Speaker, last year Kimberley became the first location to host the Maloof Money Cup skateboarding championship outside American shores and proved to be the biggest sporting event ever to be hosted in the Northern Cape.
Maloof Skateboarding was founded by Joe Maloof who is the owner of The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The event made a significant economic impact on the regional economy as accommodation facilities, restaurants and tourism attractions were filled to capacity.
During this month of Tourism, the Maloof Money Cup will return to Kimberley in the Northern Cape Province for its second run from 28 to 30 September 2012 and will showcase skating at its absolute finest as local and international contestants compete for prizes totaling R4 million.
Sport tourism has become one of the fastest growing areas of the global travel and tourism industry and plays an integral part in the socioeconomic development of the country. Thank you, Speaker. [Applause.]