Cape Town – The eighth edition of the Rugby World Cup 7s tournament will be hosted for the first time by an African country in its three-decade history, when it kicks off in Cape Town this weekend, and the event is set to be a big one.
More than 100 000 fans are expected to descend on the DHL Stadium over three days to watch some of the world’s top men and women’s Sevens Rugby nations battle to be crowned champions.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis shared his excitement stating that hosting events such as Rugby World Cup Sevens prove that Cape Town continues to be an attractive and competitive global events destination with expertise to pull off major international masterpieces.
“On behalf of the City of Cape Town, we welcome all the teams and their support staff, and the many thousands of residents and visitors who are making their way here for the tournament.
“We are committed to putting on a world-class event for locals and visitors to enjoy in our beautiful City and will be activating the fan walk as well as a free MyCiTi shuttle service for ticket holders as part of our park and ride facilities.
“The hosting of world cup tournaments is not only important for boosting the economy and creating employment, but also for uniting residents and people from all walks of life.
“I am looking forward to joining the thousands of passionate fans to sing and cheer for their teams," said Hill-Lewis.
The City’s Events Coordinating Committee, working with Saru, has been at the forefront of the planning for this event.
Mayco member for safety and security JP Smith said: “Over the last two years we have been hard at work with World Rugby and Saru on the logistics for this event to ensure that not only is it a memorable experience for the players, fans and all those involved but that it is safe for everyone.
“Our events co-ordinating committee has spent months ensuring we plan and deploy all our services to make sure there’s visibility around the event footprint, management of traffic and movement of fans around the venue,“ said Smith.
Cape Town Tourism chief executive Enver Duminy also said the games had provided a welcome boost to the tourism industry.
“After a two-year hiatus, the benefits of this prestigious event have already been showing as ticket sales, accommodation, and flight bookings, which are now back at fever pitch levels.”
Duminy said as a destination for both domestic and international visitors, Cape Town welcomed events like these, because they give the city a chance to showcase itself to new visitors.
“We invite visitors to the Mother City and implore them to spend a little longer exploring all that our beautiful city has to offer."
Finance and Economic Opportunities MEC Mireille Wenger said she was eagerly looking forward to watching the Rugby World Cup Sevens this weekend and wished the Springbok Sevens team the best of luck.
Wenger said: “Big events like these and the economic benefits they bring to the Western Cape are significant.”
Wenger said the Western Cape Convention Bureau, based in the Province’s official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency, Wesgro, secured 18 bids for the 2021/22 financial year, with an estimated economic impact of R264 million.
She said not only did big events, like the Rugby Sevens, strengthen Cape Town’s tourism and hospitality sector, but they also attracted potential business creators and investors to do business in the Mother City and the the Western Cape as a whole.
Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Jacques Moolman said the Rugby World Cup Sevens would further rejuvenate the hospitality sector which had already seen a significant recovery since the lifting of restrictions on international travel.
He said, major sporting events are a major source of revenue for the Western Cape economy, with previous Sevens tournaments resulting in spending of around R700 million according to one City estimate.
“The international nature of the World Cup Sevens, and the fact that it involves as many as 40 teams, represents a further huge value add in terms of destination marketing.
“For rugby sevens it is a showcase event, but in many ways it is a showcase for what the City has to offer for international event organisers.”
Moolman said the event also comes on the back of positive news from the hospitality sector, with city hotels now reporting more foreign guests than domestic guests – the first time since Covid-19 struck in early 2020.
He said: “Looking ahead to the upcoming summer season, the chamber supports calls for less onerous visa requirements applicable to some long-haul travellers.
“This would allow the hospitality sector to capitalise on the current positive market sentiment.”
The sevens is also set to deliver on entertainment for attendees with a one-of-a-kind fan village with Youngsta CPT, Blxckie, Costa Tich and hometown favourite, GoodLuck being announced as some of the fan park entertainment line-up .
The four headline acts will be supported by a truly South African mix of live acts, DJs and entertainers throughout the tournament, from the time the gates open at 10h00 right until gates close, daily.
Castle Lite Brand Director, Colleen Duvenage adds: “We are so excited for Castle Lite to be unlocking the fan village and to once again be providing a stage to expose amazing local talent to an international audience.
“We have a great variety of headliners across the three-days, that is sure to appeal to the wide audience in attendance.
“We are committed to bringing the ‘lite’ side of 7s to life and what a better way to do that than through entertainment that will ensure each and every fan leaves with incredible memories to share.”
mwangi.githahu@inl.co.za