One of the key benefits of sports tourism is the boost it provides to the local economy.
East London’s hospitality industry enjoyed a R9m boost in June when the city hosted international competitors for the annual World Waveski Surfing Championships at Nahoon Reef.
More than 100 competitors from 14 countries took part in the 10-day event, many of them no doubt travelling with family and friends.
For accommodation and food establishments, it was a boost desperately needed.
And it came with bragging rights. East London beat out Australia to walk away with hosting rights for this year; much of it thanks to the efforts of local PR guru Trystan Viaene who led the campaign to bring the event to our shores.
BCM has to be serious about upgrading the city’s ailing infrastructure and facilities, improving security and keeping the city clean
The event showed what is possible if there is buy-in and a commitment from the council, sponsors and working together to fix what we can and put our best foot forward.
With a successful international sporting event behind us, top-flight soccer being hosted in the metro earlier this year and East London set to host Cricket World Cup matches in 2027, it comes as no surprise that BCM has its sights set on wooing the organisers of the Ironman 70.3 triathlon back to our shores.
Organisers pulled the plug on BCM as a venue for the event in 2021, citing infrastructure challenges.
The 2022 edition of the race moved to Mossel Bay, a blow to the metro.
Speaking at an awards ceremony recently, executive mayor Princess Faku said the metro had hoped to bring the Ironman race back next year.
It appears, for the moment at least, that a return of the Ironman in 2025 is highly unlikely.
Organisers said there were no plans yet to bring the event back to the city.
In fact, when questioning BCM on how the city intends making East London an attractive option for the Ironman once again, they were unable to provide specifics.
It could mean they are either keeping their cards close to their chests or they are still trying to figure it out themselves.
If BCM is serious about hosting major sporting events and raising its profile nationally and even internationally, it has to be serious about maintaining and upgrading the city’s ailing infrastructure and facilities, improving security at our main attractions and keeping the city clean.
The benefits of sports tourism are not only limited to the revenue generated during the events and jobs created, but the exposure could attract investors, businesses and visitors to our shores. And that is a win for BCM.
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