10 March 2004

With just 13 days to go to the official opening of the South Africa Games in Buffalo City, organisers have promised to put on a dazzling show for participants and sports fans alike.

According to a report in the Daily Dispatch, the opening and closing ceremonies at the ABSA Stadium in the East London suburb of Southernwood will be "spectacular shows".

The organising committee's convener, Buffalo City's Deputy Mayor Des Halley said an advertising company from Johannesburg would choreograph both the opening and closing ceremonies.

The games will be officially launched on March 22, with the lighting of the flame at 7pm. A top official and a provincial sporting icon will be surprise guests at the ceremony, according to Halley.

The closing ceremony on March 27 will see the executive mayor of Buffalo City, Councillor Sindisile Maclean, officially handing over the flame to the next host city.

Halley told the Daily Dispatch the city had spent over R17-million upgrading facilities ahead of the games and "on Friday 19, festive lights will be placed at each venue".

Source: The Daily Dispatch