JANUARY 2008

ROLL MOUSE OVER LARGER WORDS FOR MORE DETAIL ON EVENTS

We are pleased to present you with a limited edition calendar for 2008, featuring photography by Michael Jackson – President of African Classic Encounters.  (if you have not requested your copy - click here  - stocks are limited)

2007 is a pleasant memory as South Africa excelled itself in many ways. 

South Africa performed strongly in the 2007 World's Best Awards survey by international travel magazine Travel + Leisure, with nine establishments listed among the world's top 100 hotels and Cape Town voted 10th best holiday city in the world.

·         The World Golf Hall of Fame in Florida featured a special exhibit dedicated to the life and career of one of South Africa’s greatest sporting sons - Gary Player.

·        
Penny Heyns became the first South African swimmer in 22 years to be inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

·         Debbie Smith was the first South African women diver to be officially inducted into WDHOF – WOMENS DIVERS HALL OF FAME.

 

·         South African national team the SPRINGBOKS won the Rugby World Cup, and is the pride of the nation.

·         South African sprint sensation Oscar Pistorius shattered the double amputee world record in the 100 meters at the Germiston Stadium and now holds the world record in the 100m, 200m and 400m.

·         South African surfers had an exceptional year, with the sensational Jordy Smith becoming surfing’s junior world champ and South Africa winning the surfing Masters World Championship.

 

In other sports news:

·         Soccer team Bafana Bafana won the Cosafa Cup

·         Robbie Hunter made history by becoming the first African cyclist to win a stage at the Tour de France

·         Shosholoza - South Africa’s entry in yachting’s America’s Cup - made us proud with their heroic performances off the coast of Spain (including a memorable win over one of the giants – Italy’s Luna Rossa)

South African businesses and businesspeople continued to make their mark on the global economy:
 

·         Fortune magazine named Transnet group chief executive Maria Ramos as the world's 14th most powerful woman in business this year

·         CEO of BHP Billiton Marius Kloppers was ranked in 18th place in Fortune’s 25 Most Powerful People in Business

·         Cyril Ramaphosa was included in the Time 100, an annual list, assembled by Time magazine, of the 100 most influential people in the world.

·         The Washington Post praised the performance of ‘inventive’ South African firms who were thriving in booming China and a South African company - Freeplay Energy – was honored internationally for its conscience.

 

In environmental news, the Richtersveld was declared a World Heritage site - South Africa is home to eight of the world's official heritage sites, as determined by Unesco's World Heritage Committee.

Cape Town introduced legislation intended to stimulate the use of renewable energy, the Government stepped up investments into biofuels… and Cape Town installed South Africa's first solar-powered traffic lights!

What else was there?

·         Well, Nadine Gordimer received France's highest award - Nobel laureate for literature Nadine Gordimer, noted for her work about the inhumanity of apartheid, has become one of just a few South Africans to receive France's highest award, the Legion of Honor.

·         Nelson Mandela was declared one of the world’s top living geniuses.

·         One of our billboards was named the best in the world.

·         A mega-mall and a four-star hotel opened in Soweto.

·         A South African came third in the World Series of Poker.

·         … and Charlize Theron was named the ‘sexiest woman alive’.

It’s been quite a year!

Wishing you all the best for 2008 and Happy travels to Africa.

Warm African Regards

Tanya & Michael Jackson

Email:  TJ@classicencounters.com

Email:  MJ@classicencounters.com

50 East 42nd Street Suite 2501 New York  NY 10017  Tel#  212 972 0031