his band of investors are keen to attract the race to South Africa, and Cape Town in particular.

This is also an attempt to curtail Durban's efforts to host this big racing event itself.

With the vocal support of the city's deputy mayor Charlotte Williams and mayoral committee member for economic development Simon Grindrod, the South African Grand Prix Bid Company hopes to have the race in the city by 2011.

The proposed area for the circuit will be situated adjacent to the current Cape Town International Airport. The circuit will be FIA compliant and should play host to major F1 and MotoGP races.

With a plan to move current Killarney activities to the new circuit, other domestic racing series will also be hosted at the circuit, along with alternative sporting and entertainment events.

The prospective international F1 circuit is designed by top track designer Hermann Tilke, who is also responsible for new circuits in Abu Dhabi and Korea.

The 5.7-km track will allow for an average speed of 228 km/h. It should be able to accommodate close to 120 000 spectators in its grand stand and a combination of temporary stands and grass banks.

In what will probably be known as the African F1 Project, the initiative will incorporate a new F1 circuit, a new karting track, a driver academy, and a commercial development.

The project will also incorporate a non-profit organisation aimed at training young people as drivers, engineers, administrators and including other job related to motorsport.

The bid company has been involved in extensive discussions with F1 head Bernie Ecclestone and a seven-year contract to host the race is likely if all things go to plan.

All that remains is for the consortium to secure the rights to the land for the circuit (the land adjoining the proposed airport extension and the current Killarney site), acquire the R750m to build the circuit and honour the annual licence fee agreement of approximately $2m per annum.

Grindrod has however assured that the R4bn project "won"t cost the city at all".

R4 billion for Cape to host 2011 F1 Grand Prix
The chances of Cape Town hosting Formula One are improving

The chances of Cape Town hosting Formula One are improving
March 01, 2007, 18:15

A cluster of private sector companies has made available R4 billion for Cape Town to host the Formula One Grand Prix in 2011. The Grand Prix Corporation today outlined its plans of bringing one of the world’s leading sporting events to the Mother City.

The chances of Cape Town hosting Formula One are improving. The land adjacent to the Cape Town International Airport has been identified for Formula One race track as well as a commercial and industrial park. More than 15 000 jobs will be created during the construction phase of the project. The Grand Prix Corporation says the viability of land is their only barrier.

David Gant, the Chief Executive SA Grand Prix Corporation, says the state of land and the value of the project is such that they can expect from government to move the process so long.

All the city need to do is make the land available
Gant says he is hoping that during the course of this year they will be in the position to say whether they have a viable financial visible project and will go to Formula One and present their licence application to them.

Simon Grindrod, of the City of Cape Town says they support the idea. Grindrod however has made an appeal to the national, province and the city to work together and not to lose this opportunity amid the ongoing spat over the construction of the 2010 Green Point Stadium.

"To have the maturity that we need to attract these world class events like everybody else in the world does. Let us not prejudice ourselves simply because of our own attitude," says Grindrod. All the city and the province need to do is make the land available.

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Tri Nations Track Challenge
Cycling
Date: 9 March 2007
Venue: Bellville Velodrome, Cape Town
Tel: 021 557 1212

If it's the second weekend in March it must be Cycle Tour time and if you're in Cape Town over the next three days prepare to make way for bicycles… about 35,000 of them.

The action started on Tuesday with the Cape Argus/ Pick 'n Pay Giro del Capo, an international stage race, which finishes with the Argus Tour on Sunday.

Today's third stage, over 125km, of the Giro starts (11am) and finishes at the Bloemendal restaurant in Durbanville and takes in Vissershok as well as Malanshoogte.

The field moves to the city tomorrow for the traditional Signal Hill individual time trial climb, a stage that often decides the overall winner.

Tomorrow's racing starts at 11am with the final stage, Sunday's 109km Cycle Tour, hitting the road on the Foreshore at 6.15am.

n An international track meeting will be held at the Bellville Velodrome tonight, starting at 7pm.

Teams from Germany, Switzerland, Kazakhstan and South Africa are to compete in sprint, keirin, scratch, elimination, madison and 1,500m races.

A highlight of the evening should be the appearance of current world points race champion Peter Schep who will be racing with Swiss teammates Bruno Risi, Franco Marvulli and Danny Stam.

The Germans will be led by world rated sprinters Stefan Nimke and Maximillian Levy.

SA's challenge will come from Dean Edwards (KZN), Morné Blignaut (WP), Chris Willemse jnr (WP), Garth Thomas (Boland), Mike Thompson and Gary Rabie (both Central Gauteng)

An SA junior team will be racing against a Dutch junior side and the SA Federation squad which doubles as the SA B team.

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Grumbling Capetonians don't appreciate how amazing Cycle Tour is

Familiarity often breeds contempt but, in the case of the Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour, it produces a damaging indifference.

It seems to me that no one beyond the cycle tour organising committee and Claremont Rotary has any real appreciation of what was achieved last Sunday.

This city of ours, which so many denigrate as a sleepy, inefficient backwater, once again successfully accommodated a world record 35 000 cyclists around 109km of road whilst timing, feeding, watering, nursing, massaging, policing, rescuing, televising and cheering them and also taking large amounts of money off them for the specific benefit of charities and the general benefit of the local economy.

The cycle tour is, quite simply, a phenomenal event. A city-defining event. And yet, for many Capetonians, the tour's breathtaking efficiency is acknowledged with, at best, a shrug, amidst a sea of grumbles about how chaotic and "affirmative" (the new nasty, bitter euphemism) we have become.

If someone proposed this event from scratch now, the naysayers would have a field day. They would assert confidently that we couldn't do it. Crime, corruption, incompetent cops, crazy drivers, the state of the roads, the airport, inefficient council officials, our poor service ethic - on and on the list would go of reasons why we would make a mess of hosting such a monumental logistical challenge. And yet we did it, and did it well, for the 30th consecutive year.

Of course, to a degree, the pessimists would be right about taking on such an event full on, first time. The Cycle Tour is the definitive mighty oak from a tiny acorn. I suspect most people living in Cape Town on October 1978 26 weren't even aware that 525 cyclists had headed off round the peninsula on uncleared roads in the very first Argus Tour.

The original visionaries, Bill Mylrea and John Stegmann, probably had no idea what they were starting and maybe would've been too daunted to try if they had known! But they and others standing on their shoulders have grown the event in some way every year - making mistakes, learning lessons, building capacity and every 12 months pulling off something that sounds oxymoronic, routine magic.

So we are, as a city, demonstrably capable of hosting big events and creating a special vibe around them but we have to nurture the small beginnings, the saplings if you like, of future great events. We need to keep our heads up for things that are already happening which have the potential to grow, like the cycle tour, into landmark occasions 30 years from now.

The Cape Town International Jazz Festival and the MCQP are both already a long way down the road but need to maintain the kind of momentum that could see the former rivalling Montreux and the latter, the Sydney Mardi Gras. The Two Oceans Marathon is another mature event but maybe it needs a re-think and become a standard marathon, offering our staggering scenery as a back-drop on the international roster with New York, Tokyo, Boston and London.

Well over 60 000 people jolled last December at the switching on of the Adderley Street Christmas Lights but it could become 200 000 if the 2010 World Cup fan park idea really transforms the Grand Parade.

The Kaapse Klopse for all their history and colour exist in an ambivalent zone with some of the undertones from our racial past ('Coon Carnival' really sticks in the craw), but can't we shake that off, move on and really define that event?

The Design Indaba and last year's sleeper hit, the Book Fair, are two others with massive future potential.

And what of the Cape Town Festival, on right now? We live in the perfect city for a rollicking festival like Edinburgh, Adelaide and Grahamstown, but so far we haven't cracked it. Too many of us barely notice it. But the organisers are on to something with the annual street party in Long Street which I can envision in 30 years time as a monumental city-wide thrash. We have to persist with the festival and find its right niche.

And back to cycling. In 2037 maybe we will be hosting 40 000 entrants in the world's biggest Mountain Bike Cycle Tour at Boschendal. Ten days ago that relatively young event topped 2 000 competitors. And maybe it will coincide with the annual hosting of the World Mountain Bike Championships and the final leg of that new phenomenon, the Cape Epic?

Why not? We've certainly got the mountains and surely we know by now that we do bikes very, very well.

Published on the web by Cape Argus on March 14, 2007. © Cape Argus 2007. All rights reserved.

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An epic arrangement

Last month this province hosted two immense sporting events. Both were cycling races - the Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour and the eight-day Cape Epic stage race.

The former attracted 30 000 entrants, many foreign, who pedalled around this most beautiful of peninsulas without a serious hitch.

The latter race began in Knysna with 603 teams of two riders each and weaved its way through the province to finish at the Lourensford wine estate in Somerset West on Saturday.

It also attracted many foreign entrants - from all corners of the globe - and all seemed entranced by the experience.

Part of the appeal - besides the physical challenge - was the extraordinary beauty that participants were exposed to. The route took them from the valleys and crags of the Karoo to the coast at Kleinmond and then up over the Hottentots Holland range and on to the Peninsula.

And the race once again confirmed the ability of South Africans to organise highly complex events. It required that accommodation for more than 1 200 cyclists and the many organisers and staff were set up in each of the seven overnight stops. All had to be fed and watered and many treated medically.

A tent town, with an individual tent for each of the riders and ablution facilities, was set up in each stop. By the time the riders arrived in the next town their new temporary home was in place.

Then there were the logistics of getting the riders through some of the more obscure back roads of the province.

Like the Cycle Tour, it suggested that we are capable of pulling off the most complex of arrangements. All of which is extremely heartening as we contemplate the even bigger challenge that looms in 2010.

Published on the web by Cape Argus on April 2, 2007. © Cape Argus 2007. All rights reserved.

busy times for the Cape...


Two Oceans draws record field
Brad Morgan

2 April 2007

The 2007 Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon, taking place on Saturday 7 April, has attracted a record field of close to 19 000, including almost 8 000 entrants for the 56-kilometre ultra-marathon, one of the largest fields in the history of the event.

The half-marathon, now into its tenth year, boasts its largest field ever with 11 000 participants, which makes it the largest half-marathon in the country.

A further 6 000 people have entered Friday's fun run, bringing the total number of participants to 25 000.

For the first time, an international friendship run will also be held on Good Friday. It takes place at 09:30 and covers five kilometres from the Good Hope Centre to the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront.

Friendship run route
The route takes in historical landmarks and places of interest. The aim of the event is to welcome international runners and their families to Cape Town, and the five-kilometre run is viewed as an opportunity for either an easy-paced jog or a walk.

Stefanie Schultzen, the marketing manager for the event, says it is a way to make the international visitors feel special so that they will share their positive experience of the Mother City with others, and thus act as ambassadors for South Africa and the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

Over 1 000 entries for the ultra-marathon have been received from abroad. Eight of the top 10 male finishers from 2006, and the entire top 10 from last year's women's race, have also entered.

Internet boost
The internet has helped boost the event considerably, with 14 000 of the 19 000 entries having been received online, and Gauteng runners have entered in their numbers, with 4 500 set to make the trip down to Cape Town. Western Cape athletes accounted for 7 600 entries.

Zimbabwe's Moses Njodzi, who stopped his compatriot Marco Mambo's bid for a third successive victory last year, is back to defend his men's title. He won in three hours, six minutes and 50 seconds in 2006.

Mambo was hindered by an injury last year, but is fully fit for this year's race.

Other former winners taking place include 2002 champion Simon Mphulanyane, as well as 1998 winner Fusi Nhlapo, who also won the Comrades in 2003.

Women's race
Tatyana Zhirkova will be back to defend the women's title. She'll face three former champions in Gwen van Lingen (2001), Simone Staicu (2003) and Yelena Nurgalieva (2004 and 2005).

The half-marathon has also drawn Tegla Loroupe. The highly-decorated Kenyan holds world records over one hour, 20, 25 and 30 kilometres, and also previously owned the world record in the marathon.

Loroupe's many victories include wins in marathons in New York City, London, Boston, Rotterdam, Rome, Hong Kong, and Berlin.

She is the hot favourite to take victory in the 21.1-kilometre event, with Namibia's Helaria Johannes, the winner of the SA 10-kilometre Championship in November, expected to provide her with a stiff challenge.

The expo
An important part of the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon gets under way on Wednesday with the holding of the expo which runs from 4 April to 6 April.

It features everything to do with road running, including shoes, clothing, heart rate monitors, fitness aids, sports drinks, energy boosters, nutrients and vitamins. There is also a Two Oceans Memorabilia shop.

For those looking for a few tips before the races, the Virtual Coach will be at the Old Mutual stand providing pacing charts and tips.

Registration also takes place at the expo, where runners will collect their race numbers and goodie bags. Participants need to bring their race acknowledgement card, identity document, and champion chip if they have one, along with them.

Registration times
Organisers have advised entrants to try and register on either Wednesday or Thursday because most runners from outside the Western Cape are expected to register on Friday.

The hours of the expo are from 12:00 to 19:00 on Wednesday, from 10:00 to 19:00 on Thursday, and from 09:00 to 19:00 on Friday.

The organisers have also identified a number of "hot spots" for those who wish to watch the event.

They are:

# Main Road – Lakeside
# Fish Hoek – Kommetjie Road
# Silvermine Road intersection
# Noordhoek Village – start of Chapman's Peak
# Hout Bay Beach – end of Chapman's Peak
# Constantia Nek
# Cecelia Forest – along Rhodes Drive
# Kirstenbosch Gardens
# Union Avenue towards UCT

Russian wins Two Oceans
07/04/2007 16:11 - (SA)

Cape Town - Russian runners have once again dominated the women's race in the Two Oceans ultra marathon by taking the top four positions.

Madina Biktagirova was first in a time of 3 hours 35 minutes and 11 seconds.

She was followed by Liliya Yadzhak, only 11 seconds behind.

Third was Yelena Nurgalieva, who won in 2004 and 2005, and was second last year. Her twin sister Olesya was fourth.

The first South African woman home was Farwa Mentoor who finished in 9th place.

A South African, Bethuel Netshifhefhe of the Harmony gold mine won the race in a time of 3:08:03. He was followed by another South African, Josiah Thugwane, also of Harmony gold mine in 3:09:46. Third place went to Hatiwande Nyamande of Zimbabwe in a time of 3:11:14.

Cycling feast in Cape Town
04/05/2007 21:43 - (SA)

Cape Town - Cyclists from more than 70 countries have entered the UCI B World Cycling Championships to be held from June 26 to July 1. It will comprise, among others, track competitions at the Bellville Velodrome and a road race through Cape Town incorporating the Cape Argus/Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour route as well as additional laps of the circuit.

Event director Alec Lenferna says it represents a cycling coup for the country. It is not only the first event of this nature to be held here, but is also a catalyst for South Africa to be a contender as host for future cycling events.

This is highlighted by the fact that Cape Town has also been awarded the 2008 UCI Junior World Championships when the same organisational structures, routes and successful elements from the 2007 event will be replicated.

Lenferna says the entry so far by more than 70 countries shows the popularity of Cape Town by contestants. In comparison, the last world championships in Switzerland recorded 45 entries.

Leading up to the event, a number of high profile meetings will take place in the city, these include the UCI annual board meeting, the Confederation of African Cycling's general assembly and a commissaire seminar.

