IPL Chairman Modi informed media personnel at a presentation in South Africa that RSA was “simply the best option” for the IPL because they were made to feel welcome and at home in the rainbow nation which offers better weather, a ‘can-do’ attitude and fewer obstacles along with a sports loving mindset.

Not only were Cricket South Africa very welcoming, they were also generous enough to offer their world class stadiums to showcase the IPL to South Africa as well as the rest of the international cricket fraternity.

Modi was thankful for the ‘fantastic help’ from all the South African friends including The South African Government, the staff of Cricket South Africa, SuperSport (Broadcast Partner), Magna Carta , the PR Company, Ireland Davenport (advertising) and O&M S Africa, Mindshare, Big Concerts and Mushroom Management, Maverick (entertainment), Nicholls Steyn Associates (security agency), Sports Logistics & Megaview (signage), VSHE Promotions (Hospitality), Computicket (ticket sales). Modi also made special mentions of Etienne de Villiers, a former partner at the Walt Disney Co and Francois Pienaar and thanked them particularly.

The IPL/IMG team was able to overlay the existing plans for the DLF IPL in India and quickly adapted to the unique circumstances that the love presented. Modi said that the IMG team in South Africa was now providing a tournament Operations Manager at every venue,  Team Liaison Officer travelling with each team at all times, Hospitality Coordinators at each venue, Sponsor servicing team and anti ambush marketing officers, Travel coordinators booking flights, hotels and organising Visas for the 8 teams, Cricket Operations and Match Officials management.

There is no doubt that the South African economy, at this time struggling with the economic downturn will benefit from the IPL at several levels.  Modi presented the following facts and figures to substantiate this fact:

• 22,000 hotel rooms already booked with Southern Sun Hotels

• 10,000 domestic flight bookings

• R millions - ticket, food and beverage, transport, merchandise sales

• Large groups of Indian tourists will come to South Africa with Kingfisher Holidays

• A great opportunity to showcase South Africa to Indian  and international cricket fans via television

So it would seem that the IPL has provided the opportunity to the hosts South Africa as well as the IPL to obtain maximum mutual benefit to all concerned.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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