IRB Sevens World Series bid winner to be announced mid-February

THE city of Nelson Mandela Bay is waiting in anticipation for the announcement of winner of a bid to host the IRB HSBC Sevens World Series, due mid February.

“If we win this bid it will secure another world-class event for the city and in the process will ensure the growth of tourism interest in Nelson Mandela Bay,” said Mandlakazi Skefile, NMBT chief executive.

If the city wins the bid it will go on to host the popular and hugely exciting rugby tournament from 2011 through to 2015. After an internal evaluation process, additional information gathering where required and scoring there will be a recommendation to the South African Rugby Union Executive Committee on February 2011.

A public announcement of the winner would then follow on February 18, SARU confirmed.

Last year, Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism submitted a joint bid with Eastern Province Rugby Union, the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium that was supported by the NMBM and mayor's office on December 10.

“This is illustrative of a collective approach to securing events aimed at bringing tourists to the city and included input and strategy sessions by NMBT, EP Rugby and the stadium operator from private sector,” said NMBT chairman Odwa Mtati.

“We are getting more proactive about bringing events here. Flagship events are excellent for marketing Nelson Mandela Bay and increasing tourism traffic to the city – hence our wholehearted participation in the bid. There is a momentum building here that we mustn’t loose as a city. We will try keep it going through our board and stakeholders,” added NMBT marketing manager Titus Chuene.

Nelson Mandela Bay is bidding against Cape Town and Rustenburg.