The Lipton Challenge is an annual yacht racing event contested between South African yacht clubs in one design boats. The present Lipton Cup yacht of choice is the L26 – a 26 foot Lavranos design.

This year’s Lipton Cup Challenge takes place out of the Royal Cape Yacht Club in Cape Town from 20 to 27 August 2010.

24 yacht clubs will be challenging the title holders, Theewaters Sailing Club (TSC) for the prestiguous Lipton Cup Trophy – one of the oldest and most valuable sporting trophies in South Africa.

TSC have won the trophy every year since 2006, skippered by Greg Davis and Gareth Blankenberg from 2006 to 2008 and by Greg Davis and David Rae in 2009.

The 24 challenging clubs that will be taking part are: Royal Cape Yacht Club, Lake Deneys Yacht Club, Saldanha Bay Yacht Club, Traditional Boat Association, Milnerton Aquatic Club, Diocesan College Yacht Club, Gordons Bay Yacht Club, UCT Yacht Club, Point Yacht Club, Port Owen Yacht Club, Royal Natal Yacht Club, Knysna Yacht Club, False Bay yacht Club, Defence Yacht Club WP, Algoa Bay Yacht Club, Defence KZN, Defence Boland, Walvis Bay Yacht Club, Zeekoe Vlei Yacht Club, Imperial Yacht Club, Transvaal Yacht Club, Mossel Bay Yacht & Boat Club, Hout Bay Yacht Club and Hermanus Yacht Club.

International brewing giant, Heineken, has announced that they will once again be the Title Sponsor of the Royal Cape Yacht Club’s premier South Atlantic race, the Heineken Cape-to-Rio, which will take place in January 2011.

“The Heineken Cape to Rio is a jewel in the crown of Heineken’s global partnership with the premium sport of sailing. As Title Sponsor for the third Trans-Atlantic race in a row, we have certainly consolidated our brand ownership of one of South Africa’s iconic sporting challenges,” said Franco Maria Maggi, National Brand Manager, Heineken.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Heineken back onboard once again and are equally pleased to be taking the Race back to its roots in Rio de Janerio, site of the finish of the first race forty years ago.” said John Martin, Commodore of Royal Cape Yacht Club. “Ever since then, the event has maintained its status as the top Trans-Atlantic race on the ocean racing calendar.”

“The Heineken Cape to Rio – and its partner destinations, Cape Town and Rio de Janerio, Brazil embodies the glamour and excitement which is central to the Heineken brand promise. Heineken is proud to support and be associated with the unique spirit of friendship, adventure and achievement which is epitomized by this Race. We wish best of luck and fair winds to all the yachtsmen competing in the event.” said Maggi.

Commenting on plans for the forthcoming Race, Chairman of the Race, John Martin said: “I am pleased to confirm that the SA Navy will be sending the SAS Drakensberg as the Guardship to accompany the fleet. One Radio and one press journalist will be onboard to maximise publicity for all sponsors”. This also means we are able to send two 20ft containers for the competitor’s benefit. A tracking system has been identified and purchased thus ensuring frequent position reporting and this will of course also provide race followers with graphic visuals on both the Heineken and RCYC websites. At present we are working on an interactive race game to enhance the sport amongst the followers.

The Mayor of Rio has been invited and will be coming to Cape Town for the start of the Race and our Mayor of Cape Town will be invited to the Prize-Giving in Rio de Janeiro. On the social side we continue to develop a program to give competitors and their sponsors enjoyment and added benefits. To this end we will host an informal gathering of competitors during the first week of December, to give everyone an opportunity to meet and chat and ask questions of the Race Committee.

On the Saturday before the Race start, Heineken will host an afternoon “Blue Peter” party for competitors and their sponsors and on the Friday the 14th of January, a VVIP Cocktail Party will be hosted onboard SAS Drakensberg for Sponsors, State Dignitaries, Civil Dignatories and Skippers. On arrival in Rio, each yacht will receive a traditional Rio welcome including food and drinks and we envisage staging a South African party onboard SAS Drakensberg for Rio Dignitaries, competitors and sponsors on the 9th February. The special prize-giving event will be hosted by the Mayor of Rio in the historic and beautiful “Palace” where he will welcome all our competitors, sponsors and supporters.

