The Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon office announced today that Nike sponsored athlete Elana Meyer would be running the 2007 ultra event, which takes place on Easter Saturday, April 7, 2007. Meyer will be running in the club colours of Mr Price.
Meyer, who has achieved international success in her 15 years as a professional distance athlete, has enlisted the help of Bruce Fordyce to help her with her preparation. “He is the best ultra-runner this country has seen and he has a wealth of experience and knowledge, as well as a passion for running and sport,” said Meyer.
Tony Lankester, sponsorship manager for Old Mutual, added that the event has always attracted top athletes both locally and internationally. “We are extremely excited that an athlete of Meyer's calibre has committed to take part. It can only add to the overall excitement on race day and ensure a great race, particularly if a South African wins the race.”
Meyer’s credentials speak for themselves. She is the current world record holder for both the 15 km [46:57] and 21 km [64:44], an Olympic silver medallist, world half marathon champion and holds six world records in distances ranging from 5 km to 21 km.
“The Old Mutual Two Oceans has to be most scenic ultra in the world and it’s in my backyard but I’ve never done it. My focus was always on the international racing scene and I was always preparing for races in the United States, England or Europe,” Meyer added.
Her trip on the media truck following this year’s ultra was the catalyst as she experienced the incredible vibe and the route first hand and her immediate emotion was that she had to run the race at least once.
It was a hike up to Everest base camp that helped her to make her decision and start training for the 2007 event. Meyer feels it will be the challenge she is looking for. “It’s something I’ve never done before and am excited about the challenge of racing over a distance longer than the standard marathon.”
For the past nine years Meyer has partnered with Nike and has been competing in the most technically advanced running products on the market. Rowyn James, sports marketing manager for Nike SA, considers Meyer to be a great brand ambassador and is pleased that she will be taking part in the 2007 event. “By running the ultra next year, she will be adding an exciting new chapter to her already remarkable career," said James.
According to Mr Price’s athletics portfolio manager, Graham Daniel, the company is thrilled to sponsor Meyer in her bid to run the 56 km ultra marathon. “We believe in her ability and will help her in anyway possible to beat the Russians. It would be great to see a South African win the title and if her training goes according to plan, we believe she will be with the top athletes at Constantia Nek. From there it will be an exciting race to see who makes it to the finish at UCT the quickest.”
Meyer retired from international competition at the end of 2005 and has used the last 18 months to catch up on the activities she always wanted to do but never had time due to her intense training regime. She has climbed Kilimanjaro, hiked in the Himalayas, started sky diving and rock climbing and taken up golf.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
SA to host IPC World Swimming Championships
South Africa has pulled off a major coup by winning the bid to host the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) Swimming World Championships in Durban in December, bringing the second biggest championships in Paralympic sport to these shores.
A total of 600 swimmers and 265 officials from 60 countries will arrive in Durban for the December 2-8 championships which take place every four years and are second only to the IPC Athletics World Championships in size and prestige.
“The Swimming World Championships are certainly one of the most popular events within the IPC, and this is easily the biggest Paralympic event South Africa has ever hosted,” said Alison Burchell, General Manager of Disability Sport South Africa.
The championships will attract the biggest names in the sport, including South Africa’s Paralympics stars Natalie du Toit, Tadhg Slattery.
The last championships were held in Argentina in 2002, where South Africa finished 19th out of 53 countries with three gold and two silver medals.
“This is a tremendous honour for us because we were up against countries like Wales and France in the bidding process, both of whom were very determined to win this bid,” said Burchell.
The successful bid was as a result of a strong partnership between Disability Sport South Africa, Swimming South Africa, the Ethekwini Municipality and main sponsor Telkom.
The championships will take place at the King’s Park Aquatic Centre in Durban, which has also successfully hosted the FINA Swimming World Cup in the past. The open water events will take place at the nearby Haselmere Dam in Hillcrest.
As the main sponsor of the championships, Telkom has expressed its delight at being associated with another major international swimming event.
“Our association with the FINA Swimming World Cup has brought the world’s top able-bodied swimmers to South Africa, and we are delighted that we can now say the same for the IPC World Swimming Championships,” said Braam Wessels, Senior Manager Presence Marketing and Sponsorship.