During these deliberations, South Africa will make a final bid to host the 2010 BMX world championships and the 2012 mountain biking events and a variety of World Cup events between 2008 and 2012 and beyond.

Lenferna said: "As a precursor to and qualifier for, the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, this is a prominent event on the international cycling calendar."

It is also seen as a development event where young, up-and-coming riders can gain experience. South Africa has been given special dispensation as the host country to enter a development team.

The cyclists will have an opportunity to ride in national colours and work towards a qualification in either the 2008 or 2012 Olympics as elite riders.

Its not entirely about Cape Sport, but how was the crowd at the Stormers Sharks game?? & half of them were Sharks supporters! awesome stuff!

great crowd..apparently sold out.

New bid in race to bring F1 to city 29 May, 2007 Cape Argus

A company has proposed a Monaco-style Formula One street race through the streets of Cape Town. [ Full Story... ]

Triumphant Ajax parade cup of dreams in Cape
May 29, 2007, 14:15

Ajax Cape Town have been parading the Absa Cup through the streets of Cape Town sharing their victory with the city's people.

The Urban Warriors beat Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 in the cup final in Durban on Saturday. The players and club officials were joined by Unicity council members, including the Grant Haskin, the mayoral committee member for sports, on an open-top bus to show off the cup to their fans. The parade started off in the central business district.

The parade stopped briefly outside the offices of Whitey Jacobs, the Western Cape sport minister. Jacobs congratulated the team. The minister, who will deliver his budget speech in the provincial parliament this afternoon, says the victory came at an opportune time and will boost soccer in the province. They will also be travelling to Athlone, Manenberg, Nyanga, Gugulethu, Kalksteen, Bonteheuwel and Langa.

City proposal for Grand Prix Circuit 5/30/2007 8:00:07 AM
The City of Cape Town says a decision will be made soon on a proposed R 4 billion Grand Prix Circuit near the airport.

Mayoral committee member Simon Gridrod says most of the legwork and feasibility studies have already been done.

Another bid company this week indicated it too wants to bring Formula One races to the City, but has proposed instead street circuits on existing roads.

Grindrod says hosting a street race will be tougher to pull off than building a new track.

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16 June
Tri-Nations: South Africa vs Australia, Newlands Stadium

26 June - 1 July
UCI World Cycling Championships, Bellville velodrome

18 July
FIFA Nelson Mandela Benefit Match, Newlands Stadium

24 July
Tottenham Hotspurs vs Orlando Pirates, Newlands Stadium

Isuzu Berg River Canoe Marathon
10 – 14 July 2007

2007 Freedom Challenge Extreme Triathlon Race
16 June - 14 July 2007

Dirtopia Nine-to-Five Mountain Bike Team Relay
16 June 2007

1st National Festival of Golf
4 - 10 June 2007

Plans for a Cape Town F1 street race look feasible 14 June, 2007 Cape Argus
With new F1 superstar Lewis Hamilton attracting almost as much sports page publicity as Springbok rugby players and following my remarks last week about the possibility of staging a F1 grand prix in Cape Town,..

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R6 million to host world cycling event

More than 50 nations to battle out spots for Beijing Olympic Games

UCI World Cycling Championships 23 June - 1 July

Sponsorships keep the wheels turning
By: Alec Lenferna

Sponsorship is big business. No event in South Africa (particularly sports' related) is staged without sponsors being on board and, in fact, few sports' teams, whether national, provincial or local, get by without financial assistance from business. But does sponsorship of a sporting event really give value? I believe it can be hugely beneficial in building reputation and goodwill for a brand.

Sponsorship needs to be a win/win situation where sponsors are linked to passion brands and can drive their positive and targeted messaging home to an already receptive audience.

Sponsorship is an essential part of the marketing mix just as PR, marketing and advertising are and every successful company should make this part of their strategy. But before signing up a sponsorship agreement there must be a structured plan that includes the objectives and the synergy between the partners.

The days of random acts of altruism by top dogs or “Chairman's Choice” sponsorships are over. The strategy should clearly identify marketing and leverage opportunities, be imaginative but realistic and never over-promise, just to secure the sponsorship. Event organisers need to find creative ways to expose sponsors' messages to the marketplace.

Symbiotic relationship

It also has to be a symbiotic relationship. As soon as either party is taking more or giving less, the delicate balance is destroyed and you have an unsuccessful partnership. There is a strong business principle behind sponsorship which needs to be clear and also part of the company objectives. The most obvious is return of investment, be it immediate or over the longer term.

Conversely though, sponsors must also realise they ‘facilitate' an event, and don't own it because there are a whole host of other role players involved – all with their own agendas and expectations – all of which need to be satisfied. Bottom line: expectations need to be managed!

So, how do you approach companies for sponsorship of events, especially sporting events that are not perceived as “mainstream” such as cycling?

It can be a difficult sell to begin with but as long as the sponsorship has mutual benefit and fits in with company marketing objectives, it can be an easy marriage. Cycling is a predominantly LSM 7 – 10 market so it opens up huge opportunities for the right companies. In addition to this, a number of high profile cycling events have found a home in Africa – such as the Tour d'Afrique from Cairo to Cape Town, the Absa Cape Epic, the Pick 'n Pay 94.7 road race and Cape Argus/Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour – raising the profile of the sporting discipline.

Surface not scratched yet

But we haven't begun to scratch the surface of what can be done for, and by, sponsors linked to these events.

Cycling is growing in both popularity and stature and the interest in sponsoring international events bodes well for future high profile cycling events in South Africa. In the case of the 2007 UCI B Championships, Intaka Tech was approached as the primary sponsor. Intaka Tech manufactures and markets innovative and cost-effective equipment such as water purification plants, on-site oxygen and medical-air generation equipment. The company could see a perfect opportunity to get extra leverage for its brand and also lend credibility to this premium event and vice versa.

Apart from primary and support sponsors, the cornerstone of any sporting event is the ‘endorsement' or partnership by institutional partners. The Cape Town Routes Unlimited economic impact figures project that the UCI B World Championship could generate R18 – R22 million for the region through bed nights, meals, shopping, tourist destinations and other spin offs. All of these are direct benefits to the region, which is why the local government should be supportive in a pro-active way.

Besides the considerable economic benefits sporting events bring to any province, they also generate powerful media exposure for the region and South Africa as a tourism destination.

The 2007 UCI B Championships is big in anyone's terms, with close on 60 countries coming to Cape Town to compete. With an operation budget of R6.4 million, sponsorship is obviously vital for its success!

The future of any sponsorship is to ensure that organisers put good products together. You need to deliver on promises so that there is return business, making each event even bigger and better. You need to look after each and every sponsor, regardless of size – they are involved because they believe it is their target market and it will work for them – so your biggest hurdle is to deliver on expectations and promises or you will lose them forever.

In turn, the sponsors must understand the benefits of sponsorships and not expect more than is reasonably deliverable.

Cape Town ready for UCI World B Champs
Posted on Monday, June 25, 2007 - 21:03

President of the world cycling body, Union Cycliste Internationale(UCI), Mr Pat McQuaid, has arrived in Cape Town for the start of the UCI B World Championships, a qualifying cycling event for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The event, takes place from June 26 to July 1, and will see 61 nations competing in track and road events.

“Ten years ago the UCI created the B World Championships with the objective of having a new and very effective platform for its development strategy and to promote cycling on a worldwide level,” says McQuaid. “We are thrilled that this event is now being held on the African continent where cycling is the fastest growing sport and we expect the popularity of the sport to continue to increase.

“The local organizing committee, local authorities and sponsors have worked hard to prepare for this important event on the international cycling calendar, for which we thank them.”

61 Nations have entered the competition, 21 of which are from the African continent. South Africa will be competing in the three day track event, at the covered Bellville Velodrome, with a men and women’s team while a development team, sponsored by Intaka Tech, will compete in the road events.

The UCI B World Championships sees three disciplines being ridden over a six day period. The track events take place at the Bellville Velodrome from June 26 to June 28, the individual time trial out in Wellington on Friday, June 29 and the individual road race on Sunday, July 1.

Silver medal for Hannachi

Cape Town - It was almost gold for Cape Town cyclist Abdelbasset Hannachi, who on Thursday took silver at the UCI B World Track Championship when he was narrowly beaten into second place by Indonesia's Samai Samai in the 1000 metre time trial.

Hannachi, an Algerian national currently resident in South Africa and a member of the CSC/Marcello pro cycling team, missed gold by less than one second.

Third place went to South Africa's Gadi Chait, who won gold in the Keiren event on Tuesday.

Hannachi's team manager, Chris Willemse Snr, said Hannachi showed the world why he is the current Algerian under 23 road and time trial champion.

"Over the past two days, CSC/Marcello riders have earned two medals in the championships, so I have good reason to be proud."

Willemse said the track achievements of Hannachi and Willemse Jnr once again proved why his team is considered one of South Africa's top cycling teams. "Our performances on both the track and the road are unmatched by other South African pro teams who tend to focus on one discipline, but seldom both." - Sapa

Quickwire

Published on the Web by IOL on 2007-06-29 16:32:32
© Independent Online 2005. All rights reserved. IOL publishes this article in good faith but is not liable for any loss or damage caused by reliance on the information it contains.

29 June 2007

CITY WARNS OF ROAD CLOSURES FOR INTERNATIONAL CYCLING EVENT


MEDIA RELEASE
NO. 250/2007
29 JUNE 2007



CITY WARNS OF ROAD CLOSURES FOR INTERNATIONAL CYCLING EVENT

The City of Cape Town is hosting the final stage of an international cycling championship which will result in certain road closures over this weekend.

The UCI B World Championship is staged under the auspices of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) – the world governing body of cycling. It accommodates professional and semi–professional bicycle riders in the track and road cycling disciplines and is used as a qualifier for the Olympic Games.

On Sunday, 1 July top international riders will compete in a road race through the city centre and a route similar to the Argus Cycle Tour. There are 180 male and 61 female cyclists from 62 countries.

The course runs from Hertzog Boulevard in the city centre, onto the Eastern Boulevard, then the M3, Paradise Road, the Blue Route, then over Boyes Drive into Kalk Bay. It will then follow the same route as the Argus cycle tour over Chapman’s Peak, Hout Bay, Camps Bay and Clifton into Sea Point. From Sea Point the riders will proceed down Beach Road onto the Western Boulevard, crossing Buitengracht Street, into Hans Strijdom Avenue, onto the Fountain circle and then into a closed circuit.

“The City of Cape Town is proud to be the host of this year’s event. The international exposure associated with the championships is invaluable marketing. This is also a good opportunity to demonstrate Cape Town’s ability to stage international sporting events.

“We call on all motorists to consider using alternative routes such as the M5, N1 as well as Main Road through Lakeside, Muizenberg and St James this weekend. Road closures wereadvertised in the local media,” says Cllr Dumisani Ximbi, Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security.

Both carriageways of Hertzog Boulevard between Oswald Pirow and Heerengracht will be closed on Saturday, 30 June between 16:00 and 18:00.

On Sunday, 1 July both carriageways of the Heerengracht between the Fountain Circle and Coen Steytler Avenue, as well as Hertzog Boulevard between Heerengracht and the Eastern Boulevard will be closed from 04:00 until 18:00. The route to Paradise Road will also be closed until 18:00.

“The southern part of the route, between Paradise Road back to the city centre will be closed for a limited duration until the cyclists have moved through specific areas. But motorists can expect delays.

“These closures are to start from 12 noon and will be rolled out as the riders move along the route. All the closed roads will be clearly marked to direct motorists to alternative routes. I appeal to all Capetonians to adhere to the instructions of traffic officials and marshals who will staff all the critical points on the route,” says Cllr Ximbi.

The final day of the UCI B World Championships in Cape Town wrapped up with the Men's Road Race over a distance of 161 kilometres. The gold medal went to Ivan Stevic of Serbia in a time of 4.01'47", the silver to Erik Hoffman of Namibia and bronze to Alexandr Pliuschin of Moldova.

The Women's Road Race was dominated by cyclists from China who took no fewer than 6 of the top ten places. The 81km race was won by China's Huang Xiaomei who won the gold medal in a time of 2.18'31". The silver medal was won by Min Gao - 1'07" behind the leader. The bronze went to Sung Eun Gu from Korea with a time of 2.19'56". Four of the cyclists from the South African development team completed the race, but again the Chinese team shone and looked to be the powerful contenders in the 2008 Olympics.

The event may have been the B World Championships but on the UCI 'report card' South Africa definitely received an A for organization. This from the UCI President, Pat McQuaid at the conclusion of the 5-day event in the centre of Cape Town today. Speaking after the men's and women's road races McQuaid said, "This was a dress rehearsal for several other championships that South Africa will be hosting in the near future and judging by what we have had here, at the Bellville Velodrome and at the Time Trial at Wellington, South Africa is capable of hosting just about any event." This follows the dominance of the oriental countries on the road, during the Time Trial as well as the Women's race, where no fewer than nine of the top ten, were of oriental origin.

The B Championships were instituted by the UCI a decade ago to bring the lesser-known cycling nations up to speed and the tenth edition here at the southern most tip of Africa has certainly achieved that.

In brief:

· The UCI B World Championships is the most prestigious cycling event to be held in Africa and paves the way for us as hosts for the 2008 Junior World Championships in Cape Town.

· 60 Nations participated in the UCI B World Championships - the most prestigious cycling event to be held in Africa.

· The cyclists participated in three disciplines over six days in an effort to gain one of the 15 available places in the 2008 Bejiing Olympics.

a.. The UCI (The Union Cycliste Internationale) is the international governing body for cycling worldwide and the championships were held under the auspices of UCI worldwide and Cycling South Africa

Caption:
MEN'S PODIUM : Left to right : Silver for Erik Hoffmann of Namibia, Gold for Ivan Stevic of Serbia and Bronze for Alexandr Pliuschin of Moldova.

Photographs courtesy of Pro Alliance Photographic

For full details you can go to ww.ucibworlds.co.za

FIFA Match for Mandela: Stars named

(FIFA.com) Monday 2 July 2007
An impressive group of more than 50 past and present world-class footballers, including Brazilian football legend Pelé, three-time African player of the year Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), 1998 FIFA World Cup™ champion Christian Karembeu (France), former European player of the year Ruud Gullit (Netherlands) and South African star Lucas Radebe have confirmed their presence in the "90 Minutes for Mandela" match at the Newlands Stadium in Cape Town on 18 July (kick-off 20.00h local time and CET).

"It is a great honour and pleasure for me to have been invited to participate in this tribute to Nelson Mandela, a living symbol of the fight against all forms of racism and discrimination. I am deeply touched by the opportunity to meet this great man, whom I have always admired, and for me this will be a very important occasion," said Samuel Eto'o.
The game, which will serve as a tribute to the legendary South African statesman on the occasion of his 89th birthday, will see an Africa XI meet a Rest of the World XI.

Several other stars such as Abedi Pelé (Ghana), Rabah Madjer (Algeria), Kalusha Bwalya (Zambia), Daniel Amokachi (Nigeria) and South Africans Mark Fish and Philemon Masinga, on the African side, and Andoni Zubizarreta and Emilio Butragueño (Spain) and Wynton Rufer (New Zealand), on the Rest of the World side, have also confirmed their participation. Further details on the squads will be announced at a later date.

