THE community of Pilgrim’s Rest in Mpumalanga is counting the hours before the 2004 host of the World Gold Panning Championships is announced in Poland. If South Africa is announced as bid winner, the town will erupt into a street party, says executive member of the South African Gold Panning Association, Cheryl van Dyk. “Gold panning is very popular here, and a win would be a great advantage to our area,” said Van Dyk. The South African bid committee is bidding against Spain and Slovakia in Zlotoryja, Poland. Poland is hosting this year’s championships, which involves the 22 countries which belong to the World Gold Panning Association. It is thought the championship would create 200 jobs during the games and boost the province’s economy by R20m. – African Eye News Service