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Sports
enthusiasts and spectators alike can gear up for a spectacular feat in
July 2007, when 14 000 international cyclists and team members converge
on Cape Town for the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) ‘B’ World Championships.
The
event, slated for 11 - 15 July 2007, will attract thousands of
participants, their families, and friends to Cape Town and the Western
Cape.
"The fact that the Union Cycliste Internationale
has chosen Cape Town speaks volumes for the reputation and capability
of our destination to host this prestigious event, says Nokhuthula
Dube, Chief Executive Officer of Cape Town Routes Unlimited. "A
special word of congratulations must go to the director of the
tournament, Alec Lenferna, who, with the support of our Convention and
Events Bureau and in partnership with the City of Cape Town, drove the
bid process with great enthusiasm."
The
Elite Road World Championships is staged each year and is recognised as
the top UCI event. However, due to limited entry, not all nations can
be represented. Building on the increasing popularity of the sport, the
UCI ‘B’ World Championships came into being to accommodate cyclists
from countries where cycling is not necessarily a mainstream sport.
"Cape
Town is a good venue for hosting this event for a number of reasons: We
have experience hosting top events; we are in a good time zone for
television coverage, especially for our European tourism target
markets; and we have excellent infrastructure in terms of our tracks
and roads."
Interest
in the event is growing; 50 international journalists will cover both
the track and road races because this event also doubles as an Olympic
qualifier for the 2008 Beijing Games.
Says
the Mayor, "The timing of the race – in July – is particularly
important. We need to address the challenges posed by seasonality. For
this reason we aim to host major events during the traditional off-peak
season to reinforce our reputation as a year-round destination. Our
climate during this time of year is generally mild and perfect for
outdoor activities, such as cycling. In addition, support for events
like this one provides unlimited opportunities to profile the City and
its people throughout the world."
Gert
Bam, Director of Social Development for the City of Cape Town, has
given his full support for the event. "These opportunities must also be
seen in the context of the 2010 Soccer World Cup. We have an
opportunity to show FIFA that they were indeed right to award the
hosting of the World Cup to South Africa," says Bam.
The Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Tour has already gained
international recognition from the UCI, becoming the opening event of
the Golden Bike Series, made up of 10 races held in Canada,
Switzerland, Italy, The Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Germany,
France and South Africa. Many people regard it as the jewel in the
crown of the prestigious series.
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