A leading events destination

Cape Town steadily reclaiming its position as a leading events destination

Cape Town’s events calendar is filling up fast, as life returns to normal in a postpandemic world.

During October 2022, approximately 25 000 athletes participated in various events linked to the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, including the main event, a Trail Marathon and Trail Run, and the 5 km and 10 km.

It was also the first of a multiyear evaluation to become part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors in 2025, joining Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York.

In September, Cape Town set a new record for attendance at the Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament, with more than 105 000 spectators attending the event at the DHL Stadium between Friday 9 September 2022 and Sunday 11 September 2022.

These figures break the previous record numbers set in 2018 at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco, USA.

“These are mammoth events, and they are a reminder of Cape Town’s ability to host big events safely, and in style. It also speaks to the appetite of the general public, whether locals, or visitors, to get out and about once more, to experience big sporting and cultural events, and the City is ready for it. Pre-Covid, we had already established ourselves as a leading events and tourism destination, and we are picking up right where we left off,” says Alderman JP Smith, MMC for Safety and Security, City of Cape Town.

Super Sevens In December, the Cape Town Sevens also makes a welcome return after a two-year hiatus, and recently the city was also named as one of the host cities for the 2023 T20 Women’s World Cup.

The tournament will be held in February next year, and is the latest feather in Cape Town’s cap, particularly after the city also won the rights to host the 2023 Netball World Cup, after a successful intergovernmental bid, which included the national and provincial governments as well as Netball South Africa.

That event, in July next year, will see 16 of the top netball national teams from around the world participating in the showpiece at Cape Town International Convention Centre.

“Every event, whether sporting or cultural, is an opportunity to showcase Cape Town, but also to grow our economy and create or sustain jobs for our residents. And, through the Netball World

Cup, for example, we are raising the profile of the sport, and giving young, upcoming players a platform to show off their talents. Sport allows many young people to create a brighter future for themselves and we are committed to supporting this goal.

“With our excellent infrastructure, and world-class facilities to stage events of this calibre, there can be no doubt that Cape Town will continue putting its best foot forward, opening the door to more hosting opportunities in future, to the benefit of all Capetonians,” says Alderman Smith.

Racing ahead In 2023, Cape Town is also looking at being the first African city to host Formula-E.

“Formula-E presents Cape Town not only with an opportunity to stimulate the economy but it is also a platform where we, as a city, can contribute further to environmental sustainability through events. Cape Town is a city with a longestablished motorsport culture and Formula-E will provide these motorsport enthusiasts an opportunity to see a live international event and possibly inspire aspiring motorsport drivers,” Alderman Smith concludes.