Derek Shuttleworth aboard Me 2 Me was the first entry to sign up for the 2011 Heineken Cape to Rio Race and entries continue to come in. To-date, we have Puma Unleashed, Bella Mia, Touch Wood, Spiderboat, Leyna, Eileen Taigh and we have it on good authority that Hi Fidelity and Warrior will be entering. We await news on Gumption and on the International front, we know of a Swan 56 being shipped here, a strong enquiry from Alexia from Monaco onboard an Open 50. She recently sailed Single Handed Around the World and we believe she is looking at a Development crew from Monaco, Rio and South Africa. Giovanni Soldini who raced Single Handed Round the World in Class 11, a very accomplished sailor from Italy, has also expressed interest. I am confident of a highly competitive fleet and an enjoyable race incorporating approximately 25 boats.

The Blohm + Voss built superyacht, Eclipse, commissioned for Russian oligarch and Chelsea Football club owner, Roman Abramovich,  is rumoured to be heading to Cape Town for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Eclipse is the largest private mega yacht in the world at around 170 metres in length.

According to a report on Charterworld.com; “Superyacht Eclipse boasts many unique and unusual features being a new superyacht of the highest quality and size. There are an unknown number of technological advancements on the private yacht but what is known is that she has facilities for three helicopters. She also has powerful exterior yacht design and a dramatic interior by Britain’s Terence Disdale. Just as the yacht’s interior has custom styling and finishing her deck areas facilitate a 16m swimming pool which is the largest pool on any private superyacht. Amazingly the pool can also be converted into a large dance floor for entertaining.

The accommodation onboard Eclipse includes a 56m private yacht owner’s deck as well as additional space for as many as 92 further crew members and staff. This should be more than enough for friends and family to enjoy South Africa and the 2010 Football World Cup.”

Superyacht Eclipse - could we see her in Cape Town harbour soon?

Having just recently finalized his divorce from the mother of his five children, Irina, Roman Abromovich largely stays out of public eye, except for occasional spottings with rumored girlfriend Daria Zhukova.

Daria Zhukova on Superyacht Eclipse. (Stupidcelebrities.net)

Billionaire Abramovich, born 24 October 1966, is the main shareholder of the private investment company Millhouse LLC.

Orphaned as a child, Abramovich dropped out of college, then made a fortune in a series of controversial oil export deals in early 1990s. His fortune took off in 1995 when he teamed up with Boris Berezovsky to take over oil giant Sibneft at a fraction of its market value. In 2003 to 2004 he sold his stake in Russian Aluminum to fellow billionaire Oleg Deripaska. In 2005 Abramovich liquidated his biggest asset, selling 72.6% stake in Sibneft to gas titan Gazprom for $13 billion. In 2006 he bought a stake in the country’s largest steelmaker, Evraz Group, and early in 2008, a piece of Highland Gold, a U.K. mining company with operations in Russia.

Abramovich is best known for his purchase of Chelsea Football Club. Since the purchase Chelsea have won six major trophies – the Premier League, League Cup and FA Cup twice each – a trophy haul bettered only by Manchester United.

Of course if Roman is sending Eclipse to Cape Town we can expect him to fly to South Africa with Daria Zhukova in his private Boeing 767-33A/ER, registered in Aruba as P4-MES and known as ‘The Bandit’.

Paparazzi hoping to take photographs of the occupants inside Eclipse may have a hard time as the yacht is being fitted with the latest anti-bugging equipment and there are supposedly even flash sensors installed to warn of paparazzi photographers taking snaps through the windows. This shield takes the form of lasers that sweep the surroundings, and when they detect a CCD, they fire a bolt of light right at the camera to obliterate any photograph.

Links: Blohm + Voss Shipyard | Roman Abramovich | Roman Abramovich (Russian Web Site) | Chelsea Football Club

In an ironic twist of fate, a recurring injury may actually keep African junior triathlon champion Ashleigh Blackwell on her bike.

The 18-year-old from Tokai in Cape Town said on Tuesday that she may consider switching disciplines after winning two stages and placing second overall in the Mr Price National Junior & U/16 Tour that finished on Sunday.