The sale of tickets for this unique game, organised by FIFA together with the South African Football Association (SAFA), the South African Local Organising Committee (SALOC), the Nelson Mandela Foundation and FIFPro (the international federation of professional football players), will start soon. More details will follow in the coming days on FIFA.com.
The proceeds of the match will all be earmarked for legacy programmes reaching out to young people in South Africa by using football to develop educational, health and social programmes. The exact activities will be decided and implemented in conjunction with the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

This is the second time that FIFA has organised an all-star match to honour "Madiba", an honorary title that has become synonymous with Nelson Mandela in his home country. On 17 August 1999, the Nelson Mandela African XI played a World All Stars XI in a farewell match for the outgoing president of South Africa.

Soccer stars queue for Mandela
05/07/2007 21:50 - (SA)

Celean Jacobson

Johannesburg - Soccer legend Pele, former US president Bill Clinton and former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan will take part in celebrations marking former president Nelson Mandela's 89th birthday later this month.

Mandela's July 18 birthday is a national celebration and draws attention from his many international admirers.

Soccer will be a major theme of the festivities, with a special ceremony honouring a soccer league formed by political prisoners on Robben Island, where Mandela was held for 18 of the 27 years he spent in jail.

Fifa President Sepp Blatter will confer honorary Fifa membership on the Makana Football Association, in whose games Mandela, separated from his comrades, could not take part, but watched from his cell window.

'90 Minutes for Mandela '

Makana is a local name for Robben Island, after a 19th century warrior leader of the Xhosa, to which Mandela belongs. The British banished Makana to Robben Island in 1819, and he died trying to escape.

Tokyo Sexwale, who works with Fifa's "Say no to Racism" campaign and was one of the leaders of the Robben Island soccer league, said: "The event will underline the commitment of the former inmates of Robben Island, who used the power of football as an instrument of resistance against the apartheid regime."

Shortly after that event, scheduled for Mandela's birthday, veteran stars Pele, Christian Karembeu of France and Ruud Gullit of the Netherlands and present star Samuel Eto'o of Cameroon are among those set to play "90 Minutes for Mandela", a game between an Africa XI and a Rest of the World XI in Cape Town.

"We are happy that the game and Fifa's conferring of honorary membership status on the Makana FA will be a recognition of the contribution of the freedom fighters led by Nelson Mandela on Robben Island," Sexwale said. "Those political prisoners defied the apartheid rules, but adhered strictly to Fifa's rules on the island."

Mandela-Luthuli exhibition

Proceeds of "90 Minutes for Mandela" are earmarked for social programmes, including Mandela's campaign against Aids.

Mandela is not expected to be at the game, as he usually celebrates his birthday - and the anniversary of his marriage to Graca Machel - privately with his family.

The following day, former US President Bill Clinton will open an exhibition exploring the relationship between the late Chief Albert Luthuli, an anti-apartheid campaigner who won the 1960 Nobel Peace Prize, and Mandela, who was given the honour three decades later.

Former United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan will deliver the Nelson Mandela Lecture on July 22. Mandela's annual children's party brings the festivities to an end on July 24.

Zidane, Matarazzi to step on the same field again


PTI

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DURBAN, July 6: Zinedine Zidane and Marco Materazzi would step on the same pitch for the first time since the 2006 World Cup Final when they participate in a charity football match to celebrate former South African President Nelson Mandela's 89th birthday.

Organisers have invited the legendary French playmaker and Italian defender, who were involved in the infamous head butt incident which marred Zidane's last game as a professional footballer.

The game, scheduled for July 18 in Cape Town, will also be used as a platform to promote FIFA's anti-racism policy.

"The idea to invite Zidane and Materazzi is to promote FIFA's 'No To Racism' campaign," South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale, who is one of the organisers, said on Thursday.

"Zidane and Materazzi will be joined by Brazilian legend, Pele, who retired 30 years ago," Sexwale added.

The Rest of the World's XI versus African XI match has been named "90 Minutes for Mandela" and the proceeds from the game will be donated to the Nelson Mandela Fund.

The match was initially scheduled to be played on Robben Island, where Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years, but has since been moved to the Newlands Stadium.

Sexwale said FIFA President Sepp Blatter would confer honorary membership status on the Makana Football Association, a group formed by former prison inmates on Robben Island.

"It would be important to take all those players on Robben Island so that we should have a ceremony in respect of the stalwarts who were in prison," he said.

WATERSPORTS
Expect a fierce tussle

Tue, 10 Jul 2007

The 46th Isuzu Berg River Canoe marathon will bring together a highly competitive field keen to tackle the 239 kilometres over four days on a Berg river running at a good level due to the good winter rains.

Both reigning champions Hank McGregor and Abbey Miedema will be back to defend their titles, and will both start as favourites in contrasting races.

McGregor will find himself drawn into a scrap with at least six other elite river racers capable of deposing him as the reigning Berg King, while the withdrawal of Alexa Lombard has taken all the pressure off Abbey Miedema.

Graeme Solomon, the Cape based champion in the full river conditions in 2001, has been determined in his preparations, and anticipates a fierce tussle that will hinge of several key sections of the race.

“The second half of Day Two will be vital,” says Solomon. “With Day Three and Four starting in batches, any lead you have at the end of Day Two will be banked all the way till the final time trial.”

“The first half of the first day is also going to be tricky. It always is,” Solomon added. “There are scores of tree blocks and a mistake in any one of them can rule you out.”

Solomon experienced this first hand in one of the final Isuzu Berg preparation races, from Hermon to Gouda. He was leading the highly competitive pack into the trees when he got snarled up, losing fifteen places.

“The other guys went half a metre further right, and they all got through, while I was completely snarled up,” recalls Solomon. “That is what can happen on this river in an instant. It’s anyone’s game!”

Solomon will line up alongside a potent field of river racers, including emerging Cape stars Lance King and Dane Sanvido, both lighter paddlers with lightning fast acceleration, attributes that will be very useful in the tight, single file style racing in the 15 kilometres of tree blocks on the first day.

Add to that the seasoned KZN stars Sven Bruss and Len Jenkins, both of whom have committed a sizeable amount of their time and energy to their preparations for this year’s Isuzu Berg.

Local racers Donnie Malherbe, Heinrich Schloms and Edgar Boehm Jnr are also right in the frame, as is Gauteng star Jonathan Niemann.

Abbey Miedema starts the race knowing that she has to manage herself optimally to ensure that she finishes ahead of the other women, including the likes of Kirsty van der Merwe and Lindi Harmson,

Some of the local contenders, including Graeme Solomon, are a little frustrated that the rains have abated during the crucial week ahead of the race, as the river, which has been full for much of the winter, has dropped back to a medium level.

“We’ll be getting out of our boats, says fifteen times on the first day. That’s a whole lot better than fifty times as we have done in recent years. But if the river was as full as it has been for much of the winter then it would have been a highway and we could go over all the tree blocks,” said Solomon.

Rain is forecast for Wednesday night, but as Solomon points out, by that stage the tricky narrow sections through the trees will be a thing of the past. “That rain will be too late!”

The race starts on Tuesday with an individual time trial from the start to the weir at Dal Josephat that will determine the front row seeding for the start of the main race.

The 62 kilometres first stage from central Paarl to Zonquasdrift will include the demanding section through the thick trees that will reduce the field to single file, and often force the paddlers to the bank to portage, even in good river conditions.

The second stage has been reduced to 45 kilometres to finish at the seconds friendly location of Bridgetown, and looks set to be run in cool and drizzly weather after overnight rains on Wednesday night.

The crucial third stage is now 75 kilometres long as it includes paddling the entire length of Misverstand dam. Adding to this demanding prospect is the forecast of a moderately strong north westerly wind that will be a headwind for the paddlers on the longest stage of the race.

The final stage from Zoutkloof to the finish at Velddrif is 56 kilometres long, and will be broken up into an elapsed time start for the leaders and then a final time trial into the finish on the tidal waters of the finish.

The Schedule for the Isuzu Berg River Canoe marathon 2007

Cape Town, Qingdao confirmed as Volvo Ocean Race stopover city



QINGDAO ANNOUNCED AS CHINA RACE STOPOVER
Qingdao Announced As China Race Stopover

Volvo Ocean Race CEO, Glenn Bourke, and Mrs Zang Aimen sign an agreement for Chinese city Qingdao to become a stopover in the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race

Photos: L Edward Zhang R Edward Zhang

Printable version News feed

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 10:00:00 UTC

The port city of Qingdao was today officially confirmed as the China stopover for the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race with the signing of an agreement between race organisers and the Qingdao Municipal Government.

Qingdao’s selection as the stopover on the marathon ocean race’s new route through the Middle East and Asia follows more than six months of negotiations and evaluation.

The race CEO Glenn Bourke was in Qingdao for an official signing ceremony with the city’s Vice Mayor Zang Aimin who said that Qingdao, which is hosting the 2008 Olympics Sailing Regatta, was seeking to establish itself as China’s City of Sailing.

“With its selection as the stop for the Volvo Ocean Race, Qingdao can further enhance its positioning and strategy. Qingdao will gain rich experience in the organisation of elite sailing competition following its hosting of the Olympic sailing event,” Zang said at the signing ceremony.

“With our professional talent and world-class facilities, we believe Qingdao will be able to provide high-quality service to the world’s premier round the world event - the Volvo Ocean Race,” she added.

Bourke said the race’s stopover in China for the first time was a milestone in the history of international ocean racing. “Qingdao’s facilities and the city’s enthusiastic support for our event have left a deep impression on us. We are really looking forward to coming here in early 2009,” he said. The fleet will arrive around the spring festival and stay for about three weeks.

Bourke and a team of race officials visited Qingdao in April after signing a cooperation agreement in Beijing with the China Water Sports Administration Centre and the China Yachting Association.

Race organisers have held discussions with a number of Chinese ports and there is still potential for a second city to be selected as a pit stop before the fleet sails its longest leg, 12,000 nautical miles, to South America. Among the other cities, Shanghai appears the most likely but negotiations are continuing.

Qingdao, home of the famous Tsingtao beer, will serve as the main stopover with in-port racing and a pro-am event as part of the programme.

The race, established in 1973 as the Whitbread Round the World Race and lasting more than nine months, will journey more than 39,000 nautical miles and visit up to 12 countries and ports on its new route.

After its start in Alicante, Spain, in mid-October 2008, the fleet sails via Cape Town in South Africa to the Middle East, India and Southeast Asia before its stop in China ahead of its longest leg to South America. It then stops in Boston on the U.S. East Coast and sails to Galway on Ireland’s west coast on the way to a Baltic port finish.

The race now has seven confirmed entries with crews racing aboard the Volvo Open 70, the world’s fastest monohull racing yacht. The new route will provide huge challenges in physical and mental endurance as well as technology.

allAfrica.com


FIFA Delegation Descends on Cape Town

BuaNews (Tshwane)
NEWS
17 July 2007
Posted to the web 17 July 2007

By Themba Gadebe
Cape Town

A FIFA delegation is expected to arrive in Cape Town this afternoon, ahead of the soccer spectacle to be held in celebration of former President Nelson Mandela's 89th birthday on Wednesday.

The delegation, led by Acting President Jack Warner, will grace the Newlands stadium on Wednesday to witness a soccer match featuring some of the finest former football legends from both the African continent and the rest of the world.

The players include multi-African footballer of the year winner, Samuel Eto, retired Bafana Bafana Captain, Lucas Radebe, former Zambian International Kalushwa Bwalya, Doctor Khumalo and Philemon Masinga, whose only goal gave Bafana a ticket to participate in the 1998 World Cup for the first time.

As part of the festivities to mark the 89th birthday of Mr Mandela, FIFA President Sepp Blatter will confer honorary membership status on the Makana Football Association (FA).

The association was formed by a group of political prisoners held on Robben Island during the apartheid era.

While in confinement on the island, political prisoners played organised football matches as members of the Makana FA, adhering strictly to the FIFA statutes.

"They are a strong symbol of FIFA's fight to eradicate racism and all forms of discrimination from football and sport, and it is only fitting that their efforts be recognised with this honorary membership," said Mr Blatter in a statement.

The event will also underline the commitment of the former inmates of Robben Island, who used the power of football as an instrument of resistance against the apartheid regime.

"We are happy that the game and FIFA's conferring of honorary membership status on the Makana FA will be recognition of the contribution of the freedom fighters led by Nelson Mandela on Robben Island.

"Those political prisoners defied the apartheid rules, but adhered strictly to FIFA's rules on the island," said Tokyo Sexwale, a high commissioner of FIFA's "Say No to Racism" campaign.

Mr Sexwale is also a former Robben Island political prisoner himself.

The event on Robben Island precedes the star-studded "90 Minutes for Mandela" game between the Africa XI and the Rest of the World XI at the Newlands Stadium with kick-off time set at 8pm.

Tickets for the game are available at Computicket and are priced at R30 for general admission, R50 for grandstand seats and R120 for suite tickets.

The proceeds of the match are earmarked for social programmes including Mr Mandela's "46664" global HIV and AIDS campaign.

During the game, players will feature Mr Mandela's "46664" prison number on their football jerseys to indicate their support for the awareness campaign to stop the spread of HIV and AIDS.

"FIFA's tribute to a great leader who symbolises humanity's ability to triumph over adversity, injustice and discrimination is very timely. In a divided world, sport can play a critical role in overcoming divisions between people.

"During their incarceration on Robben Island, sport, and the beautiful game of football in particular, kept the prisoners physically, mentally and spiritually fit and able to continue their heroic struggle for equality and freedom," said Achmat Dangor, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

The delegation arriving this afternoon also includes South Africa's 2010 Local Organising Committee's Chief Executive Officer, Danny Jordaan who is on a chartered flight.

Mr Jordaan said the all-star game at Newlands was "a celebration of the life of one of the great African icons".

"As we move towards preparing for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, we celebrate Nelson Mandela's birthday in recognition of his personal contribution and sacrifices to help South Africa and Africa host its first World Cup, and this event demonstrates the values and importance of the game of football as a vehicle of hope."

Copyright © 2007 BuaNews. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).

McGregor defends Berg title
14/07/2007 16:39 - (SA)



Velddrif - Hank McGregor and Abbey Miedema successfully defended their titles in the Berg River Canoe Marathon over four days and 239km that provided more thrills and twists than a racy detective novel.

McGregor punched the air in delight on reaching the finish at Velddrif and then held four fingers in the air celebrating his fourth victory in this iconic event, three of them in succession.

McGregor appropriately won the end sprint to seal a six and a half minute victory over Len Jenkins, with Graeme Solomons, the 2001 champion, fighting back in spectacular fashion on the last two days to finish third.

"It was a privilege to be involved in such a great race, with the best river racers in the country," said McGregor, who paid tribute to Len Jenkins, Sven Bruss and Graeme Solomon with whom he forged a formidable combination on the final two stages to dramatically reshape the leaderboard.

"This is the toughest race in the world, particularly coming so soon after the world marathon chaps trials," said McGregor, who never once relinquished his lead or his tactical grip on the race.

After allying himself with the plucky twenty year old Cape student Lance King, with whom he shared the lead at the midway point of the race, McGregor shook him off in a clinical and brutally effective move on Misverstand dam that hinged on a breakaway with Jenkins, Solomon and Sven Bruss.

