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Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality ready to host National Lifesaving Championships

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It’s all systems go for the DHL Lifesaving South Africa National Championships which will be hosted in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality from Saturday, 2 October 2021, attracting more than 1000 athletes.

On Tuesday, 29 September, NMBM Deputy Executive Mayor, Cllr Luxolo Namette officially welcomed the athletes from across the country who will be taking part in the much anticipated competition.

The Championships are making a return to the Bay after the 2020 edition had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Deputy Executive Mayor Namette said the return of the championships in the City was expected to contribute about R36million into the City’s economy over the eight-day event with accommodation establishments securing not less than 8000 bed bookings during the same period.

“We are delighted as the City to have so much economic activity taking place during these financially challenging COVID-19 times. We know a lot of sectors in our City will benefit during this period. This is a major boost as we also have the COSAFA Women’s Championships 2021 taking place in our City as well, that started on Tuesday. This is a clear indication that our City is the place to be for top sport and tourism events.”

“We have prepared everything for this event too and we wish the 1100 athletes that will be taking part in the competition, all the best. We wish them a safe stay and incident free event and call on them to take extra precautions against the Coronavirus as it is still a reality we are living with,” said the Deputy Executive Mayor.

The Lifesaving SA events will take place at the Kings Beach and Newton Park Swimming Pool with athletes as young as eight years old taking part.

Sport Director at Lifesaving SA, Craig van Rooyen said they were happy to be back in the Bay for the third time.

“It’s a prestigious lifesaving event and we are really excited to have partnered with NMBM again and our sponsors. I can reassure the residents that all COVID-19 protocols and safety measures have been put in place in order to run a successful event without any safety issues. We have a strict screening process which is 14 days prior to the event in order to travel down to Port Elizabeth.”

“Our athletes are monitored on a daily basis and once all the safety checks have been done they are allowed into the competition arena. The numbers that we have, comply with the COVID-19 regulations, no spectators will be allowed and we have split the event over an eight day period in order to comply,” he said.

A total of 32 lifesaving clubs will be taking part in this year’s competition with athletes coming from the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, North West, Gauteng and Free State.

The competition comes to an end on 9 October 2021.

For more information visit www.lifesaving.co.za or follow Lifesaving South Africa on social media to catch all the action and keep up to date with all the DHL Lifesaving South Africa National Championship results and more.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.