The 16th Century City Sports Festival was the biggest yet, with an incredible 17 sporting codes packed into four days of action from Thursday, 27 February to Sunday, 2 March 2025. For the first time, the festival had to start on a Thursday just to fit everything in, a testament to its growing popularity and community spirit.
Curro Century City was a hub of excitement, hosting seven events. The festival kicked off with mini-cricket on the Curro sports field, setting the tone for a weekend filled with energy and fierce competition.
Friday afternoon saw a surge of activity as Central Park transformed into a battleground for the Touch Rugby Juniors and Corporate divisions. Nearby, the Curro Plover Field buzzed with Football 5-a-side and Hockey 5s matches, while the Curro Netball Field played host to fast-paced Netball 5s. Inside Curro, the school hall echoed with the sharp clicks of table tennis rallies, and in a quieter corner, young minds strategised over their chess pieces in the Curro Chess Room.
One of the standout moments of the festival took place at Century City Urban Square, where ParaVolley made its debut. A custom pitch, sponsored by Quadcare, was set up to showcase this incredible sport. Quadcare’s mission to support quadriplegics and their families resonated with the crowd, adding a layer of meaning beyond the competition itself. With every set and spike, the players demonstrated resilience, determination, and the unifying power of sport.
As dawn broke on Saturday, a calm, wind-still morning greeted the thousands of runners gathering for one of Cape Town’s most anticipated annual races. Just after 7:00, the Century City 10km Express with Discovery Vitality and the 5km Fun Run burst to life. The course wound its way through the precinct, offering runners a scenic route past Intaka Island, along the canals, through Ratanga Park, and finally into Central Park. The excitement was palpable as last year’s champion, William Kaptein from Tymebank Langa, surged ahead once more, shaving 38 seconds off his previous time to cross the finish line at a blistering 29:00. Hot on his heels, Ashley Smith from Nedbank finished at 29:13, followed by Anthony Timoteus from Athlete Academy at 29:33 – each time faster than last year’s winning result.
In the women’s race, Marion Leiberich stormed to victory with a time of 35:42. Close behind her, Marie-Tinka Olivier from Tymebank Langa finished at 36:35, and Nicola Willis from Boxer AC claimed third place with 36:41. (For the full story, read more here)
Saturday continued with an exhilarating lineup of events. The Curro Plover Field was alive with the sounds of Football 11-a-side matches, while Netball 5s teams clashed fiercely on the Curro Netball Field. Chess players returned for another round of intense battles inside the school.
Meanwhile, in Ratanga Park, the Provincial Canoe Polo competition unfolded with unrelenting energy, as paddlers manoeuvered their canoes with precision and speed. Just a short distance away, junior canoeists competed on the Grand Canal, the water reflecting their determination. At Central Park, volleyball teams dug deep, battling for every point under the afternoon sun.
Dragon Boat racing, always a crowd favourite, had held its larger championships the previous week due to Ramadan, but on Saturday afternoon, they returned for their Club 200m sprints in Halfmoon Bay. The rhythmic pounding of drums and the synchronised paddling created a spectacle of teamwork and sheer grit.
Sunday brought the final chapter of this thrilling festival. As the sun rose, cyclists in the Western Cape Criterium Road Race took to the link road, whizzing past in flashes of colour and speed. Across the way, young riders tackled the Cycle2Ride Mountain Biking course near the Long March to Freedom exhibition.
Back in Ratanga Park, the Western Cape Canoe Polo teams locked into fierce battles from the early morning hours. At Fives Football, Corporate, Elite, and Intermediate soccer players put on a show of agility and teamwork. There was a great turnout with 28 teams in total, which equates to roughly 250 players.
Action Padel matches kept the energy high into the early afternoon. Finally, as the sun began to dip, the last event of the festival saw paddlers gliding across the waters of Halfmoon Bay for the Stand-Up Paddling competition – a peaceful yet competitive close to an unforgettable weekend.
“The 16th Century City Sports Festival was a triumph, not just in numbers but in spirit.” says Marinus Boshoff, CEO of Century City Property Owners’ Association (CCPOA). “Athletes, families, and supporters came together to celebrate sport in all its forms, from the intensity of competition to the joy of participation. With so many firsts and record-breaking moments, one thing is certain – next year’s festival will have big shoes to fill!”
“We wish to thank all our fantastic sponsors, without whom we would not be able to host this popular annual event. We would also like to wish all the teams and people behind the scenes, from our own internal team who to worked tirelessly, to all the volunteers who made this day a great success.”
The Century City 10km Express with Discovery Vitality and 5km Fun Run was sponsored by:
Discovery Vitality
Asics
Alison Thomson
Century City Hotels
Island club
Sportsman’s Warehouse
Body and Soul Wellness
Coffee Wellness
Quadcare
Canal Walk
Tiger’s Milk
Bootlegger Coffee Company
Urban Umami
La Parada
Gusto Urban Italia
Bricklane Eatery
The Galileo Open Air Cinema
Coca Cola Peninsula Beverages
Securitas
Century City Athletics Club
Intaka Island
Century City Property Owners’ Association
For all the results, visit here