An economic boost, of approximately R66 million, became a reality for Nelson Mandela Bay following the DHL Lifesaving South Africa National Championships held in the Bay this past week.
Today is the last day of the championships that commenced on March 30, which saw 33 national clubs participate, with 25 from other regions, as well as more than 1 600 competitors streaming to the Bay, providing the tourism sector with a much-needed boost.
Approximately 600 competitors competed in outside activities, with the rest taking place indoors. Participants ranged between the ages of eight and 65, and took part in over 500 events over the seven-day championship.
The event, held at King’s Beach, started with the junior and senior surf competition, before moving along to the surf boat competition and the nipper pool competition at the Newton Park Swimming Pool.
On day three the masters’ pool competition took place, with the masters’ surf competition a day later, followed by another nipper surf event.
The event ends today with the junior and senior pool competition.
Director of Sport at Lifesaving South Africa, Craig van Rooyen, said this is the seventh consecutive year the championship being held in Nelson Mandela Bay, and the fourth year of being partnered with DHL and the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.
This follows the cancellation of the event in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is one of the bigger events in the city, because it brings in so many tourists that book bed and breakfasts and spend money at restaurants and hotels. With everyone flocking to Nelson Mandela Bay for the championships, our event also creates temporary jobs that benefit the metro’s economy greatly,” he said.
He added that they are immensely proud of the South African team that always gives their all, and that returned from a competition in Italy last year with excellent results.
“I think that our team is the future Springboks of lifesaving,” said Van Rooyen of the skills on display.
As a token of appreciation to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality for hosting the event for several consecutive years, Lifesaving South Africa handed over a yellow buoy to the metro’s MMC for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Bassie Kamana.
The buoy includes a plaque that reads: “In appreciation of the support given to save lives”, and was handed over by Van Rooyen.
Kamana proudly accepted the plaque and said that, as a city, Nelson Mandela Bay is finally starting to reap the rewards of the long path that it has taken to get to this point in the tourism sector.
“We have dreamed about these things, and a dream lived is a dream realised. We are proud to once again be the hosts for the DHL Lifesaving South Africa National Championships for 2023.
“The championship has brought families from all over the country to Nelson Mandela Bay. I am confident in saying that this event could not have been held as well by other destinations, as it was by Nelson Mandela Bay,” Kamana added.
“No one in the country can do it as well as Nelson Mandela Bay can. You’ve seen the rest, now you’ve arrived at the best. The event has created guaranteed job opportunities at restaurants, hotels, guesthouses and other establishments,” he said.
General Manager of Lifesaving South Africa, Helen Herbert, said that apart from the lifesaving championships that are held, they are also actively involved in taking lifesaving to schools and making it an educational activity.
She mentioned that they have achieved great success with the Lifesaving South Africa Watersmart programme being held in schools.
This is an educational drowning prevention programme that focuses on educating learners on water safety, and protecting them from potential accidental drowning and death.
The programme, which started in 2016, is presented by lifeguard facilitators.
“It helps in so many ways because your child would even be able to come home and educate others about how a child should not be unsupervised or should not play too close to the pool. They will be water smart and extra-aware,” she said.
“Thus far, with this programme, we have reached more than 33 000 children nationally,” Herbert added.
