SOUTH AFRICA: Thousands of people turn-out for the Springboks rugby team world cup Victory parade through the streets of Pretoria

Record ID: 454453

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Thousands of people turn-out for the Springboks rugby team world cup Victory parade through the streets of Pretoria
  • Date: 27th October 2007
  • Summary: PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA (OCTOBER 26, 2007) (REUTERS) BOK CAPTAIN JON SMIT CARRYING WEBB ELLIS TROPHY AND ARRIVING WITH COACH JAKE WHITE MORE OF SPRINGBOK PLAYERS ARRIVING PEOPLE WATCHING FROM THE UNION BUILDING MORE OF PEOPLE PRESIDENT MBEKI ARRIVING T-SHIRT WRITTEN "SOUTH AFRICA WORLD CHAMPIONS 2007" BOK SUPPORTERS DANCING TO MUSIC
  • Embargoed: 11th November 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVACXAYDU4YZLTWCRBOEMTR6TGA4
  • Story Text: Thousands of people turned-out for the Springboks Victory parade through the streets of Pretoria.
    South African president Thabo Mbeki said on Friday (October 26) that his government would look to build on the momentum sports development has been given by the Springboks' Rugby World Cup triumph in France.
    Mbeki was speaking at an official reception for the team at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

    "It's a victory that has inspired not only ourselves, but you can see that the continent indeed feel. Africa feels proudly South African, and thanks indeed for all of that," said Mbeki.
    The Springboks left the Union Buildings as it poured with rain, beginning a series of ticker-tape parades that will take them to Johannesburg.
    Thousands of people turned out to cheer the team as they paraded through the city on an open top bus. Traffic came to a standstill as crowds, sang and danced to music.
    South Africa Rugby president Oregan Hoskins also announced at the reception that the Springboks' victory parades would now include a trip to Soweto on Saturday morning, overturning an earlier decision not to visit the country's largest black township after it had initially been mooted as part of the festivities.
    South Africa Rugby had been widely criticised in newspapers and radio talk shows on Friday morning for destroying all the good feeling and support the Springboks enjoyed amongst black people after their World Cup triumph by not including Soweto in their victory parade plans.
    Mbeki gave Springbok captain Jon Smit a rousing vote of confidence when he jokingly suggested the hooker was the man to replace him as president.
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