http://www.suedafrika.org/ FIFA WM 2010/FIFA World Cup 2010 News de http://www.suedafrika.org/fileadmin/tt_news_article.gif http://www.suedafrika.org/ FIFA WM 2010/FIFA World Cup 2010 News TYPO3 - get.content.right http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:07:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=880&cHash=d673b4cac42086e9ab152c2b2d1ebfca Berlin, 22 October 2010. The Embassy of the Republic of South Africa participated in a two day conference called “Project South Africa 2010 – Germany 2006: Communal partnerships with a kick!”... “Project South Africa 2010 – Germany 2006: Communal partnerships with a kick!” organized by InWent. Experts from Germany who had participated in organising the World Cup 2006 in Germany had travelled to South Africa before the World Cup and formed partnerships on a communal level to assist their South African counterparts with the strategic preparations and planning of the World Cup. Topics ranged from safety and security, to transport, energy, fan festivals to waste management. The idea was for partners to meet on eye-level and exchange plans, ideas and to facilitate knowledge transfer. The initiative was organised by InWent – Servicestelle Kommunen in der Einen Welt and supported by the German and South African governments – represented by the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in Berlin.
Participating in the conference were the Acting Head of the Mission of the Republic of South Africa, Ms Cassandra Mbuyane-Mokone, and State Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, Hans-Jürgen Beerfeltz, who delivered speeches. In her speech, Ms Mbuyane-Mokone said “I believe that the true benefits of the project will still be felt for many years to come in that your counterparts in South Africa have not only been empowered but I am sure that you will agree with me that on both sides many bonds of friendship were formed.  This people to people interaction and closer understanding of each other will be one of the most significant contributions of the project and the World Cup.” And she continued: “The individual commitment by all, including the many InWent experts and officials, hugely contributed to ensure that the World Cup will leave a lasting legacy - a legacy of an achievement that will go a long way towards challenging afro-pessimism.” For the conference many experts who had come from all over Germany and even from South Africa including Major Ben Groenewald from the South African Police Services, exchanged and shared their experiences and new partnerships and networks were formed. The event ended with an outlook to 2014 and the World Cup in Brazil and since the experience in South Africa had been so enriching for many experts, they assured their participation in the next program from InWent and an exchange between German, South African and Brazilian organizers will be on the agenda. ]]> Botschaft FIFA WM 2010 Presse Fri, 22 Oct 2010 14:09:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=873&cHash=9ae4b383bb640affea338b24010459a1 Which effects had the World Cup for socio-economic development in South-Africa? How did it influence the German-South African relationship? Experts from South African and German politics, business,...
Venue: Evangelische Akademie Bad Boll /Germany

Speakers:

Riedwaan Ahmed - Südafrikanisches Generalkonsulat, München
Nomabelu Mvambo-Dandala - Geschäftsführerin des Diakonia Centre, Durban
Prof. Dr. Nico Koopman und Dr. Clint LeBruyn - Beyers Naudé Center, Stellenbosch, Südafrika
Jana Stöver - Hamburger Weltwirtschaftsinstitut
Prof. Dr. Herta Däubler-Gmelin - Ministerin a. D.
Doris Eckhardt, FIM e. V. Frauenrecht ist Menschenrecht, Frankfurt am Main
Dr. Ruth Gütter - EKD
Eberhard Rühle - Filmautor, Berlin
Karl Schüle - Brot für die Welt, Stuttgart
Renate Wilke-Launer - Journalistin und Buchautorin, Kapstadt/Hamburg

Herzliche Einladung in die Evangelische Akademie Bad Boll !

Link zum Tagungsprogramm und Anmeldeformular: http://www.ev-akademie-boll.de/index.php?id=142&tagungsid=270810 ]]> Botschaft FIFA WM 2010 Südafrika in Deutschland Topnews Mon, 11 Oct 2010 13:17:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=861&cHash=0b7183077b209582847184d82ff1c96a With the end of the FIFA 2010 World Cup just over a month ago, South Africa can be proud of pulling off an amazing event, which in many ways showed off the best that the country has to offer. The...
There is no doubt that the World Cup was an unprecedented success with countless tributes declaring South Africa an excellent host. Despite fears from many naysayers, South Africa emerged with a significantly enhanced reputation, not only as a wonderful country to visit on holiday, but also as major emerging economy. The organisational abilities demonstrated during the World Cup showed that South Africa is primed and ready for further growth and international interest. One figure that demonstrates the success of South Africa’s World Cup is that it has become the most lucrative income generator for FIFA out of all World Cups hosted to date. The tournament generated R29-billion towards FIFA’s profits.

The immediate benefits

The upgrade of transport infrastructure, the enhanced security provisions, the telecommunication network that beamed written, spoken and televised material all over the world and all the other logistical achievements demonstrated South Africa’s capacity to be a competitive economy on the world stage.

The World Cup injected an estimated R93-billion into the South African economy. In 2010, the World Cup is expected to contribute 0.4% of the annual GDP. It has contributed between 4-6% of the quarterly growth.

One of the major sectors to benefit was tourism and more specifically the hotel industry. Hotel room revenues rose by 121.7% and occupancies increased by 6% compared with the same period in 2009. These increases were far greater than both in Germany in 2006 and South Korea & Japan in 2002.

The road and public transport infrastructure upgrades are of the most noticeable outcomes of the World Cup. These will help improve the lives of tens of thousands of people on a daily basis. The construction of the Gautrain and the opening of the OR Tambo International Airport to Sandton route has already proved to be one such success. The number of people using the service has far outweighed expectations and once the remaining routes have been completed, it will revolutionise public transport in Gauteng. The project’s success has prompted the national department of transport to look at larger projects. The ministerial delegation that accompanied Jacob Zuma on his recent visit to China spearheaded talks with China Railway Group Ltd concerning the potential for a high-speed rail link between Johannesburg and Durban.

Pitfalls for the future

A large part of the financial injection into the World Cup was provided by government, through the upgrade of infrastructure, including roads and public transport, airports as well as the stadia. Although the positive implications have been noted, there has also been a fear that part of that spending was wasted on the stadia because not all of them will be able to cover the annual running costs. The stadiums outside the major cities, particularly the Mbombela stadium in Nelspruit and the Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane, have been built in areas where there are no major sporting teams that could base themselves at those stadiums. These stadiums will battle to remain viable without regular sporting events, considering the large costs associated with their annual maintenance. 'The new Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane would need between R10-million and R70-million for maintenance a year,' according to the city's 2010 director, Ndahve Ramakuela.

Whereas the large stadia in major centres such as the FNB Stadium (Soccer City) will attract big soccer and rugby matches on a regular basis, with capacity or near-capacity crowds, the smaller stadiums will battle to attract events, let alone the capacity crowds needed to generate significant income.

Certain suggestions have been put forward, such as hosting religious events and music concerts but it remains to be seen whether these kinds of events can be hosted on a regular enough basis to cover the costs of stadium maintenance.

Another issue has been the fact that the security infrastructure put in place helped keep crime to a minimum during the World Cup yet security has been a serious problem in the country for the past decade. This begs the question whether there has been a lack of political will to help maintain an efficient security infrastructure. The government and security services will have to show that they can produce the same results for an extended period for all people in South Africa.

Looking forward with a positive eye on 2010’s legacy

In a recent event, called the Wits Business School Strategic Management of Innovation Seminar, numerous academics and IT experts discussed some of the relevant aspects of the 2010 World Cup legacy. It was apparent from these discussions that the hosting of the World Cup has provided the platform for a number of important innovations, which can be carried forward into South Africa’s future.