Blackwell was invited by the professional women’s outfit, Team bizhub, to ride alongside South African time-trial champion Lilandi Swanepoel in the four-day event that started in Bethlehem in the Eastern Free State.

“I haven’t been able to do much running recently and therefore competing in triathlons has been out of the question,” said Blackwell, referring to a stress fracture of the femur that was diagnosed late last year.

She suffered another setback at the beginning of February when a stress fracture of the tibia prolonged her comeback. “That was when I decided to focus on road racing – for the time being.”

Two weeks later, and without the blessing of her doctor, Blackwell surprised herself by taking silver in the junior time-trial and placing fourth in the road race at the SA championships in Klerksdorp. “I was hoping to do well,” she admitted, “but I didn’t have any expectations.”

She received a call from Team bizhub owner John Robertson shortly after the Pick n Pay Cape Argus, offering her a guest position on the team for the junior tour.

“My job was to ride in support of Lilandi. Not knowing how hard it was going to be, I immediately accepted.”

Team bizhub guest rider Ashleigh Blackwell, from Tokai, Cape Town, showed that her talent extended beyond triathlons when she finished runner-up in the Mr Price National Junior & U/16 Tour this past weekend.

Robertson said he had monitored Blackwell’s performances over the past two years and felt she was a talent for the future. “Giving youngsters like Ashleigh an opportunity forms part of Team bizhub’s ongoing programme of exposing girls to the highest level of the sport.”

Blackwell made an immediate impact by finishing fourth in the 91km first stage. “In the sprint I was actually in a good position on Lilandi’s wheel, but I lost ground when she hit a pothole.”

The Capetonian made amends the following day when she won the 74km second stage in a two-woman sprint against eventual winner Sarah Chemley (Nashua), in the process securing the pink jersey of overall leader. “That stage was so fast and hot. We just tried to keep up with the (u/16) boys.”

Blackwell learnt about tour riding the hard way when she relinquished the pink jersey to Chemley the next morning in the 16km time-trial even though she recorded the third fastest time. “My legs were so sore. That’s where the tour really started to hurt.”

The youngster however showed her mental stamina when she fought back and managed to steal some time back in the afternoon criterium, which she won. “It’s the fastest race I’ve ever done. We averaged well into the forties.”

The fourth day, a hilly 55km stretch in the shadows of Golden Gate, finally ended her aspirations of overall victory. “I got dropped on the first and second climbs and was able to get back, but I completely popped on the third. It was horrible.”

Even though misfortune ended her team leader’s chances early on, Blackwell said representing Team bizhub was an “extremely proud” moment and a huge step towards her goal of becoming a professional athlete.

“At this point I’m hoping that it will be as a triathlete, but if my body continues to break down I might have to make a tough decision in the very near future.”

Robertson, who has been on races like the Tour de France, complimented the organisers. “I thought the road safety and traffic control measures were superb.”

His comments come in the wake of the death of Adam Reyneke, a silver medallist at the recent national championships, who was tragically killed after being struck by a car two days prior to the event.

Defending champion Dawid Mocke had to work hard in tough conditions to retain his Nelson Mandela Bay Surf Ski Classic title at Hobie Beach in Port Elizabeth on the opening day of the MTN Nelson Mandela Bay Splash Festival.

After taking the lead in the closing stages, Mocke, from Fish Hoek in Cape Town, held off Matthew Bouman from Durban for the second year in-a-row. The 32-year-old completed the two-lap, 26km course in 2:00:18, a mere nine second ahead of Bouman (2:00:27).

Sean Rice (2:02:47) from Cape Town, who was in contention for a large portion of the race, eventually finished more than two minutes down in third.

Port Elizabeth’s Richard von Wildemann (2:04:50) was the first local home in fourth, bettering his fifth place from last year. Nineteen-year-old Grant van der Walt, a world junior kayak champion from Durban, was fifth in 2:05:47.

Barry Lewin (2:07:24), a Durbanite who represented South Africa in the Southern Shamaal in December last year, made a good recovery after having to dismount early on due to a fishing line getting caught in his ski’s rudder.

