SA gears up for NWC in 2023

South Africa won the bid to host the 2023 Netball World Cup (NWC) in Cape Town in 2019.

The excitement that came with this news can still be felt today as the 2023 NWC board officially unveiled the logo for the event that will be hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
This announcement and reveal come in immediately after World Netball, which was previously known as the International Netball Federation, announced their rebranding and name change last week.

“This is an interesting time for netball globally. It is like we are entering a new dawn because just last week we were introduced to World Netball and got to see their new logo.

“Now South Africa will get to be the first country to host the world cup under the new name and logo,” said Cecilia Molokwane, Netball South Africa president and World Netball regional director Africa.

“As Netball South Africa we are very excited. A name change offers one an opportunity to introspect, a chance to cement your place and to write your name in the history books.

The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, announced the board in April. The board has vowed and committed itself to put together a world-class event that is befitting of a South African standard and flair.

The board is made up of an independent chairperson, two representatives from Netball South Africa, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, the City of Cape Town, the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, who have one representative each.

City of Cape Town mayor Dan Plato said: “The launch of the official logo brings us a step closer to Africa’s first-ever world cup. As the host city for this prestigious event, we are thrilled to be adding yet another major international sports event to our list of spectacular events that have earned us the title of the world’s leading festival and event destination.

Molokwane said, “We have always been able to deliver great events locally as netballers, this is the benchmark that we have set for ourselves, and we must maintain this standard.

“Our partners are aware of this and together we will deliver. This is all about taking netball back to the people and we want to make sure we give young girls and boys an experience they will never forget and inspire them to dream beyond their wildest dreams.”

This article originally appeared on Southern Courier

Photo: Roger Sedres