Middelburg to host SAIMSA 2017 games
Middelburg will host the Southern AfricaN Inter-Municipal Sports Association (SAIMSA) games from 24 to 29 September that will bring thousands of visitors to town from all over South Africa and neighbouring countries.
The Steve Tshwete municipality approved the request and it was approved at a Council Meeting last Thursday that sporting facilities all over the municipality will be made available free of charge, and that they will assist in consulting with the Middelburg Country Club on the availability of the Golf Course on the dates indicated. Mayor Mike Masina will host the opening ceremony on 24 September 2017 which will include a Gala Dinner for fundraising, and also a closing ceremony on 29 September – the venues of which are yet to be confirmed.
R100 000 has also been made available for the logistics required to host the games and senior officials at the municipality have been tasked to liaise with the Local Organising Committee to co-ordinate arrangements in the run-up to the event.
Councillors agreed at the meeting that it was an honour to be requested to host the games as organisers had faith in local infrastructure and the facilities that can be made available all over the municipality, and that the community will prove warm hosts. Middelburg will benefit immensely through massive economic activity in town and in particular guest houses, restaurants and other enmities.
The economic benefits will also support small and emerging businesses, mentioned Mayor Mike Masina, as thousands of people will be staying in Middelburg for at least a week.
The SAIMSA games consist of municipal teams who battle it out in different sporting codes which include soccer, netball, volleyball, angling (fishing), golf, table tennis, pool, darts and tennis. The Southern Africa Inter-Municipal Sports Association was born in 2007 in Walvis Bay, Namibia, four years after the first games were held in Botswana. The sole purpose of the existence of the association is to promote municipal sport as a concept in the SADC Regions. Currently only five Countries have participated in SAIMSA events since inception namely Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Swaziland.