In the women’s race, PE-based Michéle Eray comfortably defended her crown in 2:17:16. The former Plettenberg Bay paddler was followed home by Cape Town’s Nikki Mocke in 2:19:35 and New Zealand’s world champion Katie Pocock in 2:22:55.

“It is a fantastic feeling to defend my title. South Africa has some of the best paddlers in the world,” a visibly tired Dawid Mocke said after the race.

“The conditions were really tough. There was no wind and the swell was extremely small.

Dawid Mocke from Cape Town after winning the Nelson Mandela Bay Surf Ski Classic at the MTN Nelson Mandela Bay Splash Festival in Port Elizabeth on Friday.

Mocke, the 2009 World Series Champion, said his game plan was to go out hard in order to stretch the field. “Once you’re behind, it is very tough to get back into contention.”

The field buckled under the relentless pressure and a leading group of five – consisting of Mocke, Bouman, Rice, Van der Walt and Von Wildemann – went clear heading towards the first turn at the boiler.

Another spurt by Mocke en route to the bell buoy on the first lap caught out both Van der Walt and Von Wildemann, trimming the lead group to just three. Rice succumbed heading towards the boiler on the second lap, leaving last year’s top two to battle it out to the finish.

“I took the lead at the bell buoy, but Mat drew level with me. He then took a wide line to the last turn, while I opted to stay closer to the coast.”

This tactic paid dividends as Mocke built up a 50m lead rounding the last marker. “All I needed to do was maintain the gap on the last stretch, which is not easy when you’re tired.”

Mocke said he was nervous about Bouman’s chase until the finish. “Mat is one of the toughest competitors in the world. He never gives up. I was looking over my shoulder until the very end.

“In a race like this, it literally comes down to catching or missing one runner.”

Eray – a Beijing Olympian and former Dubai Shamaal champion – also found it hard going. “The conditions were tough and very hot. Fortunately there were a few runners on the home stretch.”

She said her plan was not to start too fast. “Heading towards the boiler on lap one, I went deeper than the other girls and we got separated. I worked really hard to consolidate my lead and then focused on maintaining it.

“I was very worried about Nikki coming from behind. I trained with her before the Olympics and I know how fast she is when she has a carrot to chase.”

RESULTS:

Men: 1. Dawid Mocke (2:00:18); 2. Matthew Bouman (2:00:27); 3. Sean Rice (2:02:47); 4. Richard von Wildeman (2:04:50); 5. Grant van der Walt (2:05:45); 6. Barry Lewin (2:07:24), 7. Ryan Louw (2:08:10); 8. Hennie Roos (2:09:22), 9. Steve Woods (2:10:26); 10. Brandon van der Walt (2:12:34)

Women: 1. Michele Eray (2:17:16); 2. Nikki Mocke (2:19:35); 3. Katie Pocock (2:22:55)

The FIFA World Cup draw took place in Cape Town, South Africa on 4 December 2009. Cape Town will see the following countries play in the first round of Group Matches; Uruguay, France, Italy, Paraguay, England, Algeria, Portugal, Korea DPR, Cameroon and Netherlands.

After the 1st round of matches three more games will be played at Cape Town Stadium; on 29 June 2010 one round of the top 16, on 03 July 2010 one of the Quarter Finals and on 06 July 2010 the Semi Finals.

At the draw the countries that qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2010  were placed into these groups:

• Group A: South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France
• Group B: Argentina, Nigeria, Korea Republic, Greece
• Group C: England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia
• Group D: Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana
• Group E: Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon
• Group F: Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia
• Group G: Brazil, Korea DPR, Cote d’Ivore, Portugal
• Group H: Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile

Greenpoint Football Stadium Cape Town

The full schedule of all matches of the FIFA World Cup taking place in Cape Town will be:

• Friday 11 June 2010 – 20:30 hrs – Uruguay vs France
• Monday 14 June 2010 – 20:30 hrs    - Italy vs Paraguay
• Friday 18 June 2010 – 20:30 hrs    - England vs Algeria
• Monday 21 June 2010 – 13:30 hrs    - Portugal vs Korea DPR
• Thursday 24 June 2010 – 20:30 hrs – Cameroon vs Netherlands
• Tuesday    29 June 2010 – 20:30 hrs – 1H vs 2G (8) Round of 16
• Saturday 03 July 2010 – 16:00 hrs – 2 vs 4 (B) Quarterfinals
• Tuesday    06 July 2010 – 20:30 hrs – A vs C (I) Semifinals

A full match schedule sorted by Match, Team and Venue can be downloaded HERE (PDF 53 kilobytes)

Discuss the 2010 World Cup here.

