FESTIVALS ARE planned for both the Eastern Cape’s main commercial ports during March 2002. The National Ports Authority (NPA) Port Elizabeth Port Festival, which attracted 75 000 spectators last year, takes place on March 9-10, with the NPA East London Port Festival on March 30-31. They aim to be fun-filled, family-oriented events offering thrills and entertainment for people of all ages, according to festival organiser Jan Johnson. Both festivals will be showcasing three national sports - powerboat racing, boxing and basketball - all of which run development clinics for local youngsters in the weeks leading up to the festival. The festivals will include music festivals, stalls marketing local arts and crafts, air displays, local sporting activities and a host of activities for children. The powerboat programme includes a round of the national Formula1 powerboat series with all the big names set to attend. The rest of the powerboat programme includes junior powerboat racing, Formula 30 and Formula 2 racing. The powerboat development programme runs clinics for youngsters from local disadvantaged communities aged10 to 16 in the weeks preceding the festival. Two-seater boats are used for the training to enable trainers to accompany the new drivers. Several young pilots from last year have been invited to participate again, and the huge benefit from the programme is that a Port Elizabeth and East London representative has been invited to participate in the Junior International Powerboat Championships this month at the Cape Town Port Festival. Basketball action will see the national men's and women's under 20 basketball squads playing against local all-star teams on a mobile basketball court. "Aside from exposing the best in our sport and teaching hundreds of youngsters around the country how to play basketball, the participation of basketball at all seven port festivals has been invaluable for our sport to identify local talent for international matches," said Basketball South Africa secretary-general Andy Suklal. Boxing is a highlight at both Eastern Cape festivals with the South African National Amateur Boxing Organisation bringing up to 10 national title holders to participate in bouts in the NPA mobile boxing ring, with the current South African champions representing each of the 10 weight divisions in all provinces bringing their boxing skills to educate youth interested in the sport. NPA management is encouraging synergy between the port and its surrounding community. "With this in mind, once a year the port is converted into a sporting playground for the enjoyment of the community. "This is the NPA's way of showing that it is a good neighbour," says Riah Phiyega, NPA general manager.