“As a Paralympics sponsor we take great pride in being associated with an event that will expose our top paralympic swimmers to vital international competition. This will also again prove to the world that South Africa is more than capable of hosting major international sporting events as we move closer to the 2010 Soccer World Cup.”
A total of 600 swimmers and 265 officials from 60 countries will arrive in Durban for the December 2-8 championships which take place every four years and are second only to the IPC Athletics World Championships in size and prestige.
“The Swimming World Championships are certainly one of the most popular events within the IPC, and this is easily the biggest Paralympic event South Africa has ever hosted,” said Alison Burchell, General Manager of Disability Sport South Africa.
The championships will attract the biggest names in the sport, including South Africa’s Paralympics stars Natalie du Toit, Tadhg Slattery.
The last championships were held in Argentina in 2002, where South Africa finished 19th out of 53 countries with three gold and two silver medals.
“This is a tremendous honour for us because we were up against countries like Wales and France in the bidding process, both of whom were very determined to win this bid,” said Burchell.
The successful bid was as a result of a strong partnership between Disability Sport South Africa, Swimming South Africa, the Ethekwini Municipality and main sponsor Telkom.
The championships will take place at the King’s Park Aquatic Centre in Durban, which has also successfully hosted the FINA Swimming World Cup in the past. The open water events will take place at the nearby Haselmere Dam in Hillcrest.
As the main sponsor of the championships, Telkom has expressed its delight at being associated with another major international swimming event.
“Our association with the FINA Swimming World Cup has brought the world’s top able-bodied swimmers to South Africa, and we are delighted that we can now say the same for the IPC World Swimming Championships,” said Braam Wessels, Senior Manager Presence Marketing and Sponsorship.
“As a Paralympics sponsor we take great pride in being associated with an event that will expose our top paralympic swimmers to vital international competition. This will also again prove to the world that South Africa is more than capable of hosting major international sporting events as we move closer to the 2010 Soccer World Cup.”
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
BASSON, DANIEL NOMINATED FOR 2006 IRB AWARDS
Springbok Sevens stalwart Stefan Basson and SA Under 21 star Keegan Daniel are amongst the first list of award nominees announced by the International Rugby Board in Dublin on Tuesday.
The IRB has announced the nominees in three of 12 categories to be recognised at the 2006 IRB Awards.
Shortlists have been published for IRB Sevens Player of the Year, IRB Under 21 Player of the Year and IRB Under 19 Player of the Year, with the nine players nominated representing six different countries.
For their outstanding contributions in Sevens rugby Stefan Basson (South Africa), Uale Mai (Samoa) and Mathew Tait (England) are nominated for IRB Sevens Player of the Year.
At Under 19 level Anthony Faingaa, Josh Holmes (both Australia) and Victor Vito (New Zealand) are nominated for the IRB Under 19 Player of the Year award, while at Under 21 level Lionel Beauxis (France), Keegan Daniel (South Africa) and Digby Ioane (Australia) are the nominees for IRB Under 21 Player of the Year.
Basson established himself as one of the outstanding players on the IRB Sevens tournament circuit, helping the Springbok Sevens to a credible third position on the log. Daniel was a member of the SA U21 team who lost to France in the final of the IRB U21 World Championships earlier this year in Dubai.
Johan Prinsloo, MD of SA Rugby, said he was extremely excited by news of the SA nominations. "SA Rugby congratulate them and along with all the other nominees," said Prinsloo.
The IRB has announced the nominees in three of 12 categories to be recognised at the 2006 IRB Awards.
Shortlists have been published for IRB Sevens Player of the Year, IRB Under 21 Player of the Year and IRB Under 19 Player of the Year, with the nine players nominated representing six different countries.
For their outstanding contributions in Sevens rugby Stefan Basson (South Africa), Uale Mai (Samoa) and Mathew Tait (England) are nominated for IRB Sevens Player of the Year.
