Input by the Premier of the Northern Cape, Mrs Hazel Jenkins, on the occasion of the Anchor Sponsorship Announcement for the Maloof Money Cup World Skateboarding Championships: 20 June 2011
Members of the Executive Council
Mr Chris Griffiths, Chief Executive Officer and the Senior Management of Kumba Iron Ore
Government Officials
Members of the Media Fraternity
Ladies and Gentlemen
I am indeed delighted in my capacity as Premier of the Northern Cape Province, to formally announce that the Provincial Government has signed a multi-million rand partnership agreement with mining giant Kumba Iron Ore as the main sponsor of the 2011 Maloof Money Cup World Skateboarding Championships, which will be hosted in our provincial capital from 29 September to 02 October 2011.
The three-day skateboarding showpiece is touted as the richest skateboarding contest in the world and will be staged from 29 September to 02 October 2011. This public-private initiative will be the catalyst in hosting an event of a world-class standard.
The Maloof Money Cup is a long term legacy project covering all aspects of youth development and upliftment in local communities and was launched to promote skateboarding as a positive, active lifestyle for the youth of South Africa. From the start of this campaign, we have been striving to create strategic partnerships between local, provincial and national government departments and the private sector to ensure that this event is successfully presented to the national and international market. With the strong mining heritage of the Northern Cape, it is extremely appropriate that Kumba is coming on board as an anchor or main sponsor. This will certainly aid our efforts to establish Kimberley and the Northern Cape as the extreme sports capital of the country.
I am also pleased to announce that the Northern Cape Provincial Government has launched the Skateboarding for Hope outreach initiative as a run-up to the Maloof Money Cup in an attempt to galvanise the youth of the country and to create awareness for the sport of skateboarding, which has become one of the fastest growing sporting disciplines in the world. The outreach programme is currently being rolled out across the country to identify skateboarding talent, develop skills and position skateboarding as a cost-effective and accessible lifestyle alternative.
Moreover the announcement of this generous sponsorship during Youth Month is indeed a significant milestone for both our Province and country.
Hundreds of international skateboarders and their supporters as well as a large global media contingent will be descending on South Africa’s largest province in the months leading up to the contest. As we did during the 2010 World Cup when we hosted the Uruguay National Football Team, we will, as a Province, extend our collective warmth and hospitality to all visitors and competitors alike.
The Maloof Money Cup will definitely turn the global media spotlight on the province. By hosting this prestigious event outside the borders of the United States of America for the first time in its history, we will not only be building brand collateral under our Extreme Experiences brand pillar, but we will also be able to showcase the unique tourism offerings of our province. The Northern Cape is in essence a province of extremes – extreme adventure, extreme culture and extreme nature – and the Maloof Money Cup presents the perfect vehicle to carry this message to a global audience.
Ladies and Gentlemen, in my opening remarks, I mentioned that we signed a multi-million rand partnership agreement with Kumba. I am sure that all of you would like to know the actual amount.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is not R1 million nor is it R5 million. Let me now break the suspense - it is a whopping R10 million. Thank you Mr Griffiths. Thank you Kumba Iron Ore.
M2k Tekno