The podium places for Solomon and Jenkins are both personal victories for paddlers that were both early victims in the race. Jenkins' three minute second stage lead crashed to a six minute deficit in the final half an hour of the second stage, when he as crippled by debilitating cramps and then paddled into a dead end channel.

Solomon was a distant seventh after a dismal first stage.

"If you had given me third place at Hermon (at the latter half on the first stage) I would have taken it gladly," said a delighted Solomon, who drove the pace of the breakaway group with fierce determination for two days, including the demanding 75km second stage.

Abbey Miedema wrapped up her third win in the Berg in a composed an emphatic performance that saw her holding her own with several elite men, and finally finishing 24th overall, and an hour and 10 minutes clear of second placed Kirsty van der Merwe.

"It was a fantastic race," beamed Miedema. "The weather was great, the water was super the whole way, and I ended up racing with some super people." Sven Bruss took the final bridge hotspot prize in truly bizarre circumstances. He was part of the four-strong breakaway group leading as they approached the Kersefontein bridge which decided the last cash hot-spot of the race.

He was the first to tackle a thick tree block and succeeded in getting through. Behind him McGregor and Jenkins bumped into one another, tipping McGregor out of his kayak. He continued with a boat full of water which contributed to him getting stuck in the same tree block, allowing Bruss to get away unchallenged to take the hot-spot a few hundred metres away, which he did in suitably whimsical fashion.

The same section of river tripped up scores of backmarkers who meekly paddled into a dead end channel, forcing them to portage their boats for several kilometres until the found the main channel of the river.

Brett Dorman took the junior title with a solid 25th place overall, the irrepressible Mynhardt Marais was the first sub-master in 13th overall. The race was another milestone for Giel van Deventer and Andre Collins, who extended their joint record by completing their 38th Bergs. Both struggling with shoulder injuries which resulted in extended days on the water, they encapsulated the indomitable spirit of the race's die-hards.

Men's champion Hank McGregor summed up the event, which has become the benchmark for endurance paddling. "Anyone who finishes this race is a winner," he said.

# News24 is now available on your cellphone.

STATEMENT BY MAYOR: "90 MINUTES FOR MANDELA" SOCCER MATCH AT NEWLANDS


STATEMENT BY CAPE TOWN EXECUTIVE MAYOR HELLEN ZILLE

“90 Minutes for Mandela” Soccer Match at Newlands

All early indications are that the “90 Minutes for Mandela” game at Newlands was a great success, enjoyable, safe and a milestone in preparation for World Cup 2010.

The World vs African XI match has shown that with little advertising and a short lead time, Capetonians can unite and fill a stadium. The City would like to thank FIFA, the Local Organising Committee and SAFA for bringing this event and international soccer stars to Cape Town.

This match has vindicated that trust as well as the allocation of nine World Cup matches to Cape Town’s new Green Point stadium. We will treat this as a test-run for 2010, hold an extensive de-brief to build on success and to make improvements where needed.

The City would like to thank residents for making Cape Town’s huge birthday party for Nelson Mandela a resounding success.

While the Good Hope Centre regularly hosts events, this is the first sport event Ive heard of taking place at the venue in the last few years. Almost fell off my chair.

Improved SA beat Malawi
23/07/2007 22:12 - (SA)



Cape Town - In a much improved performance, South Africa beat Malawi 56-35 in the second match in the Spar Challenge netball series at the Good Hope Centre on Monday night, to take a one-nil lead in the three-Test series.

South Africa came out firing on all cylinders, and quickly went into a four-nil lead, only to see Malawi fire five goals in quick succession. But that was the last time Malawi held the lead, as South Africa once again surged ahead to finish the first quarter with a 15-nine lead.

Midway through the second half, the home side began showing some of the mistakes that cost them dear in the first match in Polokwane when the teams played to a draw, but thanks to some inspired defence by goalkeeper Karin Venter and goal defence Leigh-Ann Zackey, and some accurate shooting by Claudia Basson and Maryka Holtzhaisen, South Africa maintained their dominance, and were 31-19 ahead at halftime.

Captain Bronwyn Bock-Jonathan, back in the national team after a four-year absence because of injury, appeared to have shaken off the ring rustiness that hampered her in Polokwane, and had a very good game.

Although Malawi fought back well in the third quarter, which ended 41-29, the Proteas had the bit between their teeth in the final 15, and outscored their visitors by 15 goals to six.

Coach Burta de Kock was much happier after the match than she had been on Saturday. "At least we have broken the losing habit," she laughed. "There were still some lapses in concentration, and we'll have to work on that, but it was a much better performance.

I'm very happy for my team. They are 12 very good players, and they are working together very well. We managed to speed things up on court, and that worked well."

The third and final Test will be played at the Old Mutual Sports Centre at Howard College in Durban on Wednesday evening.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1077/883420944_23a6b93054_b.jpg

SA National Hockey Tournament: Cape Town

WP retain women's hockey title

http://www.tensinet.com/database/images/4140/view%201.jpg
In a dramatic finale at the Spar Women's Inter-Provincial hockey tournament Western Province retained their title when they defeated Southern Gauteng on sudden death penalty strokes at the Hartleyvale astro in Cape Town on Saturday.

The finalists were locked at 2-2 in regulation time and a quarter of an hour's golden goal play failed to separate the two sides. WP eventually prevailed 5-4 on penalty strokes.

No side deserved to lose this encounter with Southerns definitely having the better of the first half and then the experience of the hosts holding sway in the second. The Joburg girls went one up in the fourth minute after Fiona Butler pinpointed a cross from the right to Anika Fisher's stick and she directed the ball past Mariette Rix. Butler found herself in the mix again when she turned a defender inside out to then find an unmarked Sharne Bailey and Southerns were 2-0 up after twenty minutes.

WP then showed all the experience of their 568 international caps when they pulled one back just before the break. National player Shelley Russell who hustled and bustled the whole game, forced a penalty corner and then was on hand to score from a variation which found her on the right hand post.

WP then showed all the experience of their 568 international caps
Southerns never really threatened offensively in the second half and it was the hosts who forced the only penalty corner of the half. In a rare attacking foray, Southerns lost possession and play swept up field with WP earning a free hit outside their opponent's circle. The resultant strike from Tarryn Bright found Megan Robertson and it was all square at 2-2.

Southerns should have by all rights clinched it in the opening minutes of the golden goal extra-time. A massive overhead thrown by Lindsey Wright found an unmarked Roxanne Turner, but with just goalkeeper Rix to beat Turner was unable to make it count.

If the game was a spectacle the penalty stroke shootout was a nail biter.

The team's were level at 4-4 with Southern's Carla Botha missing hers and WP's Taryn Hosking being denied by a brilliant diving save from Leandri Janse van Rensburg. And so to sudden death where first Southern's Tsoanelo Pholo's stroke was saved by Rix and then Bright hit the upright for the champions. Marsha Marescia stepped up only for Rix to save again and then it was up to WP skipper Kate Hector to decide the fate of the trophy. She made no mistake.

"My second penalty stroke my heart rate was very high," said Hector. "But, I'm proud of my side. Twice we have come back against Southerns this week.

"For years we have been the underdogs so this was a special win especially in front of your home crowd."

A beaming WP coach Kerry Bee said she always believed her team were going to win.

"When we were 2-0 down I was not worried. My girls played with big hearts and did exacty what I asked of them."

For Southerns it was double disappointment as it was also stalwart Wright's last game before retirement. An emotional Marescia said she had given Wright the captain's armband in honour of her achievments.

"It doesn't feel good losing," said Marescia. "Especially after we dominated for so long,"

In the A-pool bronze medal playoff Northerns defeated KwaZulu-Natal 4-0 with all their goals coming in the second half and all scored by Louisa Moore.

Peninsula won the B section after beating North West in the final. - Sapa

Quickwire

Emergency turn-around strategy for pathetic Cape Town sports facilities

City sounds the alarm on sport centres

By LYNNETTE JOHNS & BRONWYNNE ESBACH

MANY of the city's sport and recreation facilities are falling apart because of years of neglect.

Now mayoral committee member for amenities and sport Grant Haskin has launched an emergency turn-around strategy, which will see sports bodies contributing to the upkeep of grounds and centres, and dedicated facility managers appointed at all community centres.

Haskin says that over the years not enough money was set aside for maintenance.

He said international norms dictate that between 3% and 5% of the value of the assets should have been set aside for maintenance each year, but this had not been done.

"We have an asset base of R3.5 billion and the city should have been spending R150 million a year on repairs and maintenance. But until last year we were only budgeting between R20m to R35m and this resulted in a massive backlog.

"It appears the previous administration left things to disintegrate and rather started from scratch than to do maintenance. The Good Hope Centre's roof would have cost R2m to repair in 2003, but now it will cost in the region of R5m. And that's just the roof - it doesn't cover repairs to the toilets, floors and stands."

A Weekend Argus survey found:

 The Good Hope Centre, which remains a popular venue, is in an appalling condition and millions are needed to repair it.

 The city recently discovered that a filtration system in a Cape Flats swimming pool had not been replaced since it was installed in 1943. Haskin said these should be replaced every 10 to 12 years.

 The Parow athletics track is going to cost millions to repair as it is now the preferred track for competitions while the new Green Point Stadium is being built.

 Public toilets across the city are scruffy, often filthy, and most have broken mirrors, taps, sinks and toilets.

 Some soccer pitches have little grass to speak of and the field at Athlone Stadium, once the best soccer field in the country, is being treated for a fungus - the result of overwatering.

Mountains of cigarette butts, smashed alcohol bottles and an assortment of litter greeted a Weekend Argus news team outside the Good Hope Centre last week.

Two drains were uncovered, while others had been stuffed with rubbish. Behind the building there were piles of cardboard boxes and old clothes. Security guards said vagrants used the space as sleeping quarters. A strong stench of urine hung in the air.

Nicole van Wyk, a homeless woman, originally from Elsies River, has been living under the bridge, opposite the centre. She said people caused quite a disturbance at the centre at night. "We can't even sleep the way they go on. They get drunk and cause a scene."

A security guard said they regularly had to ask vagrants to move off the premises.

The interior of the main venue was dark and gloomy with peeling paint and dirty walls. Unwashed windows, mounds of dirt and dust gave the centre a feel of neglect.

The three smaller venues, the Drommedaris, the Goede Hoop and the Reiger, were not as dirty, but also need a decent paint-job.

Annette Nortjie, the show manager for Design for Living exhibition, says even though they are committed to staging the popular show at the Good Hope Centre, the conditions were appalling.

"The roof leaks, very little maintenance is done, the patch of garden is not looked after.

"We have managed the show since 2006 and we have to bring in drapery and carpets. It is a tragedy the city does not invest in its own assets."

Too few playing fields in Khayelitsha, Blue Downs and Delft have resulted in pitches resembling barren fields.

South African Football Association (Safa) Western Cape chairman Vernon Seymour said the field at Athlone Stadium had deteriorated so badly that it was almost unplayable.

Last weekend the Premier League was so unhappy about the field that there was a chance that Sunday's Supa8 quarter-final between Ajax Cape Town and Orlando Pirates would be shifted to another venue.

In that week a game between Santos and Free State Stars was nearly called off because the grass was badly cut up in places and mired in mud.

"Our view is that they don't know what they are doing.

"Some of the officials have great ideas but there is no support, and there are senior officials there who are like dinosaurs," Seymour said.

There are 100 000 soccer players in the Metro, and Seymour said the biggest threat to football development was poorly managed fields and a lack of facilities.

"The city tells us that we overplay the fields, but when we leave a field alone nothing happens."

Six months ago Safa stopped games at a Grassy Park field.

"We expected that it would now be in tip top condition but nothing was done."

However, Seymour said fields in black townships fared far worse, with very little management at all by the city.

On being told about the conditions at the Good Hope Centre, Haskin immediately investigated and was given the assurance that it was being cleaned after an event the previous day.

Haskin was cautiously optimistic about improvements to maintenance.

He said: "Even though we won't get R150m in the short term, our new budget is R60m, double what we were getting. This will increase every year."

Haskin has already met the rugby, tennis and cricket federations who have agreed to also contribute some money for upgrading and maintenance.

He will soon meet swimming and hockey federations, and a meeting with soccer is being finalised.

The city is finalising tender procedures to repair the Parow track, which could cost several million rand.

The Athlone stadium pitch had developed a fungal infection due to over-watering, and Haskin says they would have preferred no matches took place until the end of next month.

However, due to PSL commitments, this would not be possible.

Automatic irrigation systems will be installed at all the 164 sports field complexes in the city.

Haskin's next step is to employ facility managers at all their venues.

This, he says, will result in better management.

CITY TO HOST LIPTON CUP PRIZE-GIVING DINNER


MEDIA RELEASE
NO. 327/2007
30 AUGUST 2007



MEDIA ALERT/MEDIA INVITATION

CITY TO HOST LIPTON CUP PRIZE-GIVING DINNER

The City of Cape Town will host the Lipton Challenge Cup prize-giving dinner on Friday, 31 August 2007. The race in Table Bay started on Monday, 27 August and will end on Friday 31 August with a 27 yacht fleet from clubs throughout South Africa competing

The race was first held in 1909 and its magnificent trophy, the Lipton Challenge Cup, has 53 winners engraved on its base. It has great historic and sentimental value and, although it would theoretically be possible to create a replica, it would be difficult to find enough people with the requisite skills and the cost would be exorbitant.

Councillor Grant Haskin, Executive Mayoral Committee Member for Amenities & Sport will officiate at the event.

DATE: Friday, 31 August 2007
TIME: 19:00 for 19:30
VENUE: Banqueting Hall, 5th Floor, Podium Block, Civic Centre, Cape Town

Makeover for Newlands

Officials at Newlands are in good spirits as they put finishing touches to the picturesque stadium which is scheduled to host nine matches of the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 (T20) from 11 to 24 September.

Western Province Cricket chief executive Andre Odendaal said on Thursday vast sums had been invested in the upgrading of Newlands as they sought to secure its future as a world-class stadium.

"We've spent a lot of time dolling up the 'Old Lady' (a term used by many to describe Newlands), which celebrates its 120th anniversary this year," said Odendaal. "We are getting the stadium into peak condition for this event and it will also mean that it will be looking great for a number of celebratory events that we are hosting this season."

Odendaal said preparations for the T20 started six months after the India and Pakistan tours to South Africa, when they realised the pitch wasn't at the standard they wanted it to be.

"We put in a million rand into the stadium and the ground's upgrade," he said.

"We've painted the President's Pavilion, checked the entire drainage system on the field, and under Peter Muzzell, we've also re-grassed 1600 sq. m of the outfield.

"We look at the pitch on a weekly basis with outside people helping, and we put in a hot house tent to keep the rain off, so we could control the water content and the pitch table during the wet winter."

Newlands T20 project officer Russell Adams said that provided they got some decent sunshine in the weeks leading up to the tournament, they were confident of delivering a quality cricket pitch for the event.

"With the amount of rain that's been around, it's going to be slow, but then that's normal for cricket in Cape Town at this time of the year. The wickets will possibly be slower than usual but that's to be expected.

"I think in terms of the preparations that we've done here at Newlands to ensure that the facility is in good condition and well prepared for this tournament, we certainly will have our ducks in a row and will make sure that it is of a standard that is suitable for every team that is coming down to Newlands."

Tickets have been selling fast in the Western Cape and Adams has urged fans to grab what is left.