At Under 19 level Anthony Faingaa, Josh Holmes (both Australia) and Victor Vito (New Zealand) are nominated for the IRB Under 19 Player of the Year award, while at Under 21 level Lionel Beauxis (France), Keegan Daniel (South Africa) and Digby Ioane (Australia) are the nominees for IRB Under 21 Player of the Year.
Basson established himself as one of the outstanding players on the IRB Sevens tournament circuit, helping the Springbok Sevens to a credible third position on the log. Daniel was a member of the SA U21 team who lost to France in the final of the IRB U21 World Championships earlier this year in Dubai.
Johan Prinsloo, MD of SA Rugby, said he was extremely excited by news of the SA nominations. "SA Rugby congratulate them and along with all the other nominees," said Prinsloo.
ANY INTERFERENCE AND I WILL GO - PARREIRA
The plague that has often bedevilled coaches of the South African national team who have left under clouded circumstances, is something that new Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira will not tolerate.
With 13 coaches in as many years having spent time at the helm of Bafana, Parreira made it clear that he could be the 14th coach to depart if he felt any unhappiness or discomfort after commencing his duties at the beginning of 2007.
"13 coaches in 13 years is not a good record. The moment I am not happy or not feeling comfortable, then it is bye-bye. The security of the coach is results, a coach relies on results. The results of this team will be in 2010," said Parreira at his first press briefing in Johannesburg on Monday since signing his contract with the South African Football Association (Safa).
According to Safa CEO Raymond Hack, Parreira's mandate is to ensure that the country had a world class team come the World Cup 2010 and there were no conditions to his contract stipulating that Bafana had to win any specific competitions before then.
"I do not have any conditions in my contract," Parreira said.
Safa vice president Mwelo Nonkonyana said that the national body had altered its approach towards coaches and that Parreira's working environment would be favourable for the Brazilian to succeed.
"We at Safa will make everything conducive for him to deliver. We are prepared to make a turnaround at Safa to also be a world class organisation," said Nonkonyana.
With 13 coaches in as many years having spent time at the helm of Bafana, Parreira made it clear that he could be the 14th coach to depart if he felt any unhappiness or discomfort after commencing his duties at the beginning of 2007.
"13 coaches in 13 years is not a good record. The moment I am not happy or not feeling comfortable, then it is bye-bye. The security of the coach is results, a coach relies on results. The results of this team will be in 2010," said Parreira at his first press briefing in Johannesburg on Monday since signing his contract with the South African Football Association (Safa).
According to Safa CEO Raymond Hack, Parreira's mandate is to ensure that the country had a world class team come the World Cup 2010 and there were no conditions to his contract stipulating that Bafana had to win any specific competitions before then.
"I do not have any conditions in my contract," Parreira said.
Safa vice president Mwelo Nonkonyana said that the national body had altered its approach towards coaches and that Parreira's working environment would be favourable for the Brazilian to succeed.
"We at Safa will make everything conducive for him to deliver. We are prepared to make a turnaround at Safa to also be a world class organisation," said Nonkonyana.
Monday, September 04, 2006
Italian Football Saga hit's the pockets
Italy's match-fixing scandal will cost the Serie A one quarter of its income this season, according to a study published Monday in the financial daily il Sole-24 Ore.
The Serie A is predicted to lose Ç300 million ($386 million) and drop from the second- to the third-richest European league, with projected receipts of Ç1.2 billion (US$1.54 billion) in 2006-07.
The Bundesliga will profit from Germany's successful World Cup and rise to second with Ç1.35 billion ($1.73 billion) expected, according to a study by the Stageup sports business research firm.
England's Premier League will remain the richest European league with Ç2 billion (US$2.56 billion) in projected receipts - Ç340 million (US$435.78 million) from merchandising alone.
The Spanish league is fourth with Ç1.1 billion (US$1.41 billion), while the French is fifth with Ç980 million (US$1.25 billion).
The Serie A is predicted to lose Ç300 million ($386 million) and drop from the second- to the third-richest European league, with projected receipts of Ç1.2 billion (US$1.54 billion) in 2006-07.
The Bundesliga will profit from Germany's successful World Cup and rise to second with Ç1.35 billion ($1.73 billion) expected, according to a study by the Stageup sports business research firm.