Mayan Mathen, chief technology officer of Dimension Data, pointed out that numerous upgrades made during the World Cup will continue to be useful. The upgrade of the emergency services disaster centres in the major cities, for example, will help these major centres cope with disasters better in the years to come.

One particular security measure put in place for the World Cup has not got too much publicity but is nevertheless a feather in the cap for South Africa’s safety and security infrastructure. Mathen noted that, 'South Africa’s e-border system is one of only three in the world that works on a cloud computing platform. It constantly scans international databases to keep track of potentially undesirable people as they travel.'

Mathen also pointed out some of the amazing features of the Cape Town Stadium. One such security feature, Mathen notes, was the 'facial recognition surveillance system that can send instant alerts to the police if a wanted individual is spotted on the closed circuit television system. The stadium’s electronic ticketing system and intelligent fire management systems are world class. Even the police vehicles have cutting-edge systems that allow them to travel up to 160kph while doing facial and number-plate recognition.'

The Cape Town Stadium is also run by an intelligent building management system, which makes it highly efficient, Mathen went on to note.

These technological advances might seem to be confined to very specific sectors but all of them cumulatively will leave South Africa with a collection of tools to advance the country in the years to come.

One of the most highly publicised initiatives to promote a social development legacy after the World Cup has been the 1Goal project. 1Goal seeks to create awareness, raise money and get firm government commitments to further education all around the world but particularly in those countries where access to education is limited. The goal is to provide education to the approximately 72 million children who at present do not receive even basic education. The aim is to achieve this 2015. Many world leaders, soccer stars and other celebrities have pledged their support to the initiative. It is now a question of whether all these people will follow through with their promises and deliver possibly the most lasting World Cup legacy in history?

There are no doubt pitfalls for South Africa to overcome in avoiding any hangover effects of the World Cup and having World Cup resources wasted. The World Cup did, however, create a massive rise in national pride and unity among the population and this must be harnessed. The world has seen South Africa in a new and very positive light and it is now important for the country to get back to business and ensure that the World Cup’s legacy is a focal point for economic and social growth. Article by JP van der Merwe, first published by http://www.tradeinvestsa.co.za/feature_articles/716404.htm

Sources:

http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/sas-hosting-of-fifa-world-cup-brought-economic-benefits-2010-07-30

http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-05-12-maintance-for-world-cup-stadiums-to-be-costly

http://www.fin24.com/Business/World-Cup-was-Fifas-best-ever-20100824

http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/sa-hotel-industry-scores-during-fifa-world-cup-2010-08-06

http://www.mediaclubsouthafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1857:world-cup-legacy-120710&catid=44:developmentnews&Itemid=111 ]]> FIFA WM 2010 Pressespiegel Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:34:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=848&cHash=9d1e1946684574249c386ea9e4fccba6 In the first African World Cup, the real contest was never going to be won or lost on the playing field – as riveting as that spectacle was. The stakes were always much higher for South Africa, and...
In one sense, it was a massive branding exercise – a hugely successful one.

It was South Africa's opportunity to prove the world wrong: Africans are capable of building world-class stadiums and infrastructure within set deadlines, within budget and in a secure and efficient environment. They are reliable partners.

It has turned out to be the biggest media event of all time, according to media analysts. Even bigger than the election and inauguration of President Barack Obama, the 2006 World Cup in Germany, the Beijing Olympics or the funeral of Princess Diana or Pope John Paul II if the electronic and digital coverage is factored in.

Between 600- and 700-million television viewers watched the final between Holland and Spain on Sunday.

It was the first World Cup in which microblogging site Twitter saw a massive proliferation in tweets as teams went head to head. The site reached peaks of 3 000 tweets a second during the tournament and when goals were scored, according to an investigation by new media analyst Kerry Le Cordeur. During the tournament the site had to regularly issue warnings due to the exceptionally high volumes of traffic.

The much loved – and hated – vuvuzela became a popular trending topic on Twitter. Mobile technology saw an influx of iPhone and iPad apps and the most popular of all turned out to be one that tooted the vuvuzela B-flat directly from an iPhone.

These outcomes alone were worth every cent of the £2.8-billion (R40-billion) that South Africa spent on the stadiums and infrastructure directly related to the World Cup. Of this, £2.85-billion (R30-billion) was spent by national government and £900 000 (R10-billion) by host city municipalities.

The impact on national pride and identity – and the social cohesion that goes with it – is difficult to measure in monetary terms. But there is clearly a link with two most important challenges facing the country: improving public services delivery and creating jobs.

"South Africa has always viewed the hosting of the World Cup not as an end in itself but as a catalyst for development whose benefits would be felt long after the referee blows the whistle marking the end of the last game," said South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.

The 10 world-class stadiums created 66 000 jobs earning £700 000 (R7.4-billion) in wages, 40 000 new police officers were trained, one brand new international airport was built and two totally transformed, national roads were overhauled and there was massive upgrading of stadium precincts.

But the most abiding legacy of the World Cup is what it has done to boost the spirit and pride of Africans and forge new bonds between South Africans and other African nations.

The way South Africans of all races led Africa in rallying behind the Ghana team in its crucial match against Uruguay will not be forgotten.

"For the first time ever in the 16 years of freedom and democracy, we see black and white South Africans celebrating together in the stadiums and fan parks." said President Jacob Zuma in a candid endorsement of a seminal moment in the country's history.

But all these benefits of the World Cup will fade unless the country – strengthened by the enhancement of pride and unity flowing from hosting the contest – is able to follow up on key challenges which could unravel the legacy as time passes and life in South Africa returns to an unacceptable normal.

The counter-narrative to the successful hosting for the World Cup – and one which critics of the event quite legitimately dwell on – is whether it was justified for a country with such high levels of unemployment (25%) and such a legacy of poverty and underdevelopment could afford to spend such huge amounts on delivering the first African World Cup.

It is argued that of the £3.8-billion (R40-billion) spent on the World Cup (direct and infrastructure) only £11.5-billion (R13-billion) will be recouped through tourist revenue.

But the long-term benefits for growth in tourism and investment could dwarf the R40-billion within a couple of years.

The figures also need to be put in perspective against the £125-billion (R1.4-trillion) budgeted and spent on infrastructure between 2007 and 2013 – £54-billion (R561-billion) spent and £82-billion (R846-billion) to be spent in the next three years.

The real test of South Africa's hosting of the 2010 World Cup will be whether it can be translated into gains for the country's global competitiveness and its quest for attracting more foreign direct investment and tourism to the country. That in turn will mean more jobs.

Can the success of South Africa's hosting of the 2010 World Cup be used to kick-start a massive improvement in the current levels of public service delivery in the country? Can it lead to the proliferation of public-private partnerships? Can it lead to better skills training? Will it require the importation of large numbers of skills in the short-term to make it happen?

To sustain the gains South Africa will need to transcend its internal divisions, radically overhaul public service delivery, consolidate the sea-change in the mindset of South Africans, and act in a more inclusive and connected way in dealing with Africa and the developing world in general.

But it has also created the opportunity to do something which could dramatically consolidate the spirit of the World Cup and turn a new page in its development. There needs to be a concerted post-World Cup project which has the same focus, commitment to meeting deadlines and delivery schedules as the 2010 World Cup itself.