"Our double-headers are sold out, our semifinal is sold out and there are very few tickets left for the remaining group stage matches. The Newlands faithful have been absolutely brilliant for the last 120 years and we appreciate the support." - Sapa

Quickwire

Benni fever hits Cape Town

September 05 2007 at 12:17PM

By Matt Medved

"Benni's back?" Those were the words on everyone's lips on Tuesday as Bafana Bafana kicked off their training camp in preparation for their African Cup of Nations qualifying match against Zambia at Newlands on Sunday.

Cape Town-born Blackburn Rovers striker Benni McCarthy joined up with his team-mates and is set to make his first appearance for the national team since a 2-0 defeat to Tunisia in the Cup of Nation's last year.

McCarthy practised with his team-mates for approximately two hours on Tuesday.

As he walked off the field, a jubilant crowd of several hundred Bafana Bafana faithful swarmed towards him.

McCarthy and the SA Football Association (Safa) have had a turbulent history as McCarthy has seemingly favoured his club schedule over international appearances.

Bafana's match at Newlands on Sunday is only the national side's fourth appearance in Cape Town since South Africa was re-admitted to the Fifa fold in 1992.

The match is crucial to Bafana, for whom a draw would seal qualification for the biennial Cup of Nations tournament in Ghana.

City celebrate CAF's 50th birthday

By Asadumodwa Sokopo

The City of Cape Town hosted a function Thursday night to celebrate the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) 50th anniversary.

In her welcoming speech to the confederation, Cape Town Mayor Helen Zille said the death of Sundowns Player Gift Leremi was a great loss to South African football and she extended her condolences to his family.

Wishing South Africa good luck for 2010 was former German football great Franz Beckenbauer who handed gifts to Zille and CAF president Issa Hayatou.

'I see the successes in this city and I also see what has been done in preparation for 2010 so far'
Beckenbauer is the only man who has ever won the World Cup both as a player and manager.

This is the fifth leg in CAF's celebrations, after Port Elizabeth and before Johannesburg.

At the function at the Noon Day Gun, Hayatou thanked the city for its preparation for the 2010 World Cup and said it was obvious Cape Town loved football.

"I see the successes in this city and I also see what has been done in preparation for 2010 so far. This will be remembered in the next 50 years to come," he said.

Zille said she could not attend the SA versus Zambia match at Newlands on Sunday. She encouraged young people to watch football and not use drugs.

Plans for 2010 were on track but anything could go wrong.

"We should not be complacent," she said.



* This article was originally published on page 10 of The Cape Argus on September 07, 2007

The Argus

Published on the Web by IOL on 2007-09-07 12:55:00
© Independent Online 2005. All rights reserved. IOL publishes this article in good faith but is not liable for any loss or damage caused by reliance on the information it contains.

Anymore news on the F1 track? I REALLY...and I mean REALLY hope we get one! I've always wanted one here :P

Anymore news on the F1 track? I REALLY...and I mean REALLY hope we get one! I've always wanted one here :P

no news..i hope it comes through. the airport, race track and other upgrades to the surrounding area could make a big difference.

Yeah. It's not cool driving out of the city and immediately seeing some of the worst it has to offer. My teacher took a long detour in order to avoid showing her overseas guest that part of the city.

Yeah. It's not cool driving out of the city and immediately seeing some of the worst it has to offer. My teacher took a long detour in order to avoid showing her overseas guest that part of the city.

mmm..cant say im a housing proponent, it shudnt be our main focus

So what if WP don't make a semi-final. Its as if the Currie Cup owes them something.


Cape Town - Western Province have at last recorded a win over the Currie Cup frontrunners when they beat the Sharks 22-19 in a hard fought match at Newlands on Saturday.

The first half belonged to the men in the hooped jerseys and the home team led 16-6 at halftime with the WP loose-forwards dominating at the breakdown.

The Sharks were missing their experienced forwards, AJ Venter and Johan Ackermann, and the inexperience showed with the team losing several of their own lineouts.

Province were in a must-win situation following the earlier victory by the Lions over the Blue Bulls in Johannesburg.

The win over the Sharks have kept Province in the running for a spot in the Currie Cup playoffs.

Uys scored the second try

Veteran WP winger Breyton Paulse opened the scoring for his team following a storming run by eigthman Robbie Diack. WP flyhalf Naas Olivier missed the conversion but scored two telling penalties during the first half.

Sharks scrumhalf Rory Kockott kicked two penalties to keep the visitors in the game.

WP's prolific try scoring centre, Corne Uys, scored the hosts' second try to give WP a deserving halftime lead.

The Sharks fullback, Odwa Ndungane, had a good day on the field. He rounded his perfomance off with a long distance try, which started in his own half. Ndungane twisted out of two WP tackles and ran all of 55m to bring his team to within six points.

The day belonged to WP, however, and Peter Grant, who had taken over the goal kicking duties in the second half, added two penalties to WP's halftime score.

The match ended on a tense note with Kockott having added two more penalties to keep the Sharks within striking distance up to the final hooter.

SA makes world table-tennis history
Johannesburg, South Africa
26 September 2007 02:37
OUTsurance - Click Here
The rising stars of international table tennis will converge on Cape Town's Good Hope Centre from October 19 to 29 when the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Cadet Challenge and the ITTF World Junior Circuit Finals are hosted in South Africa for the first time.

The World Cadet Challenge is an intercontinental event for players aged 15 and under. Each of the six continents is represented by four male and four female players, while Korea will be fielding an additional boys' team and Japan an additional girls' team as the two ITTF wild cards. South Africa, as host nation, will also field a boys' and girls' team.

The World Junior Circuit Finals will feature the top 22 players (11 male and 11 female) aged 18 years and under who have accumulated the highest points on the World Junior Pro Circuit.

As host, South Africa will be represented by a male and female player.

Hajera Kajee, vice-president: administration for the South African Table Tennis Board, said the event will have a huge impact on the sport in South Africa.

"Young talent will be identified and developed while our elite youngsters will have the opportunity to compete against the best in the world. It will certainly pave the way for the future stars of the sport. Also, the equipment that the ITTF allocated to us for the tournament will be put to good use in the development of the sport in South Africa."

South African table tennis has made great strides over the past few years. The sport has been recognised by the government as one of its 19 core sports, and this has meant significant funding for international participation for the country's top players at events such as the African and world championships.

Through funding provided by Sport and Recreation South Africa and the National Lottery Board, talented cadets and juniors are being identified and developed to compete in Africa and go on to represent their country.

There is also a Chinese coach based at the High Performance Centre in Pretoria working with the top players, including cadets.

The format of play for the tournament will be a team event, doubles and singles. In the team event there will be two groups of four teams in the round-robin stage, with the top two teams advancing to the semifinals. The doubles event is based on a progressive knock-out system.

In the singles, there are eight groups of four players in the round-robin stage, with the top two players advancing to the main draw and playing for positions one to 16.

The tournament will be preceded by a coaching clinic conducted by some of the top table-tennis coaches in the world. -- Sapa

35 000 enter Cycle Tour in three weeks

By Jade Witten

Online entries for next year's Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour have closed after all 35 000 positions were filled in just over three weeks.

But cyclists who have entered through the post still stand a chance of participating, as entries postmarked up to Friday, September 28 may be accepted, though this is not guaranteed.

More than 10 000 people signed up in the first 48 hours of entries being opened on September 1 a record in the tour's 31-year history.

Next year's tour is on March 9
David Bellairs, of the organising team, said he was thrilled cyclists continued to support the event, in which they embark on a 109km ride around Cape Town.

"Organisers have a number of plans in the pipeline to put the fun back into the world's largest timed ride," he said.

Next year's tour is on March 9.

Cyclists who missed the deadline will have to wait until substitution entries open next year.

Successful entrants have been advised to improve their starting positions by participating in the remaining seeding events.

Visit www.cycletour.co.za for more information.

* This article was originally published on page 4 of The Cape Argus on September 26, 2007

The Argus

Published on the Web by IOL on 2007-09-26 11:30:00
© Independent Online 2005. All rights reserved. IOL publishes this article in good faith but is not liable for any loss or damage caused by reliance on the information it contains.

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South African Open comes to Cape Town
Friday, October 05, 2007

Event: South African Airways Open
Date: December 13th-16th

This December, the South African Open sponsored by South African Airways comes to Cape Town.

Golf fans should not miss this event, taking place at Pearl Valley Signature Golf Estate near luxury hotel the Twelve Apostles.

Event's website What's on When reports that the golf tournament is the world's second-oldest - coming after the British open - and dates back to 1893.

Taking place from December 13th - 16th this year, South African golfer Ernie Els will be defending his title.

The South African Airways Open has taken place as such since 2003, having previously been sponsored by Bells and has been won by a native of South Africa since Zimbabwe's Mark McNulty held the title in 2001.

Part of the Sunshine Tour, those watching the South African Airways Open this December should stay at nearby luxury hotel the Twelve Apostles.

CT gear up for table tennis world finals

Posted on Friday, October 12, 2007 - 11:44
Sixty-four talented young players from 30 countries have been confirmed for the International Table Tennis Federation World Cadet Challenge and the ITTF World Junior Circuit Finals to be held in Cape Town from October 19-29.

Among them is Tunisia's rising star Adem Hmam, who will be competing for the third time and still has another two years of competition left at this level.

Another young star in Felipe Olivares will be making his third and final appearance for the Latin-American boys' team.

Three national teams will compete in the World Cadet Challenge, an inter-continental event for players aged 15 and under. Each continent is represented by four male and four female players.

South Africa, as host country, will also field a team. Although the squad is young, the experience gained from competing at this level will prove invaluable.

The ITTF World Cadet Challenge was started as a meeting point for continental initiatives and development work.

In this regard, the tournament has certainly grown in stature over the last few years. It has been a starting point for the future development of young athletes, their coaches and the national team management.

The concept of having continental representation has also become stronger, aligning itself more closely to the ITTF's development philosophy.

According to Mikael Andersson, ITTF global junior programme manager, the future development of the young players is of utmost importance.

"All of us involved in the ITTF World Cadet Challenge can contribute to the future success of these athletes by seeing them for what they are and what they can be. The ideas and passion for our sport will start to grow in the minds of our young players."

The World Junior Circuit Finals is for the top 22 players (11 male and 11 female) aged 18 years and under who have accumulated the highest points on the World Junior Pro Circuit.

Again, South Africa will also field a male and female player as host country.

The confirmed players for the Junior Circuit are:

Junior Girls - Elizabeta Samara (Romania), Jessica Yamada (Brazil), Madeleine Melcher (Sweden), Wenting Ma (Norway), Kai Xin Zena Sim (Singapore), Si Yun Isabelle Li (Singapor), Misako Wakamiya (Japan), Hana Matelova (Czech Republic), Min Hee Kim (South Korea), Elena Troshneva (Russia), Mo Zhang (Canada), Alisha van Rooyen (South Africa).

Junior Boys - Paul Drinkhall (England), Kentaro Miuchi (Japan), Benjamin Rogiers (Belgium), Borna Kovac (Croatia), Hyun Deok Seo (South Korea), Trent Carter (Australia), Abdel-Kader Salifou (France), Vincent Baubet (France), Omar Assar (Egypt), Mikhail Paykov (Russia), Andy Mariano Pereira (Cuba), Kurt Lingeveldt (South Africa).

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After successfully hosting the 2007 UCI B World Championships as a qualifying leg for Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Cape Town has been awarded the right to host the 2008 World Junior Cycling Championships from 12-20 July at the Bellville velodrome and other locations.

I hope they do something nice to the Veledrome before then...

I hope they do something nice to the Veledrome before then...

About R80million will be spent on the stadium that is part of the velodrome, so I hope it includes the entire complex. What the velodrome needs is a private operator. The UCI B World Champs went off just fine with the current velodrome, they prob cleaned it up. It needs a wooden track though like the Olympic and commonwealth games use.

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No suprises here. Cape Town has completed hosting the world cadet and world junior circuit finals at the Good Hope Centre(which if I must say looks amazingly cleaned up in this image) and the event has put cape town in a good position to host the junior world champs in 2012/2013. The same thing happened after Cape Town hosted the Beijing Olympic cycling Qualifier. Cape Town will now host 2008 Junior World Champs of cycling.



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Hosting success sets up Cape Town bids for 2012/2013 Junior World Champs

The interest for the ITTF World Junior Championships is continuing to grow all around the world. As it stands now the next in line could be the South African Table Tennis Board , who are getting ready to present a bid for the 2012 or 2013 World Juniors.

This morning ITTF staff and officials were invited to inspect the Grand Hall located in the Grand Hotel Casino Resort. Huge place - 240 room capacity , twelve full flight restaurants catering to all the cousins of the world , complete ice rink, bowling alley and just all entertainment you could imagine. The Grand Hall is a completely new venue with a capacity of 6000 spectators opening all kind of options for the organizers.

“We are definitely interested to bid for the World Juniors in 2012 or 2013 and i hope that the event this week have provided the ITTF with enough confidence for future adventoures said Ganief Faatar the President of the SATTB.

So… Great opportunities in the Grand Hall - But also excellent possibilities in the Good Hope Center..Anyway as i said before i have a feeling that the ITTF will come back here sooner rather than later..

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Cape Town gets nod to host 2011 World Junior Softball Championships

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Cape Town steps up to the plate

Mcelwa Nchabeleng
20 November 2007

Noore Nacerodien, Western Province Softball Association (WPSF) president, yesterday revealed that the local government in Cape Town has pledged R15 million to upgrade their facilities.

Nacerodien said the money would help them to successfully host the 9th Junior Women’s Championships in 2011.

He said they got the nod to host the event at the 23rd International Softball Federation congress in Manila, Philippines, last month.

“We are happy with the support we got from the local government and I can assure the people of South Africa that we are going to host one of the most successful junior women’s championships in 2011,” Nacerodien said yesterday.

“We are ready, willing and able to host this event and are going to work hard to lure more sponsors to ensure that we host the tournament with pride.”

Nacerodien said the money would be used to upgrade facilities at the imposing and world-class Turfhall Softball Stadium in Athlone.

He also believes that hosting the national softball championships in March next year would also be good for their preparations for 2011.

“This will be an ideal opportunity for us to ensure that our infrastructure and volunteer base are in place for 2011.

“It is our intention to make this a mini world event,” Nacerodien said.

Cape Town has a proven track record of hosting major international sporting events.

Besides being a host city for the 2010 World Cup, the Mother City has also hosted a number of other high-profile international sporting events such as the cricket and rugby world cups.

“Softball aims to build on that success and ensure that Cape Town remains a sporting destination of choice in the world,” said Nacerodien.

“Our mission statement for softball events we host is to deliver an event of the highest standard, attract visitors to Cape Town, enhance the city’s profile and strengthen our sporting and cultural infrastructure, and to maximise the economic, social and environmental benefits of events in the province.”

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Cycle tour named Road Race of Year

Jade Witten
23 November, 2007
Cape Argus

Making history is exactly what the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour does, and this year the tour has been crowned Road Race of the Year at the seventh annual Standard Bank Cyclist of the Year Awards.

Sports infrastructure upgrades

Total contribution by city over 2008-2010: R280 million

Some highlights:

*Bellville Velodrome - upgrades to PA system and internal improvements

In addition: The City of Cape Town has put private land around the Velodrome up for tender. The successful bidder will be responsible for maintaining and operating the Velodrome site and possible its facilities.

