Mpumalanga gears up to host the National Goldpanning Games

Mpumalanga is gearing up to host the best-ever World Goldpanning Games scheduled for August 6 to 12, 2023, in Pilgrim’s Rest.

The MEC for culture, sport and recreation, Thandi Shongwe, said her department is ready to host the rest of the world and invited local people to support these games.
“This province boasts a great proven record when it comes to hosting successful sporting events. In 2010, we successfully hosted some of the Soccer World Cup games and again in 2013, we hosted the Africa Cup of Nations soccer games here in the Mbombela Stadium.
This is proof enough that we are capable of hosting just any sporting event in the province, and we are excited to be hosting the 2023 World Goldpanning Games,” said Shongwe.

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She extended an open invitation to local people to be part of these games and to make them memorable and an overwhelming success.

“I am happy that we are hosting games we are familiar with and for us to be great hosts, we need to start taking ownership of this particular sport and be behind our athletes who will represent us next year.”
She said the games will have great economic spin-offs for the province and the people of Pilgrim’s Rest and surrounds. Pilgrim’s Rest, Sabie and Graskop are famously known for their rich tourist attraction destinations.

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As part of preparing for the world games, this province will play host to this year’s National Goldpanning Championships in Pilgrim’s Rest from Wednesday October 5 to Saturday.
“Panners from all over the world will get to experience the province’s rich history. Furthermore, the 2023 World Goldpanning Championships will be the highlight of the 150th anniversary of the official declaration of Pilgrim’s Rest as a goldfield in 1873,” said Shongwe.