The Irish entry in the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race has set sail from Cape Town following the start day crash that forced her to return to port for repairs. Cork, Ireland has been back in port since Sunday afternoon and a team of boat builders has been working around the clock to get her ready to resume the race to Geraldton, Western Australia.

This lunchtime the marine surveyor pronounced her fit to leave and the crew, who had gathered at the yacht club this morning made their final preparations for the 4,700-mile race that will take them into the Southern Ocean along the Great Circle route to Geraldton, Western Australia.

Cork Crew prepare to leave Cape Town

Cork’s delayed departure follows a collision on the start line on Sunday afternoon when she slammed into Hull & Humber’s port side, causing both teams to return to harbour for repairs. Teams of boat builders from Action Yachting at Royal Cape Yacht Club have been working on the bow of the boat which was damaged in the crash. At 1834 local time (1634 GMT) the yacht slipped her lines, the repairs complete a day earlier than predicted.

Cork’s skipper, Richie Fearon, was keen to get going again. “I’m glad we’re getting away. I’m a bit upset for Hull & Humber that they won’t be coming with us. It’ll be good maybe to get away and get a bit of distance between us and Cape Town to put this incident behind us and move forward from that.

“The crew are great and they’ve been looking after me – I’ve been pretty down about it but they’ve looked after me well, so it will be good to get back out on the water and do what we do best.”

Management of the boat was handed over to Richie and his crew after the surveyor had given the green light and the finishing touches are being put to preparations to leave. Eight of the ten-strong fleet of 68-foot ocean racing yachts have been racing for four days and are already eating up the miles. The tail enders are a little more than 500 miles ahead of Cork and are providing a ready target for the Irish crew.

“We’ll certainly be trying to catch them,” says Richie. “It’s why we came here to the Southern Ocean and we’ll have a good run at it. I don’t think it’s going to change the way we sail the boat because as a team we’ve got to keep the pressure on, keep learning. That’s what we’re here to do, we’re out here to learn every day. So we won’t be changing how we sail at all. The only difference is we’re going to be in a different pressure system because we’ve got two lows coming across. We’ll have a good bit of wind to start the week and we should be able to close the gap on them. It would be nice to pass one or two!”

Race Director, Joff Bailey, said, “I’m really pleased we managed to get the repairs completed so quickly and we’ve been able to get them out racing again. The Race Committee has some decisions to make in the next couple of weeks with regard to the incident on Sunday, but for now we’ll be focussing on getting Hull & Humber’s repairs completed so they can start racing as soon as possible.”

Hull & Humber’s repairs will take a little longer and the English boat is forecast to leave Royal Cape Yacht Club next Tuesday.

Richie says, “It’s unfortunate Hull & Humber won’t be coming with us but we’re taking a couple of their crew members who need to be there to meet their family to get them to Geraldton in time for their Christmas holidays.”

Having been given the option race with their competitors Victoria Strecker and Charlie Mulliner will become members of Cork’s crew for this race only and for 21-year-old student, Charlie, it was a really hard decision to make.

“I’ve got nine of my family coming out to see me in Australia so it’s the difference between them seeing me and not. It’s one of those decisions that I’ve had to make but I feel absolutely gutted that I’ve had to get off Hull & Humber and it’s horrible having to leave our team when we’re just so close knit. But the guys on Cork have been really welcoming and it’s going to be an amazing leg anyway. I’m very excited about it; it’s one of the things I’ve been looking forward to sailing around the world, so to be finally doing it after all this time will be absolutely incredible.”

Round the world crew member on Cork, Michael Lewis, 30, an engineer from Dublin, is also looking forward to racing across the Southern Ocean.

“I’m really looking foward to it. The Southern Ocean’s always been one of the highlights of the race for me so it’s going to be great to get out there, get the boat moving and do what we’re here to do really and get racing again. We just want to get to Australia as quickly as possible and we’ll see how it goes. We’re a long way behind but we’re looking forward to getting across the ocean as quick as we can.”