South Africans have always rallied and risen to heights around tangible projects: getting rid of apartheid, rallying together after the release of Nelson Mandela in 1990, voting in the first democratic elections in 1994, hosting a successful – and victorious – Rugby World Cup in 1995 and, in 2010, putting on the most successful Fifa World Cup tournament ever.

The next project should be one of real reconciliation and engagement, moving forward together.

By John Battersby, London
John Battersby is the UK Country Manager of the International Marketing Council of South Africa, a government agency and co-ordinator of Brand South Africa. He is a former southern Africa correspondent of the Christian Science Monitor and a former editor of the Sunday Independent in Johannesburg. He is co-author of Nelson Mandela: A Life in Photographs published by Sterling in the United States in January 2010. Battersby is a trustee of the Aaron Mokoena Foundation.]]> FIFA WM 2010 Pressespiegel Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:17:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=847&cHash=2bfa2654e2d0c9defc10ad49a85d5b6a Less than a week after the end of the 2010 Fifa World Cup, a survey has found that 99% of South Africans did a good job in hosting the tournament, and 97% are "more proud" to be South...
The survey, conducted telephonically among households in Gauteng by Umhlaba Development Services, aimed to establish how much people in the province participated in the event, and whether this participation would have a lasting impact on the social consciousness and identity of South Africans.

Some 38% of respondents said they or their families had benefitted directly from the World Cup, with 9% receiving financial benefits. A full 94% felt that hosting the World Cup would confer lasting benefits for South Africa as a whole.

Regarding national and continental solidarity and pride, 88% of those surveyed said the World Cup had given them a better understanding of the various cultures, traditions and histories of different South African population and of Africans from other countries on the continent.

Just under 20% of survey participants said they had watched all 64 World Cup games, and almost half – 47% – watched most of the games. Only 1% did not watch any World Cup matches.

Most South Africans seem to have avoided the World Cup hangover predicted by local media, with a full 73% of respondents saying they did not feel sad, lethargic or depressed after the World Cup ended.

"The citizens of Gauteng are proud and the perceptions of South Africans of their own country have become more positive," Umhlaba Development Services said in a statement. A near-perfect 99% of those surveyed said South Africa had done a good job in hosting the World Cup, and 97% said they were more proud to be South African than they had been before the tournament. About 91% said the World Cup had given South Africans a greater sense of national unity.

Regarding the sport itself, 89% of respondents said the World Cup had made them more likely to support the national squad Bafana Bafana, and local football in general, while 80% said it had "met or exceeded" their expectations.

The survey also revealed that 98% of respondents that the World Cup had made an "important and positive" contribution to nation building, 97% said it had contributed to growing South Africa's economy, 98% said it had contributed to infrastructure development in South Africa, and 96% said it had a positive impact on Africa as a whole.

Hosting the World Cup seems to have given South Africans a greater sense of social consciousness, with 81% of respondents saying that because of it they are more likely to become involved in charity and development work. "This mass social mobilisation presents an opportunity for government and developmental organisations to build on, and ensure the sustainability of, the many benefits of hosting the World Cup," Umhlaba said.

By Mary Alexander
Image: Chris Kirchhoff, MediaClubSouthAfrica.com image library]]> FIFA WM 2010 Pressespiegel Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:15:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=846&cHash=4ac44586dd85798ade88bece743c5c82 South Africa has come out with flying colours for hosting one of the most successful World Cups of all time. This was announced by Fifa boss Sepp Blatter at a press briefing in Johannesburg on 12...
Blatter has given the country nine out of 10 for organising the tournament with such flair. This means we got 90% for the job, as far as the international football body is concerned.

This score is an improvement on the one Fifa gave the country for hosting the Confederations Cup in 2009. “At the end of the Confederations Cup I gave 7.5. They were very disappointed. Nine on 10 is the highest,” he said.

Blatter said this was the most favourable rating possible, because “perfection does not exist”.

“It’s not low marks. I think it’s excellent,” President Jacob Zuma said in response.

The rating is based on all the Fifa requirements South Africa had to meet for the tournament to be classed as a success. With the billions of rands that went into preparations, the nation did all it could to please the Swiss-based organisation.

“Compliments to the government for all the guarantees they gave and met,” Blatter said. “We trusted South Africa and we at Fifa are satisfied.

“They can be proud. The compliments must go to South Africa, and not Fifa,” he added. “Africa has proven that it can host such a huge event.”

World-class facilities

In total, government spent about R28-billion (US$3.7-billion) on infrastructure development and upgrades ahead of the spectacle, with a firm focus on stadium-building, transport and crime-prevention.

Thanks to this, South Africa is now home to 10 world-class stadiums – five of which were built from scratch. More than R9.8-billion ($1.3-billion) went into the construction and refurbishment of these facilities, and the development of precincts around them.

The eye-catching calabash-shaped Soccer City in Johannesburg was completely upgraded, after the older stadium on that site was dismantled. Nelspruit and Polokwane also scored impressive new stadiums, as did Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth.

Almost 3.2-million spectators poured into the 10 stadiums during the month-long tournament – this is the third highest attendance in the history of the World Cup, after the US-hosted one in 1994 and Germany’s in 2006.

Government beefed up public transport to accommodate football fans by pumping more than R11-billion ($1.5-billion) into the sector. R6.7-billion ($8.83-million) went towards the new King Shaka International airport in KwaZulu-Natal, while OR Tambo International in Johannesburg and Cape Town International received massive facelifts. All these facilities were ready in time for the kick-off on 11 June.

Five other domestic airports – including the one in East London – were also upgraded, while the new Bus Rapid Transit system and Gautrain in Johannesburg successfully ferried thousands of fans around the city.

Investments will yield results

The heavy investment in 2010 football projects did not affect government’s local budget, Zuma said.

“The World Cup did not compromise the focus or the funding that we have maintained since 1994 on improving the health, safety, education and economic well-being of our people.”

But, “bringing this event to the country compelled us to fast-track certain aspects of the country’s development”, he added.

Government is also confident that the 2010 projects will benefit the country in the future: “We are sure that the investments we have made will contribute to increased tourism, trade and investment,” the president said.

“This will ultimately create the opportunities and bring in the revenue for us to address social challenges.”

Tribute to South Africa’s hospitality

South Africans’ welcoming spirit shown throughout the World Cup should also be applauded, said Blatter. “The wonderful hospitality given by the people ... is something that has been great,” he said.

The country proudly defied some absurd expectations of the foreign media, particularly those of the UK tabloids, which, before the tournament, warned of machete race wars in the streets, poisonous snakes at the stadiums – and even an earthquake that would hit South Africa!

Mercifully, these ludicrous suggestions weren’t taken seriously by the legions of fans who came to the country.

Government did its best to prevent common crimes by getting the South African Police Service to deploy 41 000 officers specifically for the World Cup, while working closely with international security agencies.

There was a large security presence on the streets and at many venues, including stadiums and public viewing areas. Police were also deployed at the hotels where players and dignitaries stayed.

“We have to congratulate the police services for what they have done,” Fifa secretary-general Jérôme Valcke said. “They’ve done more than we expected.”

International security agencies “were highly impressed by the performance of our enforcements”, according to South Africa’s deputy president, Kgalema Motlanthe.

