As the start of the Vitality Netball World Cup 2023 draws closer, preparations for the sporting event have stepped up a gear. The famous tournament trophy has finally arrived on South African soil, ahead of the highly-anticipated event.
The World Cup is due to take place from the 28th of July to the 6th of August 2023, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
With this being the first Netball World Cup to be hosted on the continent of Africa, it was fitting that the trophy arrived in the country on Africa Day, 25th May.
What is Africa Day?
Africa made history on 25 May 1963, with the start of the Organisation of African Unity. This was the precursor to the African Union (AU).
The celebration of Africa Day is intended to acknowledge the successes of the Organisation of African Unity in the fight against colonialism and apartheid. The day also reflects on the progress that Africa after facing challenges in a global environment.
This year’s Africa Month is celebrated under the theme: “The Year of Arts, Culture, and Heritage: in the Year of Charlotte Maxeke”.
Netball Trophy arrival
This year’s Vitality Netball World Cup is said to be considered as being more than just about the City of Cape Town and instead one for all of Africa to share. There are four of the 16 competing African nations this year namely; South Africa, Malawi, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
The trophy is currently in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal ready to start its tour of the country ahead of the word cup.
Africa Netball and Netball South Africa President Cecilia Molokwane spoke on the excitement of the trophy tour at its arrival at the King Shaka International Airport in Durban.
“Let it be an African spectacle, showcasing our culture and our uniqueness as South Africa because we are a rainbow nation and to me showing that Africa can do it and women can do it is the most important thing”
The Trophy Tour will start in KwaZulu-Natal, before moving to Gauteng, and then stopping off in Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West, Free State, Northern Cape, and Eastern Cape, before reaching its final destination in the Western Cape.