The Clipper Race is the only race in the world where the crews come from all walks of life, all ages and with all levels of experience. Prior to their training, some 40 percent of the crews had never stepped aboard a sailing yacht before. Clipper 09-10 started on the Humber on the east coast of the UK in September 2009 and the ten yachts and their crews will return there on 17 July 2010.

Each Clipper yacht is entered by a city, region or country and sponsors use the event to showcase themselves to the world. On the last running of the Clipper Race, more than 212 million people worldwide followed the adventure through television, print media, radio and online.

Cork is funded by Fáilte Ireland, Cork City Council and Cork County Council with the main objective of promoting Cork as a tourism and business destination around the world. Working alongside Tourism Ireland, Cork will be promoted to consumers, trade and the media in key markets that the race visits. The culmination of the project will be the arrival of the Clipper fleet in Kinsale in July 2010 for eight days of festivities which will showcase Ireland to a global market.

The fleet is expected to arrive in Geraldton, Western Australia for the next stopover between 14 and 18 December.

Cape Town, South Africa: A dramatic start to Race 4 of Clipper 09-10 in Cape Town saw eight of the boats cross the start line for the 4,700-mile race to Geraldton, Western Australia, while a collision between Hull & Humber and Cork, Ireland resulted in the two teams returning to harbour. None of the crew were hurt and the Race Director and the shore team are now assessing the damage to Hull & Humber’s port aft quarter and Cork’s bow.

Start of the Clipper Around the World Race Leg 4 in Cape Town

California had another cracking start in the stiff south easterly breeze in Table Bay and was first across the line to massive cheers from the crew on board.

California was followed by Spirit of Australia, looking for a win on this race to their home port, and Team Finland. The skippers of both California and Team Finland live in Cape Town so may have been able to call on a little local knowledge to press home their advantage as they led the fleet back into the South Atlantic. As they sailed into the lee of Table Mountain, which looked magnificent in the South African sunshine, the winds dropped slightly.

The Clipper Race is hard fought and, as in any sport, the adrenaline is pumping for the crews on the start line.

Race Chairman, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, was watching the action on the water and said, “This is a closely contested race and this kind of thing happens in fiercely competitive racing. The race is underway – eight boats are racing off towards Geraldton in Western Australia. For the two damaged boats, repairs will be effected as speedily as possible so they can catch up.”

The Clipper maintenance team, headed up by Justin Haller, has already begun assessing the damage and is in contact with local marine surveyors who will be called in to assist. Both yachts have been taken from the V&A Waterfront to Royal Cape Yacht Club for the work to be carried out.

Hearing of the incident, the Irish Ambassador to South Africa, who was in Cape Town today, has stayed in the city to support the team and is commiserating with them at the yacht club.

Cape Town has proved a huge hit with the crews who have enjoyed climbing Table Mountain – and abseiling down its sheer granite rock face – visiting Robben Island, the gardens at Kirstenbosch. And a few even had the chance to take an exclusive, behind the scenes tour of the brand new Cape Town Stadium which is being built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

As much as they love visiting the stopover cities and countries, the crews are here to race and this morning they were anxious to get back out on the water. As the eight teams who crossed the start line, which was marked at one end by a South African Navy minesweeper, headed back out into the South Atlantic, the current overall race leader Team Finland was just ahead of California. Spirit of Australia, in second place overall, was just behind them in third place, followed by the eagle-emblazoned Cape Breton Island, Uniquely Singapore and Qingdao. Jamaica Lightning Bolt and Edinburgh Inspiring Capital were not far behind.

The teams will round the Cape of Good Hope before heading down into the treacherous waters of the Southern Ocean where the first three boats to reach the scoring gate can gain some precious extra points. The fleet is expected to arrive in Geraldton, Western Australia, between 14 and 18 December.

CAPE TOWN, 17 April 2009 – The DLF IPL today launched an R8-million scholarship programme for schools and individual learners that will be among the largest community programmes in South Africa by a sport organisation.