All this praise and positivity was well expressed by a BBC journalist at the press briefing, who said: “No one doubts that this has been an incredible World Cup organised by South Africa.” By Bongani Nkosi Source: http://www.mediaclubsouthafrica.com ]]> Topnews Pressespiegel FIFA WM 2010 Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:09:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=845&cHash=8b3df31fb0794cc8c567807abaff9e6d Although the spirit of the 2010 Fifa World Cup has touched South Africa in many significant ways, the legacy of unity is above all else for Dr Irvin Khoza, chairperson of the tournament’s Local...
Never before have we seen South Africans so united, Khoza said during an emotional address at a press briefing in Johannesburg on 12 July. “Today we talk about South Africans of all colours saying our team, our country.”

Flags and fan gear

The national flag became a phenomenon during the month-long spectacle and was flown with pride by South Africans of all races and creeds. Just about every car on the road seemed to have one attached to its rooftop.

Public and private organisations came to the party as well and displayed the country’s flag on their building façades. It was also a prominent feature at many events in the run-up to the World Cup.

But it wasn’t only our colours that stood out: in the spirit of welcoming the world to the country, flags of all 32 participating nations were hoisted in many places. This turned the streets, stadiums and other public venues into a sea of vibrancy.

Then there was the green and yellow Bafana Bafana gear, which became a popular fashion item before and during the tournament. South Africans wore the shirts, especially on Fridays, to show the team they were behind it.

“Never before have you seen so many people wearing Bafana’s jersey and flying their flag,” said Khoza.

The two trends were inspired by the Fly the Flag and Football Fridays campaigns initiated by the International Marketing Council. The organisation distributed as many flags as it could around the country, while South Africans went all out to buy the official Bafana shirts made by Adidas. This was no small investment, as they sell for anything between R550 (US$73) and R900 ($120). Locals also bought their own flags to display.

George Chauke, from Giyani in Limpopo province, became one of the ultimate supporters by adorning his car with 261 flags of different countries, including those which didn’t participate in the World Cup. He spent a whopping R7 500 ($996) on the flags.

Deeply moved

Khoza, one of the top football administrators in the country, was deeply moved by the enthusiasm shown.

“It has touched all South Africans ‒ even those who do not follow football,” he said.

Nicknamed the “Iron Duke”, Khoza is also vice-president of the South African Football Association, and chairperson of the Premier Soccer League and Orlando Pirates ‒ a highly respected local team.

Mandela at Soccer City

The date 11 July 2010, when the World Cup final was played, was significant as it marked the 47th anniversary of the arrest of the Rivonia Treason Trialists, Khoza said at the press briefing.

The group captured by apartheid police on 11 July 1963 consisted of a number of senior African National Congress members ‒ all heavily involved in the liberation struggle. They included Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Ahmed Kathrada, Denis Goldberg and Arthur Goldreich.

Although Nelson Mandela was not part of the initial group, he was later implicated in its anti-apartheid activities and forced to stand trial with the others. All 10 of the accused went to prison.

During the trial Mandela was charged with sabotage and sentenced to life imprisonment on Robben Island. He was released 27 years later and soon became the country’s ultimate hero and president of the newly democratic South Africa.

It is in this context that Khoza spoke of the appearance of Mandela, now frail and in his nineties, at Soccer City before the final World Cup match was played between Spain and the Netherlands.

“The crowning experience was when Madiba came onto the pitch,” said Khoza.

The football boss was also touched by the sight of a jubilant Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu at the final. “For 90 minutes he was dancing and not watching the game,” Khoza said, adding that the last time he saw Tutu rejoicing like that was in 1994, after he cast his vote in South Africa’s first democratic elections.]]> FIFA WM 2010 FIFA WM 2010 Infos für Fans Pressespiegel Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:42:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=843&cHash=50b84600732d29adfb79b2781f6e22a9 The South African Post Office (Sapo) has released a series of colourful commemorative stamps and covers to mark the 2010 Fifa World Cup. The stamps were issued on 11 June, the opening day of the...
Football lovers and philatelists will be able to buy the two sheets and two envelopes until 31 December – or as long as stocks last.

Sapo’s senior manager of Philatelic Services Johan van Wyk said that the new releases are not related to the World Cup stamp set issued jointly by nine of the 14 member countries of the South African Development Community in April.

“As far as we know, we are the only country in the region to issue its own World Cup stamps,” he said.

The release comes after negotiations with Fifa, and subsequent approval by the world football governing body.

Both stamp sheets were designed by Philatelic Services’ inhouse graphic designer Thea Clemons, who is responsible for the blind-friendly taxi signal stamps launched in March, among other notable releases,

The smallest ambassadors

An initial quantity of 500 000 of each stamp sheet has been printed. The first sheet carries six self-adhesive stamps, while the second features 10.

The first set is round in shape, with a football as background. The stamps depict the 18-carat gold Fifa World Cup trophy, the official logo, and the Jabulani, the official match ball.

The second series depicts Zakumi, the green-haired official mascot of the World Cup, in five activities such as flying the flag, playing football, and cheering – for the home team Bafana Bafana, naturally.

The colourful envelopes contain an information card which gives the background to the stamp series and World Cup logo, and more. The envelopes are franked with a special football stamp bearing the date of issue.

Orders from post offices around the country are flying in, according to Van Wyk. “We are only just managing to keep up. Even on [the public holiday] 16 June the guys worked overtime to handle the demand.”

Although South Africans have anticipated the World Cup for six years, the volume of national sales has surprised even the Post Office staff, said Van Wyk.

“We’re also focusing on tourism offices and post offices in major tourist drawcards such as the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, and Skukuza in the Kruger National Park, to ensure they always have stock available.”

The new releases are an inexpensive souvenir of the long-awaited sporting event. “We think of stamps as the smallest ambassadors of our country,” said Van Wyk.

Stamping its presence

South Africa’s profile amongst the global philatelic community is to receive a boost later in 2010 when Johannesburg hosts the Joburg 2010 International Stamp Show.

The event takes place at the Sandton Convention Centre between 27 and 31 October, under the auspices of the Federation of Inter-Asian Philately, to which South Africa is affiliated.  It is sponsored by Sapo and the Philatelic Foundation of South Africa.

The date coincides with the printing of the first stamp by the Union of South Africa in 1910. The death of King Edward VII prevented the release of the original stamp, but his successor, King George V, was portrayed on a stamp later in the year, released to commemorate the opening of the new Parliament.

With recognition from world philately governing body Fédération Internationale de Philatélie, the Joburg event is the first internationally-recognised stamp show to take place in South Africa since Ilsapex 98, held 12 years ago at Gallagher Estate in Midrand.

To date 39 countries have confirmed their attendance, said Van Wyk, and more are expected. Local and international philatelists and dealers are said to be looking forward to the event, which will cover around 5 800 square metres of space.

Besides the competitive exhibition and many contemporary designs on show, a selection from Queen Elizabeth II’s own collection will also be on view. Her Majesty has personally approved the appearance of the stamps, which will be brought to South Africa by the Keeper of the Royal Collection. Stamps from the royal collection were also exhibited at Ilsapex 98.

Sapo will issue its eighth definitive stamp series at the event. Source: http://www.mediaclubsouthafrica.com ]]> FIFA WM 2010 FIFA WM 2010 Infos für Fans Pressespiegel Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:57:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=842&cHash=ff07f54b546b4acb60c75e899bbd3582 South Africa's largest city of Johannesburg rang with the sound of vuvuzela trumpets on Wednesday 9 June as fans from the township of Soweto to the glitzy commercial centre of Sandton took to the... |+|
picture gallery]]> FIFA WM 2010 FIFA WM 2010 Infos für Fans Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:27:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=844&cHash=e0cd823cc882394c36e7aaa768b4d96a International leaders came out with high praise for South Africa on Sunday, as the country prepared to host the finale of what many have described as the best Fifa World Cup ever. By Irene Naidoo...