England's Premier League will remain the richest European league with Ç2 billion (US$2.56 billion) in projected receipts - Ç340 million (US$435.78 million) from merchandising alone.
The Spanish league is fourth with Ç1.1 billion (US$1.41 billion), while the French is fifth with Ç980 million (US$1.25 billion).
Alonso thinks he can win in Italy
Renault's world champion Fernando Alonso says he is looking for a 'special' victory in front of Ferrari's home crowd at Monza in Italy next weekend.
"This year I have won in Silverstone, in Monaco, in Spain -- and for sure, I want to win Monza too," the Spaniard said in a team preview on Monday for the last European race of the Formula One season.
"It is one of the legendary circuits, so it would be special to win there, and even more so to beat Ferrari at their home race," he added.
"We know how important the championship is, but this is a big race as well."
Alonso leads Ferrari's seven times world champion Michael Schumacher by 12 points with four races remaining. He was second at Monza last year but has never won at the historic circuit near Milan.
The Italian Grand Prix could be Schumacher's European farewell, with Ferrari due to announce their 2007 line-up after the race amid feverish speculation about the 37-year-old German's future.
Many Formula One insiders expect Schumacher to quit at the end of the year if he wins his eighth title.
Alonso said his only title rival could expect a tough fight down to the wire.
"There is only one target for the Renault team at the moment: to finish in front of Ferrari.
"They have been quite dominant in the last races, so beating them means winning races. That is our focus."
Renault are just two points clear of Ferrari in the constructors' battle but have a new engine development coming on stream for Monza.
"Monza is going to be a hard race, there's no doubt about it," said technical director Bob Bell. "We are in the heart of Ferrari territory.
"But you can look at it two ways: as a boost for them, or an added incentive for us to get the upper hand. Certainly, we are very motivated to return them the favour after they won on our home turf in Magny-Cours.
"I think Monza will suit the strengths of their package, but last week's test was very close and there is no reason to believe our package is weaker than theirs."
"This year I have won in Silverstone, in Monaco, in Spain -- and for sure, I want to win Monza too," the Spaniard said in a team preview on Monday for the last European race of the Formula One season.
"It is one of the legendary circuits, so it would be special to win there, and even more so to beat Ferrari at their home race," he added.
"We know how important the championship is, but this is a big race as well."
Alonso leads Ferrari's seven times world champion Michael Schumacher by 12 points with four races remaining. He was second at Monza last year but has never won at the historic circuit near Milan.
The Italian Grand Prix could be Schumacher's European farewell, with Ferrari due to announce their 2007 line-up after the race amid feverish speculation about the 37-year-old German's future.
Many Formula One insiders expect Schumacher to quit at the end of the year if he wins his eighth title.
Alonso said his only title rival could expect a tough fight down to the wire.
"There is only one target for the Renault team at the moment: to finish in front of Ferrari.
"They have been quite dominant in the last races, so beating them means winning races. That is our focus."
Renault are just two points clear of Ferrari in the constructors' battle but have a new engine development coming on stream for Monza.
"Monza is going to be a hard race, there's no doubt about it," said technical director Bob Bell. "We are in the heart of Ferrari territory.
"But you can look at it two ways: as a boost for them, or an added incentive for us to get the upper hand. Certainly, we are very motivated to return them the favour after they won on our home turf in Magny-Cours.
"I think Monza will suit the strengths of their package, but last week's test was very close and there is no reason to believe our package is weaker than theirs."
Friday, September 01, 2006
Bafana Bafana Coach is OVERPAID!!!
Carlos Alberto Parreira is being paid over three times more to coach Bafana Bafana than he earned at the helm of Brazil's 2006 Fifa World Cup side.
Parreira may well be currently the best paid national coach in the world after the departure of the monstrously overpaid Sven-Goran Eriksson from the England job after the World Cup.
Parreira, who is expected to arrive in South Africa any day now, was earning R6,75-million a year when he took Brazil to the quarterfinals in Germany.
