Post Category: Social Responsibility .
Our Spaces for Sport Soccer Project was officially opened on Sunday, 20th April 2008. So far the site has been benefited through investment of more than R 4.6 million from ABSA and has leveraged significant further investment from the local municipality, who have provided the land worth R 10 million.
The sport center will give more than 20,000 people an opportunity to benefit through playing soccer, rugby, netball, hockey, cricket, tennis and many other sports. The center is also equipped with a new community building, changing and shower facilities and a full-size third generation grass pitch supplied by UK company Tiger Turf, making it the first of its kind in South Africa! The Gansbaai sports centre will be officially opened by Barclay’s Vice Chairman, Mr Gary Hoffman, ABSA’s Group Executive, Mr Happy Ntshilinga and the Overstrand Mayor, Mr Theodorus Beyleveldt. A number of sporting celebrities will be present as well, including Springbok player Chiliboy Ralepelle, Springbok Coach Peter de Villiers and former Olympic athlete and silver medallist Elana Meyer.
Hundreds of community members attended the opening ceremony and enjoyed the day’s activities, which included touch rugby and soccer played by children from the local community, a tree planting ceremony and an exhibition showcasing the history of sports in the Gansbaai community!
“GROOTBOS NATURE RESERVE RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION AT THE 8TH GLOBAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM SUMMIT HELD IN DUBAI”: Grootbos Nature Reserve received international acclaim at a Gala Dinner in Dubai on 21 April 2008 for the 8th Global Travel and Tourism Summit. The World Travel and Tourism Council Awards, partnered with Travelport, are the world’s most prestigious awards in the tourism industry, recognizing and promoting best practices in sustainable tourism development all over the world. The judging process, chaired by Costas Christ, a world expert in sustainable tourism, included a team of 11 international judges who selected 3 finalists in each award category, followed by an on-site inspection visit of all finalists. The winners were then selected from among the finalists by a panel of four judges including:
- Costas Christ, Chairman of Judges, Tourism for Tomorrow Awards
- Graham Boynton, Group Travel Editor, The Telegraph Media Group
- Francis Farrell, Vice President & Publisher, National Geographic Adventure
- Fiona Jeffery, Chairman, World Travel Market & ‘Just A Drop’
Grootbos Nature Reserve was one of three finalists in the Conservation category, together with, the Turtle Conservation Project, Sri Lanka and Ecotourism Australia the winner of the award. During the official ceremony, Costas Christ acknowledged the finalists and winners saying, ” Twenty years ago sustainable tourism was just an idea, now it is entering the Travel & Tourism mainstream as more companies embrace new innovations demonstrating environmentally-friendly operations, a commitment to safeguarding the cultural and natural heritage of our planet, and addressing poverty alleviation through enlightened business practices”
Grootbos Private Nature Reserve has a new website! It’s been many months in the making and has taken a great deal of time from many people, but we are very proud of the final outcome and the new and fresh Grootbos look. Should you have any comments or suggestions for improvement please feel free to contact us at any time!
