Cape Town bids to be an AFCON 2013 Host City

The City of Cape Town has launched a bid to host some of the group and knock-out matches for the 2013 African Cup of Nations, along with other local 2010 FIFA World Cup™ host cities.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has named South Africa the host of the 29th African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

This competition is held every two years and attracts a large number of competitors, supporters and members of the media from across the world.

Since the inaugural event in 1957 which featured just three competing nations, the African Cup of Nations has grown into Africa’s premier international football tournament, with a total of 16 teams from the continent vying for the coveted title of Africa’s Champions.

It will be hosted in January – February 2013, and is divided into a group phase and a knock-out phase.

To build on the legacies and momentum gained during the 2010 FIFA Wold Cup™, the City of Cape Town, along with other Host Cities, has been invited by the South African Football Association (SAFA) to bid to host this prestigious tournament. A total of four host cities are being sought throughout the country. The City of Cape Town has submitted a bid to host group phase matches as well as selected knock-out stage matches.

“The City of Cape Town has sent a senior delegation to present its bid document to the Bid Adjudication Committee which should serve as testimony of our commitment to doing all in our power to secure major events for our facilities, including Cape Town Stadium. The delegation is hopeful that the deliberations will result in a successful bid for Cape Town to host the event,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Tourism, Events and Marketing, Councillor Grant Pascoe.

The City believes that this tournament will reignite the spirit of cohesion and nation-building amongst all South Africans, much like the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ did, and draw Capetonians closer to fellow Africans across the continent.

The world-class infrastructure and facilities built before and after the FIFA 2010 World Cup™ will once again be the focal points for a successful tournament. The presence of foreign media, football spectators, administrators and players will catapult South Africa onto the world stage. The hospitality, transport, tourism, accommodation and other related industries (both formal and informal) will be key contributors in ensuring that the tournament is successfully hosted in South Africa and hopefully Cape Town.

Events such as this are critical to growing the economy of the Western Cape; they turn event-based job opportunities into long-term careers. This initiative complements the City’s intent to use events, tourism and its strategic assets as key levers to profile and position Cape Town on a global scale.

SAFA is seeking to appoint the host cities by the end of March 2012.

Article source: http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/Pages/CTbidstobeanAFCON2013HostCity.aspx