The tournament’s Chairman and Commissioner Lalit Modi announced the programme today at a special event at Alexander Sinton High School in Athlone, Cape Town. The school became the first beneficiary of the Help Educate And Teach (HEAT) programme when headmaster Faziel Parker officially received R100 000 paid into a dedicated scholarship fund at the school.

The launch was attended by hundreds of Alexander Sinton High School learners who were joined for the occasion by captains and leading players of DLF IPL teams including Shane Warne, Kevin Pietersen, MS Dhoni, Virender Sehwag and Saurav Ganguly.

Modi told the learners that a good education remains at the heart of any effort to develop and uplift individuals and nations.

“Talented sports people can become big stars, but without a good education there is something missing from sporting achievement. And for those of us not blessed with outstanding sporting talent, our futures are built on ensuring that we stay in school and equip ourselves for a productive and successful life,” he said.

Modi said that the emergence of a modern and successful India in recent times has been built on a strong education foundation. “This emphasis on education is now paying off many times over as India has grown into an economic powerhouse far better equipped to lift people out of poverty.

“This experience and several similarities between India’s and South Africa’s programmes to address poverty were central to our decision to focus on education as the DLF IPL’s investment in South African communities in need,” said Modi.

The HEAT programme has two parts. In the first, four schools in need in the vicinity of each host city have been identified to receive R100 000 for a specifically dedicated scholarship fund. In all, 32 schools will benefit from this aspect of the HEAT programme. Each R100 000 is paid directly into a scholarship bank account in the school’s name.

Parents and school governing bodies will be encouraged to participate in decisions on how to allocate scholarships.

Players from all the DFL IPL teams will be involved in visiting the beneficiary schools to mark the occasion.

The second part of the HEAT programme will benefit individual learners attending DFL IPL matches. With the help of match television producers, five learners will be identified at every match and their faces flashed on the stadium screens.

Each of these will have R15 000 paid into their school fees account in their names.

“It is well known that many parents struggle with school fees while striving to ensure that their children stay in school and get a good education. We hope the HEAT programme will make a real difference in the lives of those who benefit from it,” said Modi.

Cape Town, April 16, 2009: Setting up the 2009 DLF IPL tournament in South Africa inside three weeks has been an effort that stretches well beyond a logistical task unparalleled in world sport to building a brand and a legacy of enduring support in record time, says IPL Chairman and Commissioner Lalit Modi.

Speaking at a news conference in Cape Town today, Modi said a key driving factor for the IPL has been to engage South Africans and build excitement and enthusiasm.

“Once the need to move the tournament had been forced on us, we were determined that playing IPL 2009 in another country should be far more than an exercise in finding venues suitable for television.

“For us, South Africa was always suitable from a logistical and infrastructure point of view. But it is the welcome we’ve been given by ordinary South Africans that is justifying our belief that we can build a brand and legacy of involvement that last for years to come,” says Modi.

“Of course, we needed the agreement of all eight teams and the owners understood immediately the potential for turning a problem into a great opportunity.”

Modi said one of the most challenging aspects of the league organisation had been getting the schedule right. “My team finalised the schedule within 48 hours of arriving in South Africa. We started out having to schedule a league season of 56 games with each team playing the other seven on a home and away basis – plus three days of play-offs – in eight venues over a total of 37 days.

“There had to be an equal number of games per team in the main centres, no conflict with other major sports and cultural events and team and television production travel schedules had to be taken into account.

“Overall, then, I’m very pleased with the way it has worked out so far,” he said.

Government at national, provincial and local levels had been exceptionally accommodating, while the Cricket SA had welcomed the IPL with open arms and made its world-class stadiums available, said Modi.

About 700 people are currently working full time in South Africa on the DLF IPL, including an enormous team that has relocated from India to South Africa. This includes the Central IPL and IMG event team of 60, a television and digital media crew of over 200, the eight team franchises bringing about 30 playing staff each along with 20 coaching staff, executives and team owners for each team.

In South Africa, a range of companies were engaged over the course of several days at the end of March to provide security, broadcast support, PR and advertising, event management, entertainment, travel, hospitality and ticket sales.

Modi believes holding the DLF IPL in South Africa will bring with it tremendous economic benefits. “If we look at some of the key statistics it is clear to me that the economic benefits should be significant.”