Addressing the 1Goal Education for All Summit in Pretoria before the final between Spain and the Netherlands, Fifa president Sepp Blatter described the country and its citizens as "role models". He said South Africa had set an example with both its hospitality as a host nation and its exceptional organisational ability.

"The trust Fifa has put into the country and its people have been answered with a big, big success," Blatter said. "Thank you South Africa, thank you."

He joked that everyone had survived the vuvuzelas, even though it did not seem as if they would at the start of the tournament.

Netherlands Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende also praised South Africa for the "outstanding organisation of the World Cup".

"It is an excellent example for other countries," he said.

Balkenende, who was visiting South Africa for the final, said that earlier in the day he had attended a church service, where vuvuzelas were used during the service.

Despite Spain's eventual win, the Dutch prime minister was upbeat about his team's chances, and dismissive of Paul the octopus's predictions.

"Don't believe the octopus Paul because the female octopus Pauline from the Netherlands and the small bird Mani from Singapore are predicting another result," he said.

President of the Gabon and African Union representative Ali Ondimba Bongo thanked South Africa for making the continent proud.

"The World Cup has drawn the attention of hundreds of thousands of international visitors and millions of viewers to the continent," he said. "I want to congratulate South Africa for the successful hosting of the World Cup as an African event."

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation director-general Irina Bokova said she would be taking three vuvuzelas home for her children.

Picture: Iker Casillas, captain of Spain, and his team celebrate victory with the Fifa World Cup trophy after their victory over the Netherlands in the 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa final match at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg on 11 July. (Handout image for editorial use only: Fifa/Getty Images)]]> FIFA WM 2010 Pressespiegel Topnews Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:05:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=837&cHash=89a50bbd270c8e5ea69e3b1234459845 The overall attendance at the World Cup could be the highest since the tournament was held in the United States 16 years ago, organiserssaid on Thursday. With eight of the 64 matches left to play,... said on Thursday. With eight of the 64 matches left to play, chief executive of the local organising committee Danny Jordaan said that more than 2.69 million fans had already attended matches in South Africa.

The World Cup in the U.S. attracted a record high of 3.59 million, followed by Germany in 2006 with 3.36 million. The total attendance in France in 1998 was 2.79 million and South Korea/Japan in 2002 was 2.71 million.

"Already 2.69 million fans have been in the stadiums and with the quarter-finals, the semi-finals, the third-fourth place playoff and the final to come, we expect to go beyond three million fans in the stadiums.

"We are now playing in the biggest stadiums in Cape Town, Durban and Soccer City and those have huge capacities so we will see if we can get over three million.

"If we do, South Africa can have the highest attendance since the World Cup in the United States in 1994."

FAN PARKS
Jordaan added that attendances at Fan Parks had already topped three million because of the innovation of international Fan Parks around the world.

"In terms of the fans in the Fans Park we have already gone beyond three million because we have also introduced foreign Fan Parks for the first time.

"Look at what has happened in Mexico City, in Rio, in Berlin. The experience in the stadiums and in Fan Parks all over the world has been hugely successful."

He added that with eight matches to play, no-one could predict the winner - and that the best was yet to come.

"The most exciting fact of this World Cup is the surprise element. What we have seen so far is that the players earmarked to be the huge stars, Wayne Rooney, Ronaldo, Kaka and so on, hardly scored a goal.

"Other players have made a huge impact, it's a question of the surprise element of this World Cup.

"The biggest moment for our country is still to come, hosting the World Cup final in Soccer City with more than 80,000 fans, with millions of South Africans watching and millions around the world.

"That is the dream of Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu and it will be an incredible experience for all of us."

Source: SA – The Good News sourced via Reuters]]> FIFA WM 2010 Pressespiegel Fri, 02 Jul 2010 10:20:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=835&cHash=660eff836c01b60fed0b0b41d3fdde26 Calling on all South Africans to support Africa's last World Cup hopefuls this Friday! The Gauteng Provincial Government has kicked off a mobilisation campaign to drum up support for the Ghanaian...
This call has been supported by various companies, like Primedia Broadcasting and Supersport, who are calling on all South Africans to wear green, red, yellow and black on "Football Friday Ghana" in support of Ghana's Black Stars.

Ghana carries the hopes of the entire continent and will seek to become the first African team to reach the World Cup finals when they meet Uruguay at Soccer City on Friday at 20:30.

The Gauteng government's campaign kicks off on Thursday at Berea in Johannesburg, and moves to Sunnyside in Pretoria on Thursday, and on Friday, the campaign will target Yeoville in Johannesburg.

Mobilisation efforts will take a format of a formal programme, where messages of support from the Premier, MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation will be delivered, handing out of pamphlets, distribution of flags and live entertainment.

Ghana, the first team to qualify in Africa, got their campaign off to a great start with a win over Slovenia.

The Black Stars drew with Australia and succumbed to Germany but not without putting up a tough fight.

A combination of good finishing and excellent defending skills ensured Ghana's 2-1 win over United States on Saturday to secure the Black Stars a place in the World Cup quarter-final.

This is the African side's second World Cup; they played for the first time in Germany in 2006, where they beat the USA in the group stage.

They were eventually beaten by Brazil and had to exit the 2006 World Cup.

Both Ghana and Uruguay offer an exciting attacking approach which will no doubt form the basis for some exciting action at Soccer City on Friday.

BuaNews & SA-The Good News]]> FIFA WM 2010 Pressespiegel Fri, 02 Jul 2010 10:15:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=829&cHash=493d5a7fe173a690426ad4acb92a216e Die Botschaft der Republik Südafrika und das Haus der Kulturen der Welt laden Sie, Ihre Freunde und Familien herzlich zur Eröffnung von "Cup of Cultures - Public Viewing, Pop und Poetry"... ab 15.30 h Eröffnung 16 h Public Viewing Eröffnungsspiel Südafrika – Mexiko 17:50 h Expertenrunde „Einwurf“ mit Louis-Phillippe Dalembert (Haiti), Schriftsteller/Bundesligakenner + Ines Geipel (D), Leistungssportlerin und Autorin 18.10 Poetry Performance: Lebogang Mashile (RSA/USA)
Die Gründerin des berühmten „Feel a Sistah“ Spoken-Word-Kollektivs greift in ihrer Performance poetisch Elemente des HipHop auf. Die erfolgreiche  Kolumnistin, Produzentin, Sängerin und Moderatorin, wirkte auch als Schauspielerin in dem oskarprämierten Film „Hotel Ruanda“ mit. 18.30 Konzert Hot Water
Der Multi-Instrumentalist und Bandleader Donovan Copley sammelt eine stetig wachsende Zahl südafrikanischer Künstler mit verschiedensten Backgrounds um sich. Das Ergebnis ist eine bunte Mischung aus traditionellen Klängen, Folk, Blues und Indie-Pop Rock, die schon viele Festivalbesucher in Europa begeisterte. 20:30 h Public Viewing Spiel Uruguay – Frankreich ]]> Botschaft FIFA WM 2010 Topnews Wed, 09 Jun 2010 11:54:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=822&cHash=14214001941e45531b7c22f5b1dfc2be With only a few days left to go until the official start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the following fact sheet gives information on the South African Government's preparations and...
1. BACKGROUND

• South Africa will become the first African country to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, starting from 11 June to 11 July 2010.
• South Africa made its final presentation to host the World Cup to FIFA's Executive Committee at the Trade Centre in Zurich on 14 May 2004.
• On 15 May 2004, FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, announced that South Africa would be the host of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.
• Thirty-two countries have qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. Six of these are from Africa, namely: South Africa, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Cameroon and Algeria.
• The rest of the qualified countries are Japan, the Netherlands, Korea Democratic People’s Republic, Australia, Korea Republic, United States of America, Brazil, England, Paraguay, Spain, Denmark, Chile, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Serbia, Switzerland, Argentina, Honduras, Slovakia, France, Portugal, Slovenia, Greece, Uruguay and New Zealand.