* Hartleyvale Stadium - upgrade/refurbishment of fabric roof structure, as well as general upgrades to the facility as a whole

*Good Hope Centre - Investment to fix the roof structure and refurbish the venue as a whole

*Khayaletsha Athletics Track spectator stand - R18 million

*Athlone Stadium - Phase 2-4 - Completion of north and south stand with roof cover, complete mid 2009 R250 million

*Parkwood Sports Complex: Developed for R12 million

*Swartklip Soccer Development 2010 - cost N/A

*Vygieskraal(Athlone) Athletics Stadium and Hockey Stadium upgrade


For all sports venue upgrades: http://www.capetown.gov.za/budget/2007-2008/Annexure%202-Mayco_Summaries_0708_May_07_Detail.pdf

Olympic hockey team preparations in Cape Town and Stellenbosch

Hartleyvale Stadium, Cape Town

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Stellenbosch Hockey Centre

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Tue, 04 Dec 2007

Next year is an Olympic year, and the SPAR South African hockey team have moved into preparation gear with international matches lined up from early in 2008.

South Africa will play Ireland in four Test matches between 12 and 19 January. The first and third Tests will be played at Stellenbosch University’s Sports Centre and the second and fourth Tests will be played at Hartleyvale in Cape Town.

The team then travel to Argentina for a four-nations tournament involving Argentina, Germany, South Africa and the United States. The tournament begins on 23 January and ends on 27 January.

“It’s wonderful to have these opportunities so early in the Olympic year,” enthused team coach Jenny King. “Normally, there is very little hockey in January because we are in the middle of summer.

“I am also very pleased to have a Test series ahead of a tournament. A series gives us a chance to get rid of some of the wrinkles and to blood some of our younger players ahead of the four-nations tournament in Argentina.”

Ireland are ranked 14th — two positions behind South Africa — on the world rankings, but the team will need to punch above their weight in Argentina. The hosts are ranked second in the world, behind the Netherlands, and Germany are ranked third. The United States are in 11th position.

“I think the United States are better than their ranking,” said King. “It is going to be a very tough tournament, but South Africa are known to be very competitive. We drew with Germany earlier this year, so we will be fairly confident, and we gave Argentina a good go when we played them in Beijing. Our aim is to reach the final of the tournament.”

The selectors named two squads — one for the series against Ireland and the other for the tour to Argentina. However, there is only one change to the two squads, with Lisa-Marie Deetlefs replacing Louisa Moore.

“Lisa-Marie has a bit of an ankle injury at the moment, so we want to give her time to heal completely,” explained King. “We will also be without striker Shelley Russell, who has a back injury. We are giving her a break of six to eight weeks to recover completely, so that she will be available for the Olympics in Beijing.

“We are also sad to be without Sharne Bailey, who is pregnant. We are thrilled for her that she is having a baby, but her presence in the team will be missed.”

MAJOR WINNERS LEAD NEW ERA OF SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS OPEN

Pearl Valley Golf Estates Confirmed as Open Venue for Three Years

Reigning US Open champion Angel Cabrera will lead a field that includes four Major winners and two Presidents Cup campaigners when the South African Airways Open tees off at Pearl Valley Golf Estates in December.

Cabrera will join defending South African Airways Open champion Ernie Els, former champion Retief Goosen and former world number one Greg Norman on the fairways of the Jack Nicklaus-designed Pearl Valley when the €1,000,000 Championship is played there from 13 to 16 December 2007.

Pearl Valley Golf Estates will become the home of the Championship for the next three years, it was announced today. The three-year deal is aimed at ensuring greater investment in the medium and long-term success of the Open.

The deal, and the presence of five of the world’s leading golfers and the iconic Norman, offer powerful examples of the growing status the South African Airways Open enjoys on the international golf schedule.

Cabrera returns to the Championship having claimed his first Major in the US Open at Oakmont this year, while Els and Goosen bring a total of five Majors between them – and Norman brings a record of 88 tournament wins including two Majors.

The world-class field also includes Presidents Cup campaigners and former South African Airways Open champions Trevor Immelman and Tim Clark.

In the last five years, Els (2006 champion), Goosen (December 2005 champion), Immelman (2003 and 2004 champion) and Clark (2002 and January 2005 champion) have dominated the Championship, with the winner emerging from South Africa’s leading campaigners on the global stage.

This year’s field for the Sunshine Tour and European Tour co-sanctioned tournament also does justice to the new era into which the second oldest national Open in golf is moving.

“The South African Airways Open has had far reaching benefits for the game of golf in South Africa over the last few years,” said Dr Khaya Ngqula, Chief Executive Officer of South African Airways.

“We are honoured to be part of the tournament, which has gone from strength to strength. It has provided the country with worldwide recognition for its contribution towards one of the most popular sports in the world.

“Part of a tournament’s success is the course that hosts it. Pearl Valley Golf Estates is a world-class partner for a world-class event. Its location in the heart of the winelands also allows us to achieve our other objective, which is to use the Championship to promote South Africa and international tourism. With this next edition of the Championship, we have aligned South Africa’s famous golfing pedigree with its equally famous tourist attractions.”

“SAA will also be making available soon, on its website, very attractive travel packages to golfing fans who may wish to watch the South African Airways Open in Paarl. These packages would also include a return flight to Cape Town and car rental,” said Ngqula.

Traditionally, the Championship has travelled around the country every year. But as Neale Kunhardt, President of the South African Golf Association explained, the Championship has found its own Augusta National in Pearl Valley.

"The decision to make Pearl Valley the home of the South African Airways Open for the next three years will be a major boost for our premier event. It will enable the organisers to concentrate their efforts on both short and medium term objectives, knowing that any enhancements made this year will benefit the event for the next two years as well.

“Pearl Valley has become a great test of golf in a very short time and the anticipated challenge will certainly excite both players and spectators over the next three years."

Pearl Valley is widely regarded as one of the finest tests in the game.

A testament to this is the fact that it should be selected to host one of the country’s “Majors” only four years after opening.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman of Dubai World, the parent company of LeisureCorp which owns Pearl Valley Golf Estates, said:

"A Tour event brings an incredibly positive impact to a golf course - and the South African Airways Open is one of the most prestigious of those events. We are pleased and proud to be associated with it and I am looking forward to seeing Pearl Valley's global profile grow as a result."

David Spencer, chief executive of LeisureCorp said: “Pearl Valley is a course which deserves to be seen on the world stage – and this prestigious event will help us do that,” said David Spencer, Chief Executive of LeisureCorp, the owner of Pearl Valley Golf Estates. “The South African Airways Open will be seen around the world, allowing golf fans everywhere to see the majestic beauty of this fantastic course.

“We have ambitious investment plans for Pearl Valley, to ensure it is not just one of Africa’s best courses but one of the top global golfing destinations. Being able to attract such high-profile events is an important part of our strategy, and you can be sure we will do everything to make this a South African Airways Open to remember,” said Spencer.

The South African Airways Open remains one of the flagship tournaments of South African golf and a valuable addition to the European Tour’s international schedule.

The Championship was first played in 1893, making it second only to the British Open in age.

It even pre-dates the modern Olympics, which were first contested in 1896.

“The Sunshine Tour salutes all the parties involved for their initiative to further enhance the event in bringing the world’s second oldest Open Championship to Pearl Valley, designed by Jack Nicklaus, one of the greatest living golf legends,” said Sunshine Tour Commissioner, Johan Immelman.

“The South African Airways Open is symbolic of great tradition. It boasts a long and illustrious history and we look forward to another wonderful edition of our flagship tournament unfolding in December.”

The Championship has also occupied an important place on the international golf calendar, and only six foreigners have managed to lift the trophy in the modern era, the last being Swede Mathias Grönberg in 2000.

George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “The European Tour has enjoyed the opportunity to visit South Africa for more than a decade now and our members will enjoy the chance to return to the beautiful Western Cape to compete at the superb Jack Nicklaus-designed signature course at Pearl Valley.”

The Championship would also like to acknowledge the support of various partners and suppliers including Airports Company of South Africa, Lexus, Telkom Business, the V&A Waterfront and Panasonic Business Systems together with its media partners the Cape Times and Golf Digest whose involvement and contribution is invaluable.

Tickets to attend the South African Airways Open are available from Computicket. To find any additional information on the event go to www.saaopen.com.

Cape gets ready for Santos-Ajax derby

Farouk Abrahams
December 14 2007 at 09:45AM

It's derby time again - and hopefully this one is going to make the annals of hot-blooded football clashes in the good old Cape tradition. It's time for 22 players to put their bodies on the line to defend their half of the Mother City. It's time for the fans to do their bit to try and secure the bragging rights until the next battle.

It's time for Santos against Ajax Cape Town at Athlone Stadium at 8pm. And you know what? Cape derbies are not supposed to be for the faint-hearted.

It's true, however, that modern-day versions have been rather mundane affairs, devoid of the raw passion, unwavering commitment and that don't-want-to-lose-to-the-neighbours-because-we-hate-them attitude.

Gone are the days when spectators were treated to a true-blue football war, when referees were almost certain to flash a red card (or two) on derby day, when friends became enemies for 90 minutes.

That was when Cape Town Spurs and Glenville, Cape Town City and Hellenic, and later Santos and Glendene used to entertain local fans with entertaining football laced with bitter rivalry.

When a teammate went down in a tackle, the entire team would rush to his aid. Someone on the bench being flashed a red card as a result was simply par for the course.

A heated war of words would start as soon as the teams assembled in the players' tunnel before the match. However, everyone usually lived to tell the tale and got to enjoy the social drink afterwards.

One school of thought is that Cape clubs these days boast too many foreigners who may not be as passionate about protecting their territory. But that's not necessarily true, because some of the most-passionate derbies ever were between City and Hellenic, who were pioneers in recruiting players from abroad.

Are today's footballers perhaps too soft?

Ajax, for their part, boast enough youthful exuberance to run Santos ragged all night, but they're certainly not as streetwise. A bit of sledging could therefore go a long way towards winning the psychological battle.

Urban Warriors coach Craig Rosslee is no stranger to the demands of a Cape derby. He was no angel on the football pitch and certainly took no prisoners during an illustrious career with Hellenic, Cape Town Spurs and Santos.

"I suppose derbies were a lot more hectic in the old days," he said. "It's not that you would go out and kick at everything that moved, but the fear of losing against the neighbours was real and the bragging normally went on for ever, hence the short fuses."

Santos counterpart Jean Marc Ithier warned that his charges would not stand back if Ajax adopted a physical approach.

"There's always a bit more needle in derby matches, and obviously tempers could flare at any time," he said.

"I don't know how (Ajax) will approach the match, but if they try and go for a physical scrap, my players would obviously not simply stand by. We have some youngsters in the team who have yet to gain the mental strength that goes with volatile derbies, but having said that, I am sure that they know how to take care of themselves on the pitch."

The former Santos star had been under severe pressure after a slow start to the season, but yesterday he cut a relaxed figure after his side kept up their recent improved form with a 1-0 away win over SuperSport United in midweek.

"The boys played with such commitment and produced organised football throughout. This is a great time to be going into the derby, because our tails are up and we know we can close the gap (to Ajax on the log) by gaining maximum points (tomorrow)."

Players likely to get booked are Erwin Isaacs, Mogogi Gabonamong and Wayne Arendse from Santos and Hans Vonk, Bryce Moon, Eyong Eno and Terror Fanteni on the Ajax side.

Isaacs, the scorer of the winner against United, is the best bet for a red card.

* A tender for the sale/lease of land adjacent to the Velodrome in Bellville, is currently available from the tender office. As a prerequisite for the purchase/lease and development of this vacant land, the City requires a commitment from the tenderer to upgrade and manage the current Council facilities (Velodrome and Bellville stadium) located on this property.

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Special treat for SA's United fans

By Jonty Mark

Manchester United are expected to announce the full details of their July 2008 pre-season tour of South Africa this weekend.

Alex Ferguson's side are set to play Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates in the 2008 Vodacom Challenge, and should bring a far stronger squad than they did when they visited these shores in 2006.

That year, the World Cup in Germany meant that most of United's star names were unable to make it to South Africa.

Euro 2008 in June will ensure that the likes of Portugal's Christiano Ronaldo and Holland's Edwin Van De Sa also stay away this time. However, England's elimination from Euro 2008 could be a blessing in disguise for South African United fans.

United will hope to avenge their Vodacom Challenge final defeat by Kaizer Chiefs
Wayne Rooney, Owen Hargreaves, Michael Carrick, Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown and Gary Neville will all have the summer off, freeing them to face the Amakhosi and Buccaneers.

Serbian defender Nemanja Vidic and Wales's Ryan Giggs should be here too, as their sides also failed to make Euro 2008. Argentinian star Carlos Tevez could also make the trip.

"The tour should be announced in the next two days," a United press officer said yesterday.

United will hope to avenge their Vodacom Challenge final defeat by Kaizer Chiefs in 2006, when they lost the final on penalties after a goalless draw.

Ferguson's side did, however, manage to beat both Pirates and Chiefs in the round-robin stage of the same competition.

And the tour proved a good omen for United, as that season they went on to win the English Premiership title.

This will be the third consecutive season that an English Premiership team has contested the Vodacom Challenge, after Tottenham Hotspur thumped Orlando Pirates 3-0 in the final this year. Matches were played in Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Tottenham's coach Martin Jol, however, enjoyed less luck than Ferguson as he was fired by Spurs after a poor start to the English Premiership season.

Cape Town BMX Venue gets fast-tracked

A groundbreaking ceremony in Khayelitsha has marked the launch of the much-anticipated new Velokhaya Cycling Centre – the first centre of its kind in South Africa.

The ceremonial groundbreaking was performed today, Friday, December 14, by legendary broadcaster, Phil Liggett (MBE), the ‘voice of cycling’ and Velokhaya patron.

Velokhaya – which takes its name from the French word for bicycle (velo) and Xhosa word for home (Khaya) – is the fundraising initiative of the Life Cycling Academy (LCA), a not-for-profit organisation which promotes cycling, and individual ‘growth through cycling’, in disadvantaged communities in South Africa.

Speaking at today’s event, LCA CEO and co-founder Glyn Broomberg said the construction of a BMX track – which would encourage mass participation in cycling and attract young children to the sport – would launch the first phase of the new Velokhaya Cycling Centre.

“Once the BMX track has been completed the Centre’s facilities will be expanded to include accommodation for cyclists and coaches, equipment maintenance and storage and a training facility for bicycle mechanics,” he said. The Centre will also focus on cycling-specific sports science and education and life skills development.

Velokhaya patron Phil Liggett said the new Velokhaya Cycling Centre had the potential to significantly and positively impact both cyclists and the community of Khayelitsha.

“The Velokhaya Centre will become synonymous with inspiration and achievement; a facility where new sporting heroes, role models and talented individuals are developed and where the sport of cycling is made accessible to many young South Africans, regardless of their race or socio-economic status.”

An architect’s drawing of the completed Velokhaya Cycling Centre

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Liggett said he was enormously proud to be associated with the new Centre, which places as much emphasis on the educational and life skill development of its members as it does on sporting achievement.

Co-founder of the LCA, Amos Ziqubu said: “After six years of operating without a formal base, the new Centre is a dream come true for our fast-growing Academy.

