UPDATE - Buffalo City

Ironman race organisers give BCM thumbs up
Buffalo City Municipality was thanked by Spec Savers 70.3 Ironman
triathlon organisers for the role it played in ensuring that the race became
a success.
The Ironman triathlon race which attracts athletes and fans from as far
afield as Europe and America was held for the third time in Buffalo City at
the East London Orient Beach on January 17.
The strenuous contest sees a 1.9km swim off the Orient Beach, followed
by a 90km cycle race, and topped off with a 21km run.
Ironman triathlon race director Paul Wolff said the city has played
significant role in ensuring that the much-need infrastructure during the
race was in good condition.”
“The municipality’s logistics department did a fantastic job by patching
up the roads, especially the road near the beach. As a result we had fewer
punctures than we had last year,”
Speaking at the pre-race media briefing, Buffalo City’s Executive Mayor
Zukisa Faku said the City’s proud to be associated with Ironman Triathlon
race. “The Municipality was grateful to be hosting a race tournament with
international names in our City. This will boost the city’s profile of being a
sport destination of choice.”
In this year race two new champions emerged - Fraser Cartmell and
Mari Rabie. Scotland’s Cartmell, who trains in Stellenbosch, in Western
Cape, was the first man across the finish line, with a time of four hours,
seven minutes and 54 seconds. He was followed a minute later by South
African James Cunnama.
Africa Open expose BCM to the
world
Competitors are getting ready for the Ironman 70.3 Triathlon
The 2009 Africa Open,
successfully co-hosted by Buffalo
City in January, delivered a global
gross international media value of
nearly £1.9-million for the sponsors
and the Eastern Cape region.
This value included live
coverage of the event, delayed
coverage, news coverage and
highlights packages in Europe,
Africa and the Middle East.
The local brand exposure -
television, radio and print- was just
over R17-million.
A total of 290 local jobs were
created by the 2010 Africa Open.
This is in addition to the boom in
accommodation establishments
and economic spinoffs that the
international visitors plough to local
businesses.
The 2010 Africa Open started
off at the East London Golf Club,
with international names including
Darren Clarke and Richard Sterne
playing on the green.
Welcoming spectators and
guests to the tournament, Buffalo
City Executive Mayor Zukisa Faku
said: “We want everyone in the City
to feel that the Africa Open belongs
to them.”
Speaking ahead of the
tournament she said: “The
tournament will showcase the City
and its people to sports lovers
throughout the world. We hope
that what they see is a dynamic,
multicultural community and a
sophisticated destination that is
ideal for events such as this.”
South African golfer Charl Schwartzel
“The Africa Open gives us an
anchor sporting event that ensures
East London is never far from
the minds of international sports
organisers and administrators.
It gives us the opportunity to
showcase our infrastructure and
amenities, and to demonstrate to
the world that we are capable of
hosting international sports events
of a high calibre.
“As co-hosts of the Africa
Open, we are thrilled that East
London is not only attracting worldclass
players, but continues to
demonstrate the unquestionable
professionalism befitting the nature
of this tournament.
The tournament director, Mbali
Ngqula added: “We have always felt
that East London deserves a worldclass
professional tournament and
we were determined to see that it
gets one.”
South African golfer Charl
Schwartzel won his first Africa
Open on Sunday, 10 January at
par-73.
Schwartzel took home the one
million euro (about R10,5-million)
prize after taking a single stroke at
the 18th hole at the East London
Golf Club. “It was not the ideal tee
shot when I pushed it right on 18,”
he said.
The Africa Open in East London
was Schwartzel’s fourth European
Tour win. He took the 2004-5 Alfred
Dunhill Championship, the 2007
Open de Espana and the 2008
Madrid.
Buffalo City Update is published by Communications Department • Editorial Team: Keith Ngesi, Samkelo Ngwenya and Samkelo Gqeba
Contributors: Zikhona Mzini, Thabo Khetsi • Contacts: Tel: 043 705 1158 • E-mail: samkelog@buffalocity.gov.za • Design and Layout by: Samkelo Gqeba
COPYRIGHT: Buffalo City Update Copyright reserved