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Sports & Activities Attractions

Overview

Just as Gauteng is the economic hub of South Africa, the province is also the capital of the country’s sport. This sport-mad province is home to some of the world’s top sporting venues ranging from athletics to tennis. Soccer is the dominant sport in Gauteng with the province being home to no less than 10 Premier soccer League approved stadia. The country’s dominant soccer teams Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and Supersport United are all based in Gauteng. Pretoria-based Blue Bulls are the rugby giants based in the province.

FNB Stadium, Ellis Park and the Wanderers Stadium have hosted the FIFA World Cup, Rugby World Cup and the Cricket World Cup finals respectively. The refurbished calabash-shaped FNB Stadium (formerly Soccer City) just outside Soweto is one of the biggest stadia in the world with a capacity of 90 000. It hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup final between eventual winners Spain and the Netherlands. However, it was Elis Park, which hosted the final of the first major sporting tournament to be staged in the country. The 1995 Rugby World Cup was held in South Africa in that year and the hosts emerged triumphant when the Springboks edged New Zealand’s in the final at Ellis Park. The Ellis Park precinct also houses the Johannesburg Stadium, which is mainly used as an athletics venue.

In 1996, the sporting gods again smiled on Gauteng when the FNB Stadium played host to the African Cup of Nations final won by Bafana Bafana. The Cricket World Cup came to town in 2003, and although the Proteas could not match the success of the rugby and soccer national teams, the final at Johannesburg’s Wanderers Stadium got a thumbs up.

Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria and Ellis Park were all upgraded to host some World Cup matches. Orlando Stadium and Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto, the Lucas Moripe Stadium (formerly Super Stadium) in Atteridgeville, the HM Pitje Stadium in Pretoria and Ekurhuleni’s Sinaba, Vosloosrus, Makhulong, and Katlehong stadia were all upgraded as World Cup training venues.

Supersport Park in Centurion and Willowmoore Park in Benoni are some of the cricket venues top class cricket is also staged in Gauteng. Some of the country’s top golf courses, which have hosted the SA Sunshine Tour and the European PGA Tours are found in the province. Among these courses are the Benoni Lake Golf Course, Bryanston Golf Course, Centurion Golf Estate, Crown Mines Golf Course, Kyalami Golf Course, Peacanwood Golf Course, Randpark Golf Course, Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Course, and Country Club Johannesburg.

Gauteng also boasts the world famous Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, which has hosted Grand Prix, Moto GP and World Superbike events. Whether it is athletics, cricket, rugby, soccer, tennis or outdoor activities, such as fly-fishing, horse riding and other dare-devil sports, Gauteng has it all and top facilities to complement the activities.