Hobie Beach is once again set to be a fusion of fun and activity when the community youth sports programme kicks off as part of the Community Outreach Day at the MTN Nelson Mandela Bay Splash Festival on Easter Friday.

This sports tournament offers a platform for underprivileged Eastern Cape primary school children to claim their place in the Port Elizabeth sun as part of the region’s largest annual extravaganza of sport and pleasure.

“It’s all about getting disadvantaged kids involved in a fun way,” says Melinda Goosen from the NMMU Sport Centre, who has been organising this popular event for the past eight years. “The objective is to encourage children to be part of the Splash Festival and to promote healthy lifestyles.”

She says youngsters will be competing in various structured sports activities, including beach volleyball, soccer and netball, with each category consisting of 16 teams.

In the past, preliminary rounds were held at Wells Estate with only the finals taking place at Hobie Beach, but recently the entire event has become part of the main festival programme, according to Goosen.

Transport is provided for all competitors to and from the event and they receive refreshments and an event t-shirt.

“It really is a wow event, especially for the little ones,” says Goosen. “Some of them have never been to the beach and it is wonderful to witness their enthusiasm and pure enjoyment.”

Cash prizes will be awarded to winning teams, but with lucky draws taking place during the day, everybody gets a chance to be a winner.

This year’s Splash Festival – which takes place from April 2 to 5 – features beach sports, five international watersports events, activities for kids, live entertainment, a lifestyle marquee and more than 150 stalls.

For more information, contact Melinda Goosen on 041 504 4224 or e-mail her at melinda.goosen@nmmu.ac.za. Alternatively visit www.splashfestival.com.

Issued by:

Full Stop Communications

Coetzee Gouws
041 368 4992
082 575 7991
coetzee@fullstopcom.com
www.fullstopcom.com

On behalf of:

MTN Nelson Mandela Bay Splash Festival