His reward for what is in Brazilian terms a failure, is a hike in salary to a mammoth R21,6-million a year to take charge of Bafana Bafana through World Cup 2010.
There is a warning to South Africa in Eriksson's ultimate failure as England coach
And if you think that is ridiculous, even Parreira's assistant coach, at around R7-million a year, will be earning more than Parreira earned in Brazil!
Parreira's salary puts him ahead in earnings of any coach in Germany, bar Eriksson, who was earning that quite extra-ordinary R67,5-million per annum. Next in the list was Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who picked up R20,25-million for his efforts.
There is a warning to South Africa in Eriksson's ultimate failure as England coach - that money cannot necessarily buy you glory, illustrated even more so in the figures relating to Italy coach Marcello Lippi.
Lippi was earning merely R13,5-million a year when he took the Azzurri all the way to World Cup glory.
Interestingly, Australia coach Guus Hiddink, who got the Socceroos to the last 16 and was once seriously touted for the South Africa job, earned only R3,38-million a year for his job with the Aussies. He has, of course, since moved to Russia, but even his salary there, at around R17-million a year, is less than Parreira's.
'Sven stuffed his pockets, and then he stuffed us all'
It is now well known that Fifa have given the South African Football Association R70-million towards the betterment of South African soccer, and, given Parreira's salary and that of his assistants, it seems Safa have decided to put pretty much all their eggs and then some into one Brazilian basket.
Criticism of such an enormous salary is inevitable, and comparisons have already been made with president Thabo Mbeki, who earns a mere R1,2-million a year. In South Africa, where many people live below the poverty line, the amount appears even more grotesque. It is hoped that Parreira, now 63 years old, is not coming to South Africa merely to pick up an extremely healthy retirement annuity.
Of course, should he succeed in winning the 2008 MTN Africa Cup of Nations, as well as the 2010 edition, and reach at least the World Cup quarterfinals, Safa will parade themselves as national heroes, claiming money well spent.
Parreira may well be currently the best paid national coach in the world after the departure of the monstrously overpaid Sven-Goran Eriksson from the England job after the World Cup.
Parreira, who is expected to arrive in South Africa any day now, was earning R6,75-million a year when he took Brazil to the quarterfinals in Germany.
His reward for what is in Brazilian terms a failure, is a hike in salary to a mammoth R21,6-million a year to take charge of Bafana Bafana through World Cup 2010.
There is a warning to South Africa in Eriksson's ultimate failure as England coach
And if you think that is ridiculous, even Parreira's assistant coach, at around R7-million a year, will be earning more than Parreira earned in Brazil!
Parreira's salary puts him ahead in earnings of any coach in Germany, bar Eriksson, who was earning that quite extra-ordinary R67,5-million per annum. Next in the list was Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who picked up R20,25-million for his efforts.
There is a warning to South Africa in Eriksson's ultimate failure as England coach - that money cannot necessarily buy you glory, illustrated even more so in the figures relating to Italy coach Marcello Lippi.
Lippi was earning merely R13,5-million a year when he took the Azzurri all the way to World Cup glory.
Interestingly, Australia coach Guus Hiddink, who got the Socceroos to the last 16 and was once seriously touted for the South Africa job, earned only R3,38-million a year for his job with the Aussies. He has, of course, since moved to Russia, but even his salary there, at around R17-million a year, is less than Parreira's.
'Sven stuffed his pockets, and then he stuffed us all'
It is now well known that Fifa have given the South African Football Association R70-million towards the betterment of South African soccer, and, given Parreira's salary and that of his assistants, it seems Safa have decided to put pretty much all their eggs and then some into one Brazilian basket.
Criticism of such an enormous salary is inevitable, and comparisons have already been made with president Thabo Mbeki, who earns a mere R1,2-million a year. In South Africa, where many people live below the poverty line, the amount appears even more grotesque. It is hoped that Parreira, now 63 years old, is not coming to South Africa merely to pick up an extremely healthy retirement annuity.
Of course, should he succeed in winning the 2008 MTN Africa Cup of Nations, as well as the 2010 edition, and reach at least the World Cup quarterfinals, Safa will parade themselves as national heroes, claiming money well spent.
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