2. WHERE THE ACTION WILL BE

• The World Cup will take place in eight of South Africa’s nine provinces, using 10 stadiums in nine host cities.
• Five of the 10 stadiums are new and the rest have been upgraded for the event.
• Johannesburg, as South Africa’s economic hub, is the only city with two venues for the world cup, namely Soccer City and Ellis Park.
• Other host cities are Cape Town, Pretoria, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Polokwane, Nelspruit, Bloemfontein and Rustenburg.

3. GOVERNMENT COMMITMENTS

• Government has made a total of 17 guarantees to FIFA in relation to the delivery of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.
• The guarantees are contained in the Bid Book and are required of any country that wishes to host the FIFA World Cup.
• Government preparations for the World Cup are coordinated through three main structures: the 2010 Inter-ministerial Committee, 2010 Technical Coordinating Committee and the Host Cities’ Forum.
• Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe chairs the 2010 Inter-Ministerial Committee while the Deputy Minister of Finance, Nhlanhla Nene, chairs the 2010 Technical Coordinating Committee and the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Shicelo Shiceka, chairs the Host Cities’ Forum.

4. ECONOMIC INVESTMENT

• Government is using the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and related events to fasten economic growth and development.
• According to research by Grant Thornton, the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ will contribute R55,7 billion to the South African economy between 2006 and 2010, generate 415 400 jobs and contribute R19,3 billion in income tax to government.
• The firm estimates that some 483 250 tourists will spend around R8, 5 billion during their stay in South Africa.
• Between 2006 and 2010, government will spend approximately R600 billion on infrastructure development, and much of this is for World Cup-related projects.
• During the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, between 250 000 and 450 000 international tourists are expected to visit South Africa over a four-week period.
• The South African Government invested R170 billion into the transport system in the five-year period from 2005/06 to 2009/10.
• This investment comprises a dedicated R13,6-billion allocation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, which has been allocated to host cities (and the commuter rail agency and roads agency) to improve public transportation systems ahead of the event.
• The Organising Committee (OC) has committed to using companies compliant with South Africa’s Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) legislation and small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs).
• By 30 September 2008, 55% of the organisation’s spend was through BEE companies and 26% through SMMEs.

5. LOGISTICS

• South Africa will be the first country in the history of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ to offer an event visa.
• FIFA required 55 000 rooms for the World Cup and, as of September 2009, 40 495 have been contracted, 10 274 of which are non-hotel rooms, 30 221 are hotel rooms and 631 through South African National Parks (SANParks).
• South Africa has hosted more than 140 major international events since 1994. Among them were the Rugby World Cup, Africa Cup of Nations, Cricket World Cup, World Summit on Sustainable Development and, recently, the FIFA Confederations Cup.

6. SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS 

• Government is responsible for general security while venue security is the responsibility of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ OC.
• The South African Police Force is spending R640 million on the deployment of 41 000 officers specifically for the event.
• These include 31 000 permanent members and 10 000 police reservists.
• The vast majority of the police deployed for the World Cup will be trained officers with experience in major events.
• Each of the 32 qualifying teams is expected to send at least two police officers to support the security forces during the tournament.
• South Africa had representatives at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, UEFA EURO 2008 and the Beijing Olympics to learn from the host countries’ experiences.

7. TOURISM

• South Africa is the only country in the world to contain an entire plant kingdom – its glorious indigenous fynbos of the Western Cape.
• There are 20 national parks in South Africa dedicated to conserving our wild animals, plants and natural environment.
• The richest concentration of rock art in Africa is found in South Africa, ranking among the finest in the world.
• South Africa is home to “Mrs Ples”, the nickname of a fossil skull that is believed by many scientists to represent the early ancestors of the human race. "Mrs Ples" and her relatives lived on the South African Highveld, in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site area between two and 2,5 million years ago.
• South Africa currently receives just under 10 million visitors annually. It is hoped that the exposure that South Africa enjoys during the World Cup period and the experience visitors will have will boost future tourism.

8. AFRICAN LEGACY

• The 20 Centres for 2010 is the official campaign of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. Its goal is to build 20 centres of education, public health and football across Africa.
• Five of these centres will be constructed in South Africa and the first of the 20 in the township of Khayelitsha in Cape Town was opened on 5 December.
• Five other centres on the continent are currently in construction in Rwanda, Ghana, Mali, Kenya and Namibia.
• The centre in Khayelitsha will help to educate young boys and girls from the community about HIV and AIDS and give them knowledge to live HIV-free.

9. HOST CITIES 

• Johannesburg, Gauteng
• Pretoria, Gauteng
• Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
• Cape Town, Western Cape
• Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape
• Nelspruit, Mpumalanga
• Polokwane, Limpopo
• Bloemfontein, Free State
• Rustenburg, North West.

10. STADIUMS

• Soccer City, Johannesburg
• Ellis Park, Johannesburg
• Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
• Moses Mabhida, Durban
• Green Point, Cape Town
• Nelson Mandela Bay, Port Elizabeth
• Mbombela, Nelspruit
• Peter Mokaba, Polokwane
• Mangaung, Bloemfontein
• Royal Bafokeng, Rustenburg.

11. MAIN PORTS OF ENTRY

• OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg
• Cape Town International Airport, Cape Town
• King Shaka International Airport, Durban
• Beit Bridge Border Post (link with Zimbabwe), Musina
• Lebombo Border Post (link with Mozambique), Mpumalanga
• Grobler’s Bridge (link with Botswana), Limpopo
• Durban Harbour, Durban
• Cape Town Harbour, Cape Town.

]]> FIFA WM 2010 Presse Topnews FIFA WM 2010 Infos für Fans Wed, 02 Jun 2010 09:49:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=821&cHash=a2e5d8eccefefac16366b6e31b48b279 Im Juni und Juli verwandelt sich das Berliner Haus der Kulturen der Welt in ein afrikanisches Fußball-Zentrum, in den internationalsten WM-Schau-Platz Berlins. Auf großer Leinwand werden ALLE Spiele... Auf großer Leinwand werden ALLE Spiele aus Südafrika übertragen. Und zwischen den Spielen ist Kultur aus Afrika zu erleben: Open-Air-Konzerte auf der legendären Dachterrasse, Lesungen, Performances und Expertenrunden rund um den globalen Ball, Hausradio, Streetfootball auf dem Fußball-Kleinfeld, Familienprogramm und Kulinarisches. In Kooperation mit 96fans werden Fußballfans aus aller Welt live geschaltet, um die weltweite Fußballbegeisterung ins Haus der Kulturen der Welt hinein zu tragen.

