News

Preparation for JWWC 2011 has entered its final phase. A number of milestones were checked over the preceding 60 days since 7 September, the date of the last publication of JWWC Update.

The most significant and important milestone was confirmation of funding after a protracted battle to obtain the funding.

Let’s put it this way: JWWC 2011 was going to take place on a shoe string budget of R2m due to the many disappointments and the breach of promises across a wide spectrum of potential funders.

To stage the event a cash injection of between R5m (USD$7000) to R7.5m was needed. Through interventions from various stakeholders and interested parties an amount of R5m was obtained from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund.

An application for a R7.5m grant was lodged by Softball South Africa in May 2010 and the allocation of R5m was confirmed in the first week of November 2011 (last week) The City of Cape Town – a formidable partner to JWWC – together with various sponsors like South African Breweries, Media 24, Peninsula Beverages and Pioneer Foods amongst others stepped up to the plate to fill the gaps outside of the R5m from the NLDTF.

We now have a functional Championship to attend to. All that remains is for softball clubs, members, friends, families and the rest of South Africa to play ball and attend this wonderful spectacle of what promise to be world class softball inside a world class facility.

JWWC and the Discovery Big Walk

On Sunday 13 November the JWWC Promotions team and 100 softball enthusiasts will tackle the 5km / 10km stretch in the annual Cape Times / Discovery Big Walk.

Sonke, our esteemed JWWC mascot will join the walkers in the 5km stretch from Newlands to Rhodes High School.

If you are interested in joining us—FREE sponsored entry, please submit name, preferred distance and T-Shirt to JWWC Update.

Progress with the Refurbishment of Turfhall

The finishing touches to the interior of the stadium structure are currently underway. On the outside the final construction phase of all the dugouts; the resurfacing of the grass areas on the playing fields and the compacting of the dirt (gravel) areas are receiving attention.

The installation of the Wi-Fi network; the CCTV configuration and the sound system will commence within the next seven days.

Enquiries and Comments:

email trevor@pendragonhouse.co.za

or click on comments and leave one

A pdf version of this update is available from the right sidebar menu links.

Participants from the 16 competing nations will be the first to have the use of the new and upgraded facilities. As from January 2012, the 40 clubs affiliated to Western Province Softball Federation will “inherited” all the facilities.
The new and improved Turfhall Softball Complex is going to be a world-class facility to be proud of and to be protected against vandalism and willful destruction.
The planned date for completion and the handover of the facility to the JWWC Local Organising Committee is 14 November.

JWWC Field and Facilities Management

66 games will be contested over 11 days. This translates to an average of eight games per day, for eight of the 11 days, which in turn indicates that the dirt (gravel) areas of the two fields are going to take a pounding every two hours from 10am onwards on each day.
To ensure that every team experience the same conditions throughout the tournament, a Field and Facilities Team will be performing a crucial role within the proceedings of the Championship.
The team, under the capable leadership of WPSF Umpire-in-Chief, Noreen Wallace and Ivor Lovell, the Vice President of WPSF will practically live at the venue to ensure that the surfaces, dugouts, bullpens and change rooms are ready for EACH game. On paper this sounds like a “walk in the park”, however they will be preparing for this tournament somewhat like a military unit by conducting rehearsals to determine the pace in the preparation of surfaces between games including re-lining the field where required and field drills to effect running repairs in the course of game should the Plate Umpire call for it.
Drills that sets the pace for the rapid deployment of the surface covers for the dirt areas should rain cause  stoppage in a game, also forms an integral part of their preparation.

JWWC And The Blisters For Bread Event

Close to 100 softballers and friends made a huge impact as part of the first JWWC 2011 public promotion at the Blisters for Bread Charity Fun Walk on Sunday 28 August. Sonke, the JWWC mascot, was a major hit with young and old.

Thank you to all the participants who proudly wore the JWWC promotional T-Shirt for the event. The Mayor of Cape Town, Patricia De Lille, said that she is very aware of all the positive developments around JWWC 2011 and is looking forward to attending the event in December.

See more in our latest Newsletter…

And Keep It Going

The primary indicator to the success (or failure) of any event is measured by the attendance to the event. Attendance is activated, stimulated and sustained by how much the public know about the event. This knowledge hopefully translates to what the individual interest in the event is.
JWWC is a sporting, social and family event. The 11 days in which the championship are contested will attract people that are seeking one or all of what the event represents.

Awareness Drive

The media will continue to play a pivotal role in the distribution of information on the road towards 6 December.
In addition to the media, certain public events that will require the involvement and participation of members of softball clubs, individuals and interested parties, have been planned.
A number of annual events on the Cape Town events calendar are ‘lifestyle’ public events. These events attract in excess of 30,000 participants per event. as well as media attention. We plan to associate the JWWC event as a participant to those events.
The first event is The Peninsula School Feeding Association – Blisters for Bread Charity Walk on Sunday 28 August. Unfortunately, we missed the deadline for group entries. Online entries open until Friday 19 August http://www.psfa.org.za . If you already entered please let us know via the e-mail address below.
Indicate the distance you will complete — 5, 10 or 18km. We intend to provide you with an official JWWC promotional T-shirt prior to the Charity Walk.
This event could possibly be an excellent training and social session for the members of WP Softball Masters who is currently preparing for the National Softball Masters Championship scheduled for 22—24 September in East London.
Sonke, the official JWWC mascot will participate in the 5km walk.
The other events where JWWC will be visible are the Cape Town Marathon (includes a short distance fun run/walk) – 24 September; the Cape Times / Discovery Big Walk—13 November and; The City of Cape Town Switching on of the Festive Lights event — 27 November; where JWWC will be part of the street parade with a designed float.
More information to these events and YOUR role in it will be communicated in future JWWC UPDATE’s.

With less than 120 days to the first pitch on 7 December, preparations shifted to a higher gear with the event launch function of JWWC 2011 on 8 August. The Local Organising Committee (LOC) is preparing world class conditions for softball teams from 16 countries and an anticipated 3,000 spectators per day for 11 days.
Numerous meetings, consultations and operational interactions with a myriad of service providers, potential sponsors, construction companies, government officials, has taken place since the right to host JWWC 2011 was awarded by the International Softball Federation (ISF) to Softball South Africa (SSA) in October 2007.
The Turfhall Softball Complex in Belthorn, Cape Town is currently being refurbished to the tune of R18 million (USD$2.7m). A brand new floodlit skin diamond and a refurbished main diamond has been installed. New world -class player areas including dugouts, change room facilities and bullpens are in the process of build or refurbished. A comfortable technical facility for umpires and scorers will be ready by November 2011.
A permanent electronic scoreboard, closed-circuit television system (CCTV) and public address system will be  installed. This system and all the facilities will be for the regular use of Western Province Softball Federation after the completion of JWWC 2011.
Funding for the refurbishment of Turfhall Softball Complex is from the City of Cape Town—a partner to the hosting of JWWC 2011.

Accommodation

Secure and comfortable surroundings, distance to the competition venue – are but some of the factors that has to be considered in the procurement of suitable accommodation for the visiting teams.
A leading hotel in the Southern Suns Hotel Group has been procured as the venue where the 16 countries’ team members including team officials will be accommodated.
Another hotel from the same group will house the ISF / SSA officials and umpires. Accommodation arrangements has also been secured for spectators that will travel from abroad and from outside of Cape Town for JWWC 2011.

Enquiries and Comments: trevor@pendragonhouse.co.za

Or leave a comment by clicking on “comments”.

A pdf version of this update is available from the right sidebar menu links.