“Not only will the Centre provide the LCA with a permanent base in the heart of the community of Khayelitsha, but it will also allow us to incorporate - and make full use of - the knowledge, skills and infrastructural capacity of our international partners.”

The Velokhaya international partners include Team CSC, the world’s number one pro-cycling team, its sponsor, the Computer Sciences Corporation (NYSE: CSC) and bicycle manufacturer, Cervélo.

"That it is possible less than a year after the launch of Velokhaya, the LCA's fundraising initiative, to break ground on the first phase of their new home in Khayelitsha is a testament to the appeal of their mission to transform cycling in South Africa," said Henrik Bo Pedersen, the executive in charge of CSC's cycling sponsorships. "CSC is proud to have done our part, along with Team CSC and Cervélo, to make today a reality."

Together the LCA and its partners have established a number of cooperative programmes aimed at sharing intellectual capacity, educating LCA staff and raising funds for the Academy.

The LCA has also established a mentorship programme with Team CSC. “The mentorship programme will allow our LCA cyclists to develop a close relationship with, and be inspired by, top professional European cyclists and make it possible for LCA riders to compete in Europe alongside their heroes,” said Ziqubu.

Caption: Breaking new ground (from left to right): Phil Liggett, the international 'voice of cycling' and Velokhaya patron turns the soil to mark the start of construction at the new Velokhaya Cycling Centre in Khayelitsha. Joining him in the ceremonial dig are the Life Cycling Academy's Zanele Tshoko (13), the Western Province Female Cyclist of the Year and LCA co-founder Amos Ziqubu

Velokhaya inspires Ackerman Foundation
18 December 2007 (18:45)
THE Ackerman Pick ‘n Pay Foundation has donated R100 000 towards the purchase of new bicycles for members of the soon-to-be built Velokhaya Cycling Centre in Khayelitsha.

The donation was made by Jonathan Ackerman, Pick ‘n Pay Marketing Director, who attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the new Velokhaya Cycling Centre – the first centre of its kind in South Africa - on Friday, December 14, 2007.

Velokhaya – which takes its name from the French word for bicycle (velo) and Xhosa word for home (Khaya) – is the fundraising initiative of the Life Cycling Academy (LCA), a not-for-profit organisation which promotes cycling, and individual ‘growth through cycling’, in disadvantaged communities in South Africa.

The LCA - which is to begin building the Centre’s new BMX track in January 2008 – currently has 500 members but only 100 bicycles.

“There is increasing interest in cycling and the Ackerman Pick ‘n Pay Foundation’s generous donation of R100 000 will help the LCA fulfill its aim of encouraging mass participation in cycling by making it possible for more young children to participate in the sport,” said LCA CEO and co-founder, Glyn Broomberg.

The Pick ’n Pay Group, a family-controlled business, is one of Africa’s largest and most consistently successful retailers of food, clothing and general merchandise.

The Velokhaya international partners include Team CSC, the world’s number one pro-cycling team, its sponsor, the Computer Sciences Corporation (NYSE: CSC) and bicycle manufacturer, Cervélo.

CAPTION: From left to right: The Life Cycling Academy’s Sinazo Sityana, Glyn Broomberg, Ntombomzi Matholeni, Siyabulela Klaas Amos Ziqubu with Jonathan Ackerman (third right wearing blue shirt)

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Man United to tour SA

January 10 2008 at 01:51PM

Manchester United will tour South Africa in the close season, the club announced on Thursday.

The tour which will take place from July 19 to 26 will be detailed by United manager Sir Alex Ferguson at a press conference next month.

The travelling party is to be confirmed but it is expected that the full squad, including England national players, will be available.

When asked about the upcoming Ferguson commented: "We really enjoyed our visit in 2006. The atmosphere in the stadium and the enthusiasm from the fans helped make for a great event. All the facilities were first class and I am looking forward to returning."

South Africa is to host the next World Cup finals in 2010.

Khayelitsha Multi-purpose Community Centre

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Hypothesis / Problem Statement:

What is the nature of a civic building within a township?


Context:

Sprawling informal settlement - a legacy of Apartheid oppression and planning for segregation of people and space.


Design Response:

The design sought to challenge the common perception and precedent that a building within a poor area should warrant low capital investment and lack quality. It is a pilot project that set out to serve the social needs of the public and will be influential for the buture development of the central business district.

In the absence of the urban design framework, it was necessary to to develop and spatialize a building that responds to environmental patterns and behaviours. MDL examined the use patterns of the area on aerial photographs - a technique of observation borrowed from environmental research design in order to map the existing social fabric.

MDL continues to break ground with an innovative architectural building set to serve the community of the informal settlement of Khayelitsha for years to come. The project is a key component of two residential urban renewal nodes and pushes construction and design standards for the industry as a whole. The architectural program incorporates an internal sports court, offices, gallery space, and a proposed urban public park.

Cape Town to Host Volvo Ocean Race Stopover

Business Day (Johannesburg)

NEWS
15 January 2008
Posted to the web 15 January 2008

By Chris Van Gass
Cape Town

The city has again been named to host a stopover for the 2008-09 around-the-world Volvo Ocean Race, which is expected to boost economic activity by about R350m.

The announcement that Cape Town would host the prestigious race would be made today at the London Boat Show, where the route would be unveiled, said Bruce Parker-Forsyth, CEO of the Cape Town Volvo Ocean Race stopover and WorldSport, the project management company that has handled the previous three stopovers in the city.

Parker-Forsyth said that in 2005-06, the cumulative media audience numbered 1,8-billion, with 2000 accredited media representatives covering the race and 3-million people visiting race stopover ports.

In major event terms, the race ranks with Formula One, the America's Cup and Commonwealth Games. It starts in Alicante in Spain in October and finishes in St Petersburg, Russia, in May next year, covering 31000 nautical miles and stopping at 10 other ports, said Parker-Forsyth.

The seven boats competing in the race will visit Cape Town for two weeks in November.

The new route includes leading economic centres such as India, Singapore, China, Ireland and Russia. For Cape Town, the race will offer significant international TV exposure through dedicated race finish and start coverage and media coverage from the official websites.

Parker-Forsyth said the economic benefit from overseas visitors and sponsor hospitality was estimated to be worth R350m, including 30000 bed nights.

Calvyn Gilfellan, acting CE of Cape Town Routes Unlimited, the official tourism destination marketing body for Cape Town and Western Cape, said he was "delighted" to welcome the Volvo Ocean Race back.

"With TV coverage of the race reaching over 500-million viewers in 192 countries, the event is very powerful in helping us to showcase the incredible splendour of our city and province, and draw more and more tourists here.

"The event also showcases the Western Cape's vibrant and internationally renowned boat-building industry, which represents roughly three-quarters of the industry in SA ," said Gilfellan.

A local organising committee has been formed, including key government, sporting association and private sector role players.

Parker-Forsyth said the race was not only the world championship of ocean racing, but had been enhanced into a business and tourism communication platform. "We are hard at work to make sure we not only stage the best stopover but maximise the economic, social and destination marketing opportunities for Cape Town," he said.

Gert Bam, of the City of Cape Town, said the event provided the city with an opportunity to increase its skills and test its systems, such as volunteers, in the run-up to the Fifa World Cup in 2010. He said it was also important in promoting the city's boat-building sector, which supported many macro-industries in Western Cape's small-business sector.

On a lighter and arb note.

Cape Town will be hosting the world rope skipping Championships later this year at the Good Hope Centre, in July. Cape Town even had to bid for the event, which is hosted through the SA Gymnastics Federation.

2008 FISAC- IRSF World Championships
from the 22 July 2008 - 31 July 2008

The more the merrier I suppose.

Bid Book: http://www.irsf.ca/new/bid2008.pdf

35 000 cyclists saddle up

Meshack Khotha
05 February 2008

More than 35000 cyclists will take part in the top-rated Cape Argus Pick ’n Pay Cycle Tour billed for Cape Town on Sunday, March 9.

The cyclists will tackle 109km of the Cape Peninsula’s most scenic roads – a major percentage of which run through a nature reserve and world heritage sites. Since it started in 1978 the race has attracted high-profile athletes, recreational cyclists and top international teams.

Race organiser David Bellairs said yesterday that registration for this year’s race had closed in September last year because of the popularity of the race.

“Our target has been 35 000 cyclists since 1999 because of safety and security reasons.’’

The yearly event has grown in leaps and bounds – from a modest field of of 525 cyclists when it started in 1978. The South African race is rated among the top eight fun rides in the world.

# Cellphone company MTN has come on board to finance the MTN Giro del Capo, a five-day race in Western Cape that ends the day before the Pick ’n Pay Cycle Tour, for a period of three years.

“It is a great opportunity to renew our relationship with the Tour Club,’’ said Jacques Hattingh, MTN senior manager: customer satisfaction.

Ex-Protea gears up for gruelling Cape Epic

Cape Town - Brian McMillan, one of South Africa's cricket legends and his son Ryan, will take up the challenge of this year's Absa Cape Epic mountainbike race from March 28 to April 5.

The event, in its fifth year, starts in the beautiful Garden Route town of Knysna and finishes 950 kilometres and nine days later at Lourensford Wine Estate.

It will lead participants from around the world up approximately 18 529m of climbing, including some of the most magnificent passes in South Africa.

"Some of Ryan's mates did the Epic last year and when he joined them at the finish at Lourensford, he decided we had to do it. I've never cycled before and immediately took up the challenge," said McMillan on Monday.

"Of course Dan Nicholl set it all up with the help of Kevin Vermaak (director and founder of the Cape Odyssey and Epic) and then bailed out," he added with a chuckle.

"We've been training for two and half months and although I can feel it, I don't think one can ever train enough for this event. Our motto will have to be 'vasbyt, aanhou, moedhou'. At the moment we're training approximately 12 hours a week, including mountainous terrain in the Cape Peninsula.

"From next month onwards we'll try to do 15 hours per week, which is well over 200kms."

Asked what would be the most important motivating factor, his response is simply: "I can't afford having Robbie Kempson finishing and not me. Also, I'm not getting any younger, so it's the perfect time to set myself a goal like this one.

"I did my MBA degree at the age of 38 and did approximately 30 hours of study a week whilst working full-time. I suppose 15 hours is manageable.

"They plan to finish the Epic and also have a lot of fun along the way.

"At the end of the day, this is supposed to be an experience of a lifetime."

His advice to other participants: "Don't be in my way when I go up or come down the mountain. I'm a loose cannon on the mountain!"

With regards to the Big Tree Foundation, the official charity of the Epic and Odyssey, McMillan reckons it would be absurd not to use this opportunity to raise funds.

"As a sportsman, it's always a great privilege to give something back to the community. It's fantastic that there's a spin-off for others. I'm being sponsored by Toyota and Cycle Lab.

"Toyota is giving me R100 for every kilometer I complete and all the funds raised will go to Big Tree."

His comment on Kempson's aim to climb Kilimanjaro after the Absa Cape Epic if everything goes well was simply: "Rugby players are soft compared to cricketers. The Absa Cape Epic will be Kempson's Kilimanjaro!" - Sapa

Quickwire

Cape Town enters bid for 2011 Junior Table Tennis Championships

India, Bahrain & South Africa Apply for 2011 World Junior Championships

2/4/2008
The World Junior Table Championships continues to gain momentum as one of the most sought after ITTF properties. When the bidding process for the 2011 World Juniors officially closed the 31st January 2008, three potential organisers had confirmed interest to present their case at the forthcoming ITTF Board of Directors meeting in Guangzhou, China.


India
India is formally bidding for the second time, having lost the very first ITTF World Junior Championships in a neck and neck race with Santiago, Chile; back in 2003. New Delhi or the city of Pune is listed as a candidate city in the Indian proposal.

Bahrain
The Bahrain Table Tennis Association made no secret of their interest for the 2011 Championships and was the first association to enter the race.

Following a sensational and very impressive debut as international organizers, with the presentation of the 2007 Bahrain Junior Open, commitment to excellence can hardly be doubted from a small but sport loving country. The capital city of Manama is the confirmed host city for the Bahrain bid.

South Africa
The third and final offer is from Africa and the South African Table Tennis Board.

Once again it is the city of Cape Town receiving the SATTB nod to be the prime candidate for an ITTF event. We all remember the excellent work put in by Brian Buckton and his local Cape Town crew for the 2007 World Cadet Challenge & World Junior Circuit Finals back in October last year. An interesting fact is that many of the 2007 World Cadet Challenge participants in fact would be eligible for a return to the Western Cape and a potential 2011 World Juniors.

An 11-day cycling extravaganza

7 February 2008

Cape Town experiences a major transformation in March. The city teems with out-of-towners and tourists. Cycling becomes the transport mode of choice. Those that do not cycle drive with bike racks on their cars. And an alarming number of men walk around with shaved legs.

This is Cycle Tour season - when Cape Town hosts an 11-day cycling extravaganza that culminates in the world's biggest individually timed cycle race.

The week-and-a-half running up to the 31st Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour on Sunday, 9 March is jam-packed with a variety of cycling action.

Kid's Life Expo
28 February - 2 March: The first official Cycle Tour Kid's Life Expo takes place at Canal Walk Shopping Centre, with exhibitors ranging from education, nutrition, cycling, sport, fashion and kids' lifestyle.

This will be a great meeting place for families while entering their children into the Junior or Tricycle Tour, and a fantastic way to promote a healthy and active lifestyle among children.

1 March: The excitement starts on Saturday when thousands of youngsters between two and 12 will flock to Youngsfield Military Base in Ottery for the much-anticipated Cape Argus Pick n Pay Tricycle and Junior Tours (presented by Bonaqua and Spur Steak Ranches respectively).

Over 2 000 children are expected to participate in the 1.5km, 5km and 10km rides.

Mountain bike races
2 March: Things will take a muddy turn when about 3 500 mountain bikers are expected to gather at Boschendal Wine Estate on Sunday.

The event features four route options for the participants – ranging from a flat and easy 13km to an ultra-tough 55km marathon – and lots to see and do for supporters, making this a perfect family outing.

MTN Giro del Capo
4 March: The first stage of the MTN Giro del Capo officially kicks off in Wellington.

The five-stage international stage race takes local and international professional cycling teams through the heart of the Boland and the Durbanville Winelands, before they tackle the final hill-climb up Signal Hill on Saturday, 8 March.

Lifecycle Expo
5 - 8 March: Every year, over 70 000 people flock to the Lifecycle Expo, SA’s largest cycling, health and fitness expo. This is where Cycle Tour participants finalise their registration and do some last-minute shopping before Race Day.

This year also sees the launch of the Wellcare Centre, a centralised "clinic" where individuals can undergo numerous health tests, including cholesterol, blood pressure and fitness tests.

Participants have the added benefit of having the test results linked to their race number, giving medical professionals up-to-date information in any Race Day emergency situation.

The Cycle Tour
9 March: Undoubtedly the highlight of Lifecycle Week, the Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour takes 35 000 cyclists of all ages, shapes and sizes along 109km of the of the Cape Peninsula's most scenic roads - a great percentage of which run through a nature reserve and world heritage site.

The Cycle Tour is, however, much more than a mass participation event that attracts cyclists from around the globe; all Cycle Tour proceeds go to charity, benefiting hundreds of community organisations and initiatives - from schools and children's homes to skills and cycling development.

