Oudtshoorn, 26 April 2019 – Tonight, Mayor Colan Sylvester will welcome sponsors, organisers, stakeholders and participants in a Gala dinner that marks the official opening of the Kickboxing National Championships. The tournament takes place this Saturday, 27 April and Sunday, 28 April 2019.
This event is organised by the South African Kick-Boxing Association (SAKA) in partnership with the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS), Oudtshoorn Municipality and other stakeholders.
Approximately 1 500 to 2000 kickboxing athletes and their supporting families from all over the country are to converge in Oudtshoorn for the kickboxing tournament. This is the second time that Oudtshoorn hosts the national kickboxing championships. Oudtshoorn hosted the first one in 2013.
“This is not only a momentous event for the Greater Oudtshoorn, but also continued affirmation of the town as the sport Mecca of the Southern Cape,” said the Executive Mayor, Councillor Colan Sylvester.
“The good news for our economy is that, this event offers concrete marketing and revenue generation opportunities for the town specifically in the tourism, hospitality and financial businesses for the weekend,” Sylvester added.
The Oudtshoorn Municipality has contributed an amount of R 20 000 towards the tournament plus additional contribution that includes venue sponsoring, mobile ablution facilities, emergency support and municipal communication & media support.
The main sponsor, DCAS, supported the SAKA national championships by supplying trophies for this event and cash contribution. The Department’s vision is to “unite people through sport and culture to ensure a creative and active Western Cape”.
This national tournament will today, be preceded by a Mayoral Gala event officially launch the national championships and also acknowledge contributors towards the tournament. The National President of SAKA, Shihan Pat Carne, the Western Cape SAKA President, Shihan Josh Cloete and Dirk van der Westhuizen of DCAS and Oudtshoorn Municipality’s councillors and senior officials will be among the dignitaries that will attend the Gala event.
A local member of the Western Cape Kick-Boxing Association, Ranger Grebe, who is also a member of the local organising committee that has been organising the event expressed his delight to be hosting the tournament. “Our mission is to objectively promote and practice kickboxing in all its modes and styles and we are happy and blessed to bring national kickboxers in our town.”
The tournament will take place at the De Jager Sport Complex and entry to the tournament is free of charge. Security will be intensified ensure safety of all attendees. Weigh-in is started today at 12:00 – 15:00.
The tournament is over two days, Saturday, 27 April and Sunday, 28 April. The juniors compete on Saturday and the tatami while the seniors are fighting in the boxing ring full contact. On Sunday, the seniors will be competing the tatami and the juniors in the boxing ring.