Fans des runden Leders können jeden Ballwechsel verfolgen und sich in der Zeit zwischen den Spielen vom breiten musikalischen Spektrum des Gastgeberlandes Südafrika sowie von Acts aus Benin, Mali oder Angola überzeugen lassen. Mit sechs Konzerten und einer Reihe von DJ-Sets und Partys zwischen psychedelischem Rock Dub, Afro-Pop und Jazz, Kwaito-House, Kudoro-Electro-Beats HipHop oder African Soul grooven sie das Publikum auf die Verbindung von Kultur und Prime Time-Spielen ein. Nebenbei werden fußballmuffelige Freunde mit dem WM-Fieber angesteckt: mit Bands wie der südafrikanischen Combo ‚Freshlyground’, die bereits einen European MTV Award ihr Eigen nennen darf und mit Shakira zusammen den offiziellen WM-Song „Waka Waka“ eingespielt hat, oder auch den ‚BLK JKS’ zusammen mit Vieux Farka Touré, eigens vom World Cup Kick-Off Konzert aus Johannesburg eingeflogen.

Poetry Performances, Gespräche und Lesungen zeigen eine Auswahl der neuen literarischen Produktion aus Südafrika, dem Land legendärer Erzähltraditionen, und aus den anderen afrikanischen WM-Ländern. Die Eröffnung am 11.6. präsentiert die Dichterin, Schauspielerin, Produzentin, Sängerin und Moderatorin Lebogang Mashile. Die Begründerin des "Feela Sistah!"-Spoken Word-Kollektivs - als Schauspielerin bekannt aus "Hotel Ruanda" - zeigt eine poetische Performance mit HipHop-Elementen. Lesungen und Gesprächsrunden zum globalen Phänomen Fußball bringen Autoren wie Tolu Ogunlesi, Wilfried N’Sondé oder Abdourahman A. Waberi zusammen. In Expertenrunden kommentieren Fußballbegeisterte aus Kunst, Sport und Kultur die eben abgepfiffenen Spiele.

Nach der Balltheorie darf beim Streetfootball auch gern der Praxis gefrönt werden: Entweder beim spontanen Kicken mit Freunden und Mitfeiernden oder aber auch nach Anmeldung bei den beiden Samstagsturnieren. Mit Musik und Kultur, Streetfootball, afrikanischem Essen und Getränken lädt das Haus zu kleinen WM-Ferien auf dem Dach ein: Die Spiele könnten da fast - aber nur fast - zur Nebensache werden.

Konzerte
Eintritt: 5 €, Festival Card 20 €

Fr 18.6. 19 h Freshlyground (Südafrika)
Fr 18.6. 18 h Chor der Kulturen der Welt: „Reconstructing Howie“
So 20.6. 18:30 h Africa Rocks! BLK JKS (Südafrika) meet Vieux Farka Touré (Mali)
Fr 25.6. 18:30 h Orchestre Poly Rythmo de Cotonou (Benin)
So 27.6. 18:30 h Frédéric Galliano (Frankreich) & Kuduro Sound System (Angola)
Fr 2.7. 18:30 h Record Release Party: ”Ayobaness! The Sound of South African House” (Südafrika)
So 11.7. 18.30 h Simphiwe Dana (Südafrika)

Lesungen + Gespräche
Eintritt frei

Sa 12.6. 18:30 h „Poetik des Fußballs“: Tolu Ogunlesi + Ariel Magnus | So 13.6. 18 h „Zwischen Worten“: Tânia Tomé + Ondjaki | Mi 16.6. 18 h „Neues afrikanisches Kino. Ästhetik und Politik“: Manthia Diawara | Sa 19.6. 18 h Spoken Word: Mphutalane wa Bofelo + Napo Masheane | Di 22.6. 18:30 h „Leidenschaften – Meisterschaften“: Abdourahman A. Waberi + Wilfried N’Sondé | Sa 26.6. 18:30 h „Global ist rund“: Wilfried N’Sondé + Detlev Claussen + Silke Gülker + Lars Isecke + Ralf Mouchbahani + Christian Ewers | Sa 3.7. 18 h "Storytelling": Were Were-Liking + Jimmy Hartwig

Streetfootball
Sa 19.6. + Sa 25.6. ab 14h
Turniere in der „Streetfootballworld“, dem kleinen Feld auf der Dachterrasse, begleitet von einem Programm für die ganze Familie

Fußball für Gruppen und Schulen
Anmeldung unter: next@hkw.de

In Zusammenarbeit mit der Botschaft der Republik Südafrika, der Kulturstiftung des DFB und der Aktion Afrika des Auswärtigen Amts]]> Botschaft FIFA WM 2010 Topnews Presse Thu, 27 May 2010 16:50:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=819&cHash=e4d10f1978c9fe7719dc20f2d4624f68 Berlin, 27.5.2010. Fourteen days before the official kick-off in Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg the Embassy gets an additional decoration feature for its front fence. The German artist Eckhard... The unveiling of the banner will be the last World Cup 2010 event at the Embassy as all World Cup activities thereafter are moved to a fantastic setting: The Haus der Kulturen der Welt. For the World Cup, the Embassy has teamed up with Haus der Kulturen der Welt and other partners. All the matches will be broadcasted live and it is the perfect opportunity to experience the first World Cup on African soil with fans from all over the world and especially from South Africa and the rest of the continent. Besides the matches the great cultural talents of South African and African artists including music, poetry and dance will be on stage for a truly African World Cup experience.  For the unveiling of the banner initiators, partners, representatives from art, culture, sports and politics, representatives of the media and neighbors from other Embassies in Tiergartenstrasse were invited. And even though it is not “Football Friday” Embassy wore their yellow Bafana Bafana T-shirts to show their support for their team. For further information please contact: Sarah Poehlmann
Press Officer
Embassy of the Republic of South Africa
PoehlmannS(at)foreign.gov.za

For programme information on Haus der Kulturen der Welt please visit: http://www.hkw.de/de/programm/2010/cup_of_cultures/veranstaltungen_43003/AlleVeranstaltungen.php