Last year, R3-million was shared between the Pedal Power Association and The Rotary Club of Claremont.

Man Utd head to SA again
2008/02/12

ENGLISH soccer giants Manchester United are coming back to South Africa in July to participate in the pre-season Vodacom Challenge.

United, the reigning English Premier League champions and one of the most powerful football brands in the world today, will play Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates in Durban and Cape Town in the annual tournament.

They will then face either Chiefs or Pirates in the final showdown at Loftus in Pretoria.

The choice will be made at the eliminator at Port Elizabeth’s EPRU Stadium.

It is the second time in three years that the 2000 Uefa Champions League winners will tour South Africa.

According to insiders, United have agreed to bring a star-studded side to South Africa this time.

If so, it will be a chance for many of the players to test out the conditions here ready for the 2010 World Cup.

The visit will be revealed at a press conference in Johannesburg today. - By LUXOLO MANTAMBO

Cape Town shortlisted for Ultimate Sports City 2008


A shortlist of 25 cities has been announced unveiling the contenders for the Ultimate Sports City 2008, to be published by SportBusiness early next year. The report was last published in 2006 when Melbourne was declared the winner, followed by Paris and Sydney, tied jointly in second place. Berlin, came fourth and London, fifth.

All the top five cities have made the cut again based on major sports events hosted or awarded between 2004-2012. Cities were also selected from each region of the globe.

“The list is extremely interesting this time,” says Ultimate Sports City author Rachael Church-Sanders, a consultant at SportBusiness, “with some nations such as Australia, Canada, China, India and Spain having more than one representative within their regions, thus highlighting competition within countries for hosting major sporting events.”

Now the shortlist has been determined, each city will be analysed and graded according to a number of criteria in addition to numbers and importance of sports events including facilities, transport, accommodation, government support, marketing, weather, legacy, public sports interest, cost of living and quality of life.

The 25 cities vying for the title of Ultimate Sports City 2008 are as follows (in alphabetical order):

Athens (new candidate)
Beijing (ranked 8th in 2006)
Berlin (ranked 4th in 2006)
Bridgetown (new candidate)
Budapest (new candidate)
Cape Town (ranked 10th in 2006)
Doha (new candidate)
Hong Kong (new candidate)
Istanbul (ranked 12th in 2006)
Kuala Lumpur (ranked 18th in 2006)
London (ranked 5th in 2006)
Los Angeles (new candidate)
Madrid (ranked 6th in 2006)
Melbourne (ranked 1st in 2006)
Montreal (new candidate)
Moscow (ranked 19th in 2006)
Mumbai (new candidate)
New Delhi (new candidate)
Paris (ranked 2nd in 2006)
Sao Paulo (new candidate)
Shanghai (new candidate)
Sydney (ranked 2nd in 2006)
Tokyo (ranked 9th in 2006)
Valencia (new candidate)
Vancouver (ranked 11th in 2006)

Absa Cape Epic scoops awards

The Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas, the most televised mountain bike stage race in the world, has been awarded two awards in only one week.

The Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas, the most televised mountain bike stage race in the world, has been awarded two awards in only one week. The Absa Cape Epic was recognised as the event that best showcased South Africa globally at the annual Standard Bank Cyclist of the Year Awards and also as the winner of the gold award in the medium budget sponsorship category at the Sunday Times Business Times Marketing Excellence Awards.

The Standard Bank Cyclist of the Year Awards acknowledge outstanding performance by cyclists and cycling event organisers in South Africa. Says Mike Bradley, Director of MTB SA: “The Awards include all cycling events locally and truly showcase what South Africa has to offer. The Absa Cape Epic is an extremely successful event and also the most televised mountain bike race in the world.”

Says Kevin Vermaak, founder and director of the Absa Cape Epic and Cape Odyssey: “We’re honoured to have been recognised for our contribution to tourism. It’s gratifying to see how something, that was only a dream a few years ago, has become a hugely successful global event and is recognised for its role in promoting South Africa as a world-class destination.”

The Sunday Times Business Times Awards recognise and reward the marketing discipline in the South African boardroom in its many facets - all that comprises a great marketing campaign with significant return on investment and bottom-line results. This includes meeting marketing objectives related to image, innovation and, of course, creativity, pricing and distribution - the complete ambit of the marketing mix.
The awards are overseen by a prestigious sixty three member, high-level business council established for this purpose. The Council includes Sir Paul Judge a leading marketing luminary in the United Kingdom.


Says Kevin Vermaak: “Through our effective marketing, the Absa Cape Epic has become so popular that we needed to resort to a lottery system for participants. Our efforts have paid off and clearly industry heavyweights like the Sunday Times Business Times have taken note. It’s a big feather in our cap and an inspiration to continuously improve on our marketing campaigns.”
Justin Sampson, Group MD of Exp Sponsorship which manages the Absa sponsorship of the Absa Cape Epic, adds: “Being the team behind the winning Absa brand is a proud moment for us. For a second year running, we’ve assisted Absa with winning three awards for their outstanding sponsorship properties, one of which is the Absa Cape Epic. We worked closely with the Absa Group Marketing team to develop an innovative and leading sponsorship campaign that not only creates awareness for their brand, but builds relationships with their customer base, which eventually translates to customer acquisition and retention. Winning a Gold Marketing Excellence Award for the second consecutive year for the Absa Cape Epic is testament to the strategic methodology behind this amazing sponsored event.”
ENDS


2008 Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas

• The 2008 Absa Cape Epic starts in Knysna on Friday 28 March and finishes at Lourensford Estate in Somerset West, on Saturday 5 April 2008.
• The Absa Cape Epic is the largest mountain bike stage race in the world and the most televised mountain bike event of all time.
• 1200 riders from more than 40 countries ride approximately 900 km’s in nine days and climb 16 000 m’s, which is the equivalent of riding nearly twice up Mount Everest.
• The 2008 race will see the introduction of a 17km team time trial prologue on the Friday before the start of the race. Each team will depart at 1 min intervals and race against the clock to determine their start seeding for Stage 1 out of Knysna the following day.
• Since its inception in 2004, the Absa Cape Epic has generated more than 5800 hours of international TV coverage in Europe, America, the Middle East and Africa.
• Amongst the entrants are Olympic gold medallists, world champions and reigning UCI World Cup champions. In 2007, 5 out of the possible 9 Olympic medallists participated.
• Riders compete in teams of two in one of four categories: Men, Ladies, Mixed and Masters (both riders must be 40 years or older).
• In 2006, the Absa Cape Epic became the first ever team mountain bike stage race at which UCI points were awarded. The 2008 race is the first and only mountain bike stage race to be classified HC (hors categorie) by the UCI and is one of only 4 HC races on the 2008 UCI calendar. HC is the highest classification awarded by the UCI and in road cycling this is reserved for the Grand Tours like the Tour de France.
• The Absa Cape Epic and Exp. Sponsorship, Absa’s sponsorship agency, were awarded the Gold award in the medium budget sponsorship category at the 2006 and 2007 Business Times Marketing Excellence Awards.
• A new route is designed each year and is entirely off-road from Knysna to Lourensford Estate.

Last weekend: Ajax vs Kaizer Chiefs

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Thousands in Cape Town for cycling experience

Cape Town will be all about cycling again as 35 000 cyclists take on the Peninsula, and its many closed roads, for the 31st Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour on Sunday.

Now the biggest timed cycling event in the world, the race employs some of the most sophisticated event management systems in the country.

Apart from the thousands of South Africans taking part, entrants include riders from neighbouring Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, as well as long-distance competitors from the Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the US, Canada, France, Germany, Holland, and Poland.

A crew of 816 emergency and medical staff will be stationed along the route and equipped with 100 vehicles, including two helicopters.

On Saturday, the outbound carriageway on Hertzog Boulevard will be closed from 4pm to 11.30pm and the city-bound carriageway on Western Boulevard from 2.30pm to 6.30pm.

On race day, both carriageways on Hertzog Boulevard will be closed from midnight to 11.30am, while both carriageways on Heerengracht will be closed from 4am to 11.30am.

Eastern Boulevard and De Waal Drive outbound onto the M3 will be closed from 6am to 11.45am.

The southbound lane of the M3, from Mowbray to Bishops Court, including Rhodes Drive, Union Avenue, Paradise Road, and Edinburgh Drive, and all on-ramps between Table Bay Boulevard up to Trovato Link will be closed from 6am to 11.45am.

The Blue Route stretch of the M3 to Tokai will be closed from 6am to 12.15pm.

Both carriageways of the M4 between Steenberg and Cape Point will be closed from early, into the afternoon, with Glencairn remaining closed until 1pm and Sweet Water and Kommetjie roads reopening only around 3pm.

Noordhoek road to the base of Chapman's Peak Drive will be closed until 4pm, while the M6 and Princess Road in Hout Bay will be closed until 4.30pm. Victoria Road, between Llandudno and Bakoven, will reopen by 5pm, and the stretch to Sea Point will be open by 6pm.

World's largest timed cycling event starts super year of cycling events for Cape Town

Cape Town is also currently hosting the Absa Cape Epic, the world's largest time trial mountain bike race and will host the UCI World Junior Cycling Championships later this year.

Robert Hunter wins Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour

(Cape Town, 9 March 2008) Spectacular wins and shattered records marked the 2008 Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour ( the world's largest timed cycling event) on Sunday, when 35,000 cyclists from around the world gathered once again to participate in the world’s largest timed cycling event.

The action started early in the morning when Barloworld’s Robert Hunter outsprinted the elite men’s breakaway bunch in the last few metres to the finish to take his second consecutive Cycle Tour win in a time of 2h27’30” – breaking the current route record by about 5 minutes.

In what appeared to be a photo finish, Nolan Hoffman from Team Neotel and Malcolm Lange from MTN Energade came in second and third respectively.

Some twenty minutes later, 18-year-old Cherise Taylor became the youngest female in Cycle Tour history to take an elite women’s category win in a time of 2h50’52”. Lynette Burger took second place while race favourite, Anriette Schoeman, finished in third position.

Great day for cycling

David Bellairs, co-director of the Cape Town Pick n Pay Cycle Tour, described the weather conditions as “ideal”. While the day initially started warm and got hotter as the morning progressed, the fog started to roll in after lunch to provide welcome relief to the back-markers on the route.

“Today has been wonderful,” adds Bellairs. “Crowd support was amazing along the route and the cyclists shared an amazing spirit.

“Cycle Tour is about much more than just the top cyclists and winners. This is the only event where a fun rider can rub shoulders with the likes of Tour de France great, Jan Ulrich, and where a top cyclist who finishes the course in two-and-a-half-hours receives as much support as the father and son on a tandem whose only aim it is to finish within the allocated seven hours.”

It has also been a day of cycling heroes: from Japie Malan, the oldest participant in Cycle Tour history who, at 88 years old, finished yet another Cycle Tour, to the handful of men who have just finished their 31st Cycle Tour.

Bumps and bruises as expected

There were a number of falls, crashes, bumps and bruises during the course of the day. While the majority of these incidents were treated on site, around 65 individuals were sent to the nearest hospital for further treatment and/or assessment. Three of these referrals were serious, there were no fatalities. At the time of going to print it was still unclear how many of these participants were admitted for an overnight stay.

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Caught a bit of this, towards the end they had a Tourism promotional ad for CT, brilliant views, awesome camera angles, but the presenter of the advert spoilt the whole damn thing, firstly he could speak properly, then his hand movements were driving me mad. Other than that, it was pretty awesome.

A perfect race
10 March, 2008
Cape Argus

Cyclists and organisers share Italian race chief's verdict

Andisiwe Makinana

A perfect race. That was the verdict on yesterday's 31st Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour by prominent visitor Arrigo Vanzolini, president of the Nove Colli, one of the biggest Italian cycle races.

It was an assessment shared by the local organisers and many of the cyclists from 73 countries who tackled the 109 scenic kilometres around the Peninsula.

The weather was described as "fantastic" by both riders and spectators, with a maximum 27.6°C, 50% humidity, a fine fog from noon and a moderate westerly wind.

Vanzolini was among the thousands of spectators who lined the route from as early as 5.30am, standing, sitting on camp seats with picnic baskets, dancing and blowing vuvuzelas.

From Woodstock and the southern suburbs to Miller's Point, Ocean View and Camps Bay, people cheered and waved the South African flag as music blasted in the background.

Vanzolini applauded the organisation of the race, which he said had great ambience.

"We are here to exchange ideas, to learn from them as well as to impart information. So far I can't tell them where to improve it's perfect," he said, speaking through an interpreter.

Robbie Hunter of Team Barlo-world won in a record time of two hours 27 minutes 30 seconds. It was his second win in a row.

He left the country immediately to compete in Switzerland.

The winner of the women's race, Cherise Taylor of Pretoria, is the youngest victor of the tour at 18.

She said she had encountered no problems and described the race as "brilliant".

Taylor sprinted to victory in 2 hours 52 minutes. In doing so she won a trip to race in the Nove Colli, which will be held in Cesenatico, Italy, on May 18. The event attracts around 11 000 cyclists.

Of an estimated 32 000 cyclists who registered for the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour, 2 310 were foreign visitors.

Among the South Africans in the saddle, 1 695 were from the Eastern Cape, 1 354 from the Free State, 2 012 from KwaZulu-Natal, 370 from Limpopo, 788 from Mpumalanga, 842 from North West and 711 from the Northern Cape.

The greatest number of visitors, 11 410, came from Gauteng, and there were 18 243 local riders registered. Race organisers reported 80 incidents during the race, with 75 people being referred to hospital, but only 19 detained overnight, two with serious head injuries, tour director David Bellairs said early today.

Medical officer Dr Sue le Roux said there had been a lot of cases of chest pain, which could have been heart-related or due to other causes, such as bronchitis.

Robbie Hunter said conditions had been "slightly better" this year than last. He won a stage in last year's Tour de France, and hopes for "another stage victory or two".

He has also set his sights on competing in the Olympic Games in Beijing later this year.

Taylor, who finished second in last year's tour, said: "I'm looking forward to the Olympics as well as the world champs later this year. Things are looking really good."

It was a double celebration for second-placed Lynette Burger, 27, whose boyfriend and manager David Pieterse proposed on Saturday.

Meanwhile, multiple Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour winner and Olympian cyclist Anriette Schoeman has called for separate finishes for women and men.

Schoeman, a five-time winner who finished third yesterday, said that she had experienced "chaotic events" about 5km from the finish line.

She avoided a crash one kilometre from the finish line, which she said was due to male cyclists "pushing over the women".

"I'd suggest that in future the organisers separate women from men, about five minutes from the finish line," she said.

But Bellairs said separating the two races was not feasible.

It would be also be unfair to men who had trained as hard and travelled long distances to participate, only to be told five minutes from the finish line that they had to stop and wait for the women to finish.

SA National Track and Field Championships at Stellenbosch University

Athletes compete with Olympics in sight

The Yellow Pages SA Senior Track and Field Championships will take place at Coetzenburg Stadium in Stellenbosch from 14 to 15 March where more than 500 of South Africa's best athletes will compete for honours.

Here athletes will have the opportunity to become the South African champion in no less than 44 events that ranges from 100 m to 3 000 m to shot put and pole vault. During the two days of the championships athletes will also try to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China later this year.

No less than 44 athletes from the Boland will be competing and several of them have a very good chance to become national champions. For more information please contact Richard Stander on 072 347 8964.