He points to the total of 22,000 hotel rooms that have been booked with Southern Sun Hotels, 10 000 domestic flight bookings made and the millions of Rands expected to be spent on ticket, food and beverage, transport and merchandise sales.

“We also expect large groups of Indian tourists will come to South Africa to watch at least several games each,” says Modi.

The DLF IPL also engaged South African Etienne de Villiers to lead the marketing drive. De Villiers was until recently head of the ATP Tour, the world governing body of men’s tennis. He has also brought to bear years of earlier experience with the Walt Disney Group.

De Villiers, with the full-time support of Francois Pienaar, has lead the drive to ensure that matches feature the kind of fun, entertainment and excitement that the IPL became famous for in its first year in 2008. The two have travelled across South Africa to brief local media on the IPL’s plans and to encourage support.

“We’re finding radio stations generally to be especially excited and interested in finding different ways to run promotions, very much in keeping with very different approach of the IPL,” said De Villiers.

He told today’s news conference that Twenty20 cricket is by its nature more adrenalin-charged and an ideal vehicle around which to build many elements of fun and excitement for the whole family.

“The IPL takes these elements and turbo charges them,” said De Villiers. “For example, there will be live music, performances by Cirque du Soleil and a host of innovations at each game that will make it a wonderful outing for all members of the family.”

The festivities kicked off with a parade through the streets of central Cape Town yesterday afternoon. The parade featured specially built floats for each team and the IPL and teams of Cape Minstrels in between each float. Players and Bollywood celebrities climbed aboard each float for the parade.

Saturday’s opening double-header at Newlands will be followed by an opening spectacular including live music from Snow Patrol Tickets for the two double-headers on Saturday and Sunday were sold out within two hours.

Modi said it remained a challenge to engage with the broad base of all South Africans and get everyone excited by the IPL tournament. “But, we’ve come so far in an incredibly short time already that I’m optimistic that we can do it.”

He also thanked the cricket fans of India for their understanding. “I know they will watch the action on television in their millions and we look forward to bringing the DLF IPL home next season.”

Cape Town, April 16 2009: One lucky South African IPL fan with star quality stands to win a role in a Bollywood movie, R50 000 in cash, a business class trip to India and other prizes in the 2009 tournament’s Miss Bollywood SA competition.

The search for a South African lady with the potential to take Bollywood by storm was announced in Cape Town today by IPL Chairman and Commissioner, Lalit Modi, and Bollywood superstars Shah Rhuk  Khan, Shilpa Shetty and Preity Zinta.

“We’re looking for someone who has the star quality to stand out in a crowd, probably without even trying that hard. It’s that special, almost indefinable, quality that makes someone a star more than a beauty queen that we are looking for,” Modi said today.

“IPL matches with their mix of fun and excitement are an excellent environment to identify the kind of person who is a natural stand-out in a big crowd,” said Modi.

“Star searches like this are a really great way to find people who may never even have thought that they have what it takes to really make it big,” said Khan. “The heart of our idea is to search the crowd at IPL matches for someone who has the attitude and appearance that automatically draws the eye. It will be the kind of person who is not necessarily showing off for the camera, but who can mesmerise even total strangers,” he said.

A total of 50 winners will be chosen from the crowds at every one of the eight venues around the country that is to host IPL matches. Winners will be shown on the big screen at every match during the second five-minute break.

There will be one finalist per match, identified with the help of TV producers who will have cameras scanning the crowds. IPL matches are being played in Cape Town, East London, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Bloemfontein, Kimberley, Johannesburg and Pretoria. Tickets to matches are on sale through Computicket.

Photographs of each match winner will be loaded to a section of the IPL web site (www.iplt20.com) where fans from around the world can cast their vote. Fans casting votes will also be able to participate in a fan competition around Miss Bollywood SA.

Before photographs are uploaded to the web site, each winner will need to verify that she agrees to enter, that her photograph can appear on the web site and that she is at least 18 years old.

One finalist from each venue will be chosen, leaving eight winners to be hosted and feted at The Wanderers in Johannesburg at the final of the IPL 2009 tournament on 24 May. The ultimate winner will be announced during the final.