The opening ceremony of the event was nothing short of heritage and pure African pride. It took place from 21 to 24 September at Roodeplaat Dam, in Pretoria.
A very special guest was waiting at the entrance to greet all rowers and visitors from across the globe, her name was Pepper. She was very friendly and looked adorable in her African Attire. She made the guests feel welcome by greeting them in their home language.
The international guests were spoilt for choice as some of the entertainment included African dancers, interactive drumming, and gumboot dancing as part of the festivities.
There was a flag procession involving all 43 countries, and Star South African musician Majozi brought the night to an emphatic close with feel-good vibes and glistening beats.
The Dam had a much-needed makeover for the event, resulting not only in helping the environment but also in creating employment for the locals.
“I might be bragging a little bit, but we have had raving reviews about how well this event is being managed. We are proud to be hosting such a phenomenal event. Rowing is an outdoor sport, and we have to look out for the environment. This Dam is not what it was last year, we had to manually remove the hyacinth,” stated Sean-Kerr, South Africa’s President of the Rowing Federation.
The media had a blast as they were taking out to the water, to see the rowers up close and personal.
It was truly an event to remember, and every rower who raced under the harsh sun has every right to be proud of themselves.
