We're back ready for another year and the first edition of `Sixty Seconds in Touch' for 2005...

Picture courtesy of the South African tourism website http://www.southafrica.net/

* 2004 was certainly a year to remember for so many reasons, both good and bad, both in our own lives and world-wide. We hope that everyone enjoyed a safe and happy Christmas with friends and family, relaxing and recuperating for another year back at work or school.

Like everyone around the world no doubt, we also offer our thoughts and prayers to the victims of the Tsunami across South-East Asia. It has shocked and devastated every corner of the world and was an end to 2004 that no one could have predicted.

* 2005 is sure to bring many huge events to the Touch community...the National Touch League is sure to rise to new levels with a record number of 125 teams already nominated, the Under 18's Championships always provide us with the best up and coming talent and the All-Nations tournament in New Zealand in October is sure to send all those desiring the green and gold uniform into a spin.

But before all of this can take place, there is one other event that will capture the Touch lovers around the World. The 2005 Youth World Cup is just two weeks away! Stress levels are rising amongst staff, who are scrambling frantically to finalise accommodation, food, uniforms and many other details for not only the six Australian sides but also the tournament in general.

With ATA Tournament Director Jon Pratt taking on the responsibility of directing the event, as well as many other ATA and FIT (Federation of International Touch) staff being involved, the expression `running around like chooks with their heads cut off' is certainly appropriate at this time.

* The Youth World Cup website and a draft of the draw will be loaded this week. All information can be accessed via the ATA website, as well as the FIT website, and both will provide links to the tournament homepage. Keep an eye on the ATA site for all the latest Youth World Cup news.

* The opening ceremony for the second Youth World Cup will be held at Kings Beach, Caloundra on January 19 at 9:00am. It will include an official welcome from the Mayor and other local dignitaries, as well as a Parade of all the Nations attending the Youth World Cup. This is open to the public.

The closing ceremony will be held on January 22, at Aussie World. The night will include free amusement rides for one hour for the players, dinner and the presentation of medallions and trophies for teams, countries and referees. Unfortunately, due to venue restrictions, the closing ceremony is only open to tournament participants.

The six Australian teams will have a dinner function together at their hotel on Sunday January 16. The dinner will include the presentation of their uniforms for the event, as well as the naming of team captains and flag bearers. Local sports personalities and also media outlets will be invited to the event, keep an eye out for the latest information!

* Congratulations to Aussie Mens Open Coach Tony Trad, his wife Alison and son Jacob, on the birth of their second child Olivia Taylah Trad, born on December 27! No doubt a fantastic Christmas present for the Trad's!

* How cool is Queensland Touch's website? It looks great and has heaps of information as well as links and contacts. Check it out for all their latest news.

* Touch Victoria have launched a new Junior Touch program aimed at developing their Junior sides for National Competition. The `Being in Touch' website has been launched, check out http://www.beingintouch.info/ for all the information.

* TouchWest have loaded the MVP's from their first 8 rounds of Super League competition. The page also contains information on the MVP process, what selectors are looking for and links to all the paperwork for selectors and players. A great resource for anyone interested in this sort of topic! See http://www.touchwest.com./pages/selectors.html for all the links.

* With the Youth World Cup so close, this edition's `Country of the Week' is South Africa. (In case you were wondering why there is a picture of a giraffe on the website...I liked it and it's from South Africa.)

Bringing four teams to the Youth World Cup is an incredible achievement for a country where Touch is indeed a fast-developing sport. From all reports the standard of Touch in South Africa is building rapidly and they will certainly be a force to be reckoned with.

South African Touch are bringing Mens and Womens 18 Years and 20 Years sides, adding greatly to the competition.

A country that I am incredibly interested in visiting and learning more about, the following information on South Africa is courtesy of the Lonely Planet website:

"South Africa is an exhilarating, spectacular and complex country. With its post-apartheid identity still in the process of definition, there is undoubtedly an abundance of energy and sense of progress about the place.

Travellers too are returning to a remarkable land that has been off the trail for way too long.

The infrastructure is constantly improving, the climate is kind and there are few better places to see Africa's wildlife. But if you want to understand the country, you'll have to deal with the full spectrum. Poverty, the AIDS pandemic and violence remain a problem.

The influx of foreign visitors in recent years has brought about an explosion of tours and activities: everything from abseiling off Table Mountain to sipping cocktails while watching lions.

As a backdrop to all this, South Africa continues to go through huge upheavals as it comes to terms with democracy, and in these terms it is a young country.

Democracy has precipitated change both good and bad - the dissolution of physical and psychological barriers around skin colour at one end of the scale, the well-publicised crime problem at the other.

It is both an invigorating and challenging time for South Africa, and a great time to visit and observe this metamorphosis first hand."

Full country name: The Republic of South Africa

Area: 1.23 million sq km

Population: 43.8 million

Capital City: Pretoria (official); Bloemfontein (judicial) and Cape Town (legislative).

People: 77% black, 10% white (60% of whites are of Afrikaaner descent, most of the rest are of British descent), 8% mixed race, 2.5% of Indian or Asian descent

Language: Afrikaans, Xhosa, English, Zulu, Tswana

Religion: Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and traditional religions

Government: republic and independent member of the British Commonwealth

Head of State: President Thabo Mbeki

Head of Government: Prime Minister Jacob Zuma

GDP: US$146 billion

GDP per capita: US$2,133

Annual Growth: 0.9%

Inflation: 7.8%

Major Industries: Mining, finance, insurance, food processing

Major Trading Partners: USA, UK, Germany, Japan, Italy

* Remember all story ideas and requests for help with media coverage can be sent to Rachel Moyle at media@austouch.com.au