Firms back SA's RWC 2011 bid
12 April 2005
Retail giant Pick 'n Pay has thrown its weight behind South Africa's bid to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup with a R3-million sponsorship.
This follows last month's announcement that South African Airways was joining SA's 2011 campaign as an official sponsor, and sports broadcaster SuperSport as the official media partner.
South Africa, up against Japan and New Zealand for the right to host rugby's showpiece event, is due to submit its tender document to the International Rugby Board (IRB) in Dublin, Ireland on 13 May.
This will be followed by an IRB technical inspection at the end of July, with the winner - to be decided by the IRB's 24 council members - being announced in November.
This is the first three-way bidding contest in the history of the tournament. Australia defeated New Zealand in the bid to host the 2003 tournament, while France beat England in the bid to stage the 2007 event.
From 18 April, 2011 RWC Bid Company CEO Francois Pienaar, chairman Mthobi Tyamzashe (chief communications officer of Vodacom), and SA Rugby Union president Brian van Rooyen, will start lobbying for support in Europe.
Pienaar thanked Pick 'n Pay for coming on board at such short notice. "Their commitment to
South Africa, and specifically to development, is overwhelming", the 1995 World Cup winning Springbok captain said.
Capturing that moment of reconciliation: Nelson Mandela, wearing the Number 6 jersey, hands over the William Web Ellis trophy to Springbok captain Francois Pienaar. South Africa had just won the 1995 Rugby World Cup - and much more: finally, it seemed, the country had come together as one. (Photograph of an installation in the Apartheid Museum)
Pick 'n Pay CEO Sean Summers said that Rugby World Cup 2011 would benefit all South Africans - and make further use of the country's investment in infrastructure for the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
"Notwithstanding the challenges that [South African] rugby, and sport in general, currently face, it is important to work towards goals such as these and ensure that inclusion is
achieved", Summers said.
"The youth currently at school level will be the Springboks that play in the Rugby World Cup 2011, and it is to them that we owe this vision."
SuperSport CEO Imtiaz Patel said last month that SuperSport would work closely with the other bid sponsors to bring the tournament to SA for the first time since 1995, when the Springboks beat New Zealand in the final.
SuperSport, in co-operation with the bid committee, will make a series of 26-minute programmes to support the country's bid.
"We do not believe the rugby bid will detract in any way from the soccer World Cup to be held in South Africa in 2010", Patel told the SA Press Association. "If anything, it will enhance South Africa's standing as a destination for major events."
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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