Pilgrim’s Rest in Mpumalanga will host the 2023 World Gold Panning Championships. The announcement was made on the last day of the championship in the Czech Republic.
It will be held at the historic mining town of Pilgrim’s Rest in the Thaba Chweu Municipality.
The event will, among other things, help improve the economy of the town which was severely affected by COVID-19. The tourism sector is also expected to benefit.
The news came as a relief to South African gold panners who couldn’t compete this year due to travel restrictions brought about by COVID-19.
This year’s championship was held in the Czech Republic and it is where the announcement was made.
World Gold Panning Association president Sanjay Singh says this is a huge achievement for the country which is still recovering from the coronavirus.
“Whenever visitors come from abroad, they don’t come just for the activities at Pilgrim’s Rest and go back. They usually make a holiday of it. They usually come a week before or two weeks before, or they say a week or two weeks after. And travel the province and the country. So, for South Africa, it will boost its image as a location and boost its image in terms of its capacity to host such event and as a tourist destination.”
Business people at the picturesque Pilgrim’s Rest have welcomed the news. They hope the event will improve the fortunes of the town which dwindled since 2013 when government evicted business owners.
Tourists shunned the town for years and it became a ghost town.
When business owners were picking the pieces, they were hit by COVID-19. They are still counting their loses.
Business owners hope that the event will improve their fortunes and save their businesses.
Mpumalanga Culture, Sport and Recreation MEC Lindiwe Ntshalintshali says the government will work tirelessly to make sure that the championship is a success.
“One of the good things is that sport unites everybody. Because people will think I am of colour and that is not my sport. But I have seen young, old, black, white participating and as they were getting that gold. The realisation of teamwork was massive. Hence, we will be teaching and it is our responsibility as the department.”
The excitement is palpable, Mpumalanga MEC welcomes the news:
It is the third time that Pilgrim’s Rest wins the bid to host the World Gold Panning Championship.
Pilgrim’s Rest to hold the 2023 World Championships:
