CAPE TOWN: Captains of the 16 competing teams at this year’s World Cup Championships in South Africa took the oath on Wednesday to play in the spirit of friendship.
The vows were made at the Artscape Theatre, Foreshore, Cape Town during the traditional candle-lighting ceremony – an event that precedes the start this quadrennial event.
The Candle-lighting ceremony dates back to inaugural Netball World Cup Championship, held in Eastbourne, England, in 1963. At this ritual, players light candles as a symbol of friendship and goodwill – committing to respect the spirit of the game.
Dame Liz Nicholl DBE – the freshly re-elected World Netball President presided over the function. Nicholl was voted for another term of office at a Congress held at the Westin Cape Town.
The ceremony has become a symbol for international netball, celebrating the worldwide impact of the sport.
The Netball World Cup has been hosted in England, Australia, Jamaica, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, Scotland, and Singapore but never before on the African soil.
Nicholl said: “Even in the middle of thrilling and competitive world-class competition lies friendship and respect that we feel every day.
“This is an opportunity to reconnect with members of the Netball Family from around our world.”
The road to South Africa 2023 attracted the participation of over 500 players in the five global regions, representing 42 countries, where only sixteen made it to the finals – due to start this Friday.
“We’re now here in Cape Town with the best 16 teams in the world and 23 world-class technical officials ready for what we know will be 10 days of absolutely fantastic competition,” she said.
The Netball World Cup 2023 will be staged from July 28 – to August 6 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.