A high-profile delegation led by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa made its bid on Monday for South Africa to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023.
Team SA presented to the World Rugby Council in London on Monday, hoping to out-compete European bidders France and Ireland. If South Africa wins, it will be the second time the country hosts the games, the first being in 1995 when the Springboks claimed a historic victory.
"The high-powered rugby delegation led by [Ramaphosa] includes SA Rugby president Mark Alexander and chief executive officer Jurie Roux, who will lay out South Africa's technically and commercially compelling case to host the tournament 28 years after late [former] president Nelson Mandela handed the Webb Ellis Cup to Francois Pienaar at a packed Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg," the Presidency said in a statement early on Monday.
In a 50-minute presentation, the delegation led by Ramaphosa and Sports Minister Thulas Nxesi said the Rugby World Cup in SA would be an unbeatable triple-win: for the sport, for the supporters and, mostly, for the players.
"South Africa ticks off every single box of the financial, commercial and logistical requirements of the host, but we go way beyond the minimum requirements to set us apart as a candidate," said Roux, according to News24.
These are some of the reasons the delegation says SA should play host in 2023:
1. WE HAVE THE STADIUMS, AND THEY'RE FINE, OH, FINE.
With eight world-class, all-seater match venues with nearby training facilities, how can you possibly turn us down? Our stadiums are themselves beautiful and surrounded by beauty, and we need to fill them up.
2. WE LOVE OUR RUGGA.
Truly, we love the game and we love our team (most of the time). The delegation even projects a total of 2.9 million in ticket sales.
3. THE WEATHER IS (MOSTLY) FANTASTIC.
With some exceptions, but overall it's lit.
4. WE'VE ALREADY PROVEN WE CAN HOST, AND HOST WELL.
There was this time...
...then this one...
...and of course our biggest yet in 2010.
We can do it. Ke nako!
5. SA is a prime destination for tourists and fans
Sexy and we know it.
6. Government has backed the bid
160 million British pounds in guarantees, to be exact.
7. We offer a high-quality tournament at a lower cost
According to the delegation, we are able to host the tournament up to 50% cheaper than our European challengers.
All this said, we've had some challenges in past, including reneging on our commitment to the Durban Commonwealth Games; our economy's not in good shape; and the Boks' most recent performance is one we'd all like to forget.