LOWRANCE SOUTH AFRICA Issue 24 | Page 17

However, back to the beginning! After the street parade and opening ceremony in Sandton, 84 Bass Anglers from 14 nations with coaches and managers - made their way down to Emerald Casino (on the Vaal River), for the start of the Championships. The organisers had setup a big marquee for the registration and drive- through weigh-ins, with smaller gazebos and banners promoting all of SABAA’s partners/sponsors. Live feeds, interviews and photographs were conducted as the anglers from all nations stepped off their boats onto the weigh-in stage. slide On the first day, everyone enjoyed an amazing aerobatic display, complete with barrel rolls, side flights, smoke trails etc - arranged by organisers. This amplified the reality that everyone from around the world would be watching and eagerly awaiting the results of their respective nations participating in this World Games! The hot, sunny weather on the first practise day (there were two) was short-lived and initially the international competitors, who’d got horribly burned, were relieved when it cooled down. But they were not so thrilled when rain and serious thunderstorms set in for the next four days!