When MMC Ronald Harris extended the invitation to me to attend and open this event, I accepted it without hesitation, because of the important features associated with this event and its alignment with the 7 Mayoral Priorities, particularly priorities 4 and 5 of building an inclusive and business-friendly City, respectively.
While we are tired of hearing it, we must be reminded that the pandemic brought many sectors to a grinding halt, and although some have seen some recovery, there are others that will take longer to reach peak activity.
This particularly applies to festivals, the arts, and sports, which simply were not possible at the time, yet received little to no support from the relevant Government structures.
Many of the participants, across the 55 sporting codes, fell of hard times, and had to take out loans or find alternative income streams, yet the National Department of Sports, Art and Culture saw it fit to spend R22-million on a flag project. And thanks to the public pressure especially from industries like yours, that project has been correctly put on the back burner.
Do not get me wrong, I am a proud South African that loves their flag and country, but as Government leaders we must always be fully in tune with the needs of the communities we serve, and correctly and consciously prioritise and allocate the resources we have been entrusted with.
Some may stand back and accuse the Multi-Party Government of being hypocritical by supporting the Arnold Sports Festival. Our support is not monetary, but goes as far as providing municipal services, such as the venue, security around the venue area, administrative assistance, to ensure that the participants from 50 different countries, the close to 200 exhibitors, from both here and abroad, can easily invest in our City.
Over the next three-days, we will see up to 15,000 visitors to the City-owned Ruimsig Athletics Stadium. And of these thousands of visitors, many will rent accommodation; wine and dine at our world class restaurants; visit our history-rich tourist attractions; support local businesses and entrepreneurs. We can be proud to say that this event has created work for 900 people, and given a platform to 2,500 athletes.
According to the data of the last event, in 2019, the estimated spend by visitors to the Arnold Sports Festival, was R46,6-million. That is a great boast for our Joburg’s economy, tourism, entertainment, and associated sectors, and we hope to see this number grow this year.
As the City of Johannesburg Multi-Party Government, we must do what we can to ensure that festivals, sports, and the arts are supported as they rebuild. Today, is a show of our commitment to this event and the sectors it supports.
Rebuilding is certainly a theme of this fairly new but energetic and focused political administration.
When we talk about repairing and rebuilding Joburg, we are not just talking about bricks and mortar, we are also talking about breathing new life into the social fibre of our City of Golden Opportunities, through, inter alia, festivals, sports, and the arts. These sectors stand as an expression of who we are; they bring different races, classes, sexes, genders, and classes together.
Mindfully aware of the role of women in building communities, I am glad to see a strong representation of women in both the sports and exhibitions.
Joburg is not just the melting pot of Africa but the globe. We have guests from more than 50 countries including Canada, Brazil, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Argentina, and Iceland to name but a few.
We would like to see our visitors come back for business and holiday. We would want them to go back and tell their friends and family that Joburg is open for business and tourism – and of course come and spend their money and contribute to rebuilding our City and its economy.
MMC Harris, the City of Johannesburg, and the Multi-Party Government, through the Community Development Department is a proud host and partner with the Arnold Classic Africa 2022. This is the fifth installment of the festival in Joburg, and our partnership with the event. We would like to see a five-year partnership going forward.
The festival was hosted at the Sandton Convention Centre for four years prior, but we are proud to bring it to this stellar facility that the City owns.
This year the Arnold Classic Africa Sports Festival will be hosted from 3 to 5 June 2022.
While bodybuilding and power sports are at the heart of the Arnold Sports Festival given the former Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s passion and lifetime commitment to weightlifting, the festival will also have over 55 sporting codes, as already mentioned.
Athletes across several sporting codes such as aerial sports, arm wrestling, martial arts and basketball will have the opportunity to promote their fields on a global stage and encourage new participation, in the heart of South Africa – Joburg!
The event will be jam-packed with various activities including the “come and try” programme, which is aimed at encouraging people to participate in their favourite sport. Visitors can participate in physical sports or mentally challenging sports such as chess, speed cube and Lego.
This festival has made such an impression that tickets are sold out. The community will experience this unique event that offers something for everyone.
As the City of Joburg, we are here to ensure that the event is a success, visitors and participants are safe and have sun, so that we can continue with this partnership for many years to come.
Without further delay, let’s open the gates and let’s have fun.
For media queries, please contact:
Mabine Seabe
Director: Mayoral Communication
Private Office of the Executive Mayor
084 677 7851
03/06/2022