]]> Botschaft FIFA WM 2010 Presse Topnews Thu, 27 May 2010 16:25:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=818&cHash=bde3e5c3538523db91515a363b983c03 Berlin, 19.5.2010. Initiatoren und Partner von Projekten und Maßnahmen zur nachhaltigen Entwicklung von Kindern und Jugendlichen bekräftigten vor ca. 90 Gästen in der südafrikanischen Botschaft ihr... „Das eigentliche Erbe der Fußballweltmeisterschaft 2010 liegt in der Möglichkeit, das südafrikanische und natürlich auch afrikanische Potenzial von Gastfreundschaft und Menschlichkeit zu demonstrieren, um so der Welt das wahre Gesicht unseres Landes und unseres Kontinentes zu zeigen. Darüber hinaus ist die WM 2010  ein starker Katalysator in allen Bereichen der Entwicklung und Wirtschaft weit über den Event hinaus.“  Kirk Friedrich von der Organisation Grassroot Soccer, die für ihren Einsatz gegen HIV/Aids international anerkannt ist, gab einen Einblick in die tägliche Arbeit des ersten Football for Hope Centres, das im Dezember 2009, eröffnet wurde und betonte in diesem Zusammenhang:  „Wir nutzen die Kraft des Fußballs um gegen HIV & AIDS zu kämpfen. Grassroot Soccer wurde 2002 von professionellen Fußballspielern gegründet. Wir haben über unsere Programme mittlerweile bis zu 300.000 Schüler erreicht und sind stolz darauf, dass wir im Dezember 2009 das erste Football for Hope Center in Kayelitsha, einem Township von Kapstadt eröffnen konnten.“ Jürgen Griesbeck von streetfootballworld stellte heraus, was die Zentren für das weltweite streetfootballworld Netzwerk bedeuten: „Die Football for Hope Zentren in Afrika sollen vor allem nach der WM 2010 eine Anlaufstelle für Jugendliche sein und den lokalen Organisationen, die die Zentren betreiben, die Möglichkeit geben, ihre Programme auszuweiten und als Organisation nachhaltig zu wachsen. Für streetfootballworld sind die Zentren aber auch ein Modell dafür, wie die globale Kooperationen im lokalem Raum positive Veränderung unterstützen können, und damit eine Mega-Veranstaltung wie die Fußball-Weltmeisterschaft ein wirkliches soziales Vermächtnis hinterlassen kann.“ Constanze Lullies von der Jacobs Foundation sprach über den Ansatz der Stiftung in der Zusammenarbeit mit sektorübergreifenden Partnern: „ Wir glauben, dass Fussball und allgemein Sport aufgrund seiner spezifischen Qualitäten, ein besonders effizientes Mittel für eine positive Entwicklung junger Menschen sein kann. Als Stiftung arbeiten wir zusammen mit unseren lokalen und internationalen Partnern daran, gute Ansätze und effektive Methoden zu entwickeln und zu systematisieren, wie Sport optimal für Kinder und Jugendentwicklung genutzt werden kann. Uns beschäftigt, wie Wissen, Ressourcen und Erfahrungen in diesem Bereich geteilt werden können. Erst dieser partnerschaftliche Ansatz erlaubt es uns langfristige Erfolge zu erzielen.“ Ulrike Meier tätig im Referat Südliches Afrika des Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ)  erklärte in der Diskussionsrunde: „Unser Ministerium ist seit Ende der Apartheid sehr intensiv in enger Kooperation mit der südafrikanischen Regierung in den Bereichen öffentlicher Verwaltung und Gewaltprävention, Energie & Klima, HIV/AIDS tätig.  WM-bezogene Programme laufen in den Bereichen Planung & Organisation des Mega-Events sowie in der Jugendförderung durch Fußball.“ Matias Bendersky von der Interamerikanischen Entwicklungsbank (IDB) wagte einen ersten Ausblick auf mögliche Maßnahmen in Vorbereitung auf die FIFA WM 2014 in Brasilien. „Wir freuen uns, dass der FIFA World Cup von Südafrika nach Brasilien kommt, da die Herausforderungen und Chancen für Brasilien und den südamerikanischen Kontinent sehr ähnlich sind. Die IDB fördert, dass Entwicklungsprojekte im Zusammenhang mit der FIFA WM 2014, wie die Football for Hope Center, öffentliche Unterstützung finden, um so nachhaltige Effekte zu ermöglichen.“ Bilder der Veranstaltung sind  zur honorarfreien Nutzung am 19.05.10 ab 15 Uhr unter http://www.flickr.com/photos/jacobs_foundation/sets zu finden.

Weitere Informationen bei
Sarah Pöhlmann
Botschaft der Republik Südafrika
Media & Marketing
Tel.: +49 30 22073127
Mail: PoehlmannS@foreign.gov.za

Alexandra Delvenakiotis
Jacobs Foundation
Tl.: +41 44 3886126
Mail: alexandra.delvenakiotis@jacobsfoundation.org ]]> Botschaft FIFA WM 2010 Presse Topnews Wed, 19 May 2010 14:51:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=816&cHash=4ca74ec00e5274c4c4ed9133562fbc90 Curator Thembinkosi Goniwe at the opening of the exhibit at Museum Africa in NewtownA new exhibit at the Museum Africa in Newtown, Johannesburg will showcase works from contemporary artists from... A new exhibit at the Museum Africa in Newtown, Johannesburg will showcase works from contemporary artists from Africa and the Diaspora during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Organisers hope the exhibit will show South Africa’s commitment to hosting a truly African event, and give artists from the continent exposure to a global audience.

SPace: Currencies in Contemporary African Art will be open to the public free of charge from 11th May until 11th July 2010. It will showcase works from artists like Willem Boshoff, Gabrielle Goliath, Mary Sibande and David Koloane. Some artists, like Imad Mansour and El Hassan Echair from Morocco are exhibiting in South Africa for the first time.

The exhibit is endorsed by FIFA as an official host city Johannesburg event, and is sponsored by the City of Johannesburg, the Department of Arts and Culture and Telkom.

“All Africans are in this World Cup together – that is the message we are sending far and wide tonight as we celebrate the opening of this exhibition,” said Telkom Group CEO, Reuben September.

September said showcasing the work of African artists is a way of demonstrating Telkom’s passion for, and involvement in the continent and its people. “We are inextricably linked to this continent and we want to see our continent succeed,” he emphasized.

The exhibit is curated by South Africans Thembinkosi Goniwe and Melissa Mboweni. Goniwe said at the exhibition opening that they wanted to have fun with the themes of intimacy, pleasure, beauty and play, while showing the beautiful things Africa has to offer to the global audience focused on South Africa for the duration of the World Cup.

“You don’t see the creativity and beauty of Africa on CNN and BBC,” said Goniwe. "The Exhibition is a creative and an intellectual space for African artists, curators, writers and various audiences to engage in dialogues on culture, aesthetics, politics and mobility.”

The exhibition title alludes to two notions: space and pace. A statement from the organisers explained, “Space is wherein ideas are negotiated and meaning produced through various human activities and social practices, while pace refers to speed, the rate at which change or advancement of such activities and practices takes place in society”.

Curator Melissa Mboweni said the works that are showcased were chosen through a process of consultation with other curators on the continent who had a better knowledge of what was happening within their own geographical space, and could recommend artists who were doing interesting work.

Mboweni said that, while the dialogue around contemporary African art has been taking place for some time, the fact that this exhibit is happening during the World Cup distinguishes it from similar events. “On some level we’re picking up the stompies of those dialogues that have been taking place and sort of putting our own twist on it,” said Mboweni.

Soccer fans aren’t usually associated with art lovers, but Mboweni said they hope the exhibit can speak to soccer fans on some level “if they are looking for a different perspective and a different experience to dispel their perceptions on Africa.”

Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, Paul Mashatile said that the exhibition will strengthen efforts to develop the African contemporary art industry.

“We are also encouraged that this exhibition will add to the growing body of knowledge on African contemporary art. Equally encouraging is that this will be done by Africans themselves telling their own stories, reflecting on their own personal experiences, proudly re-affirming the saying that: nothing about us, without us,” said Mashatile.

Linda Krige Source: SA GoodNews
]]> FIFA WM 2010 Pressespiegel Wed, 12 May 2010 14:32:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=815&cHash=868f91ade64eedcfaac3074ef38fb8af For a group of youngsters, the international flavour of the Fifa World Cup™ came to South Africa a few weeks early as they took to the field for the 2010 National Schools Football Final, with each...
The tournament, which took place at Marks Park Sports Club in Johannesburg on the weekend, forms part of the My 2010 School Adventure campaign.

The campaign, a partnership between the 2010 Local Organising Committee and the Departments of Basic Education, Arts and Culture, and Sport and Recreation, has seen over 8 000 schools around the country taking part in regional tournaments over the last few months, with the winners from the boys and girls u14 and u18 categories in each province representing at the national finals.

Having adopted Spain, Seiphemelo Secondary School from North West province won the main match of the finals. Such was the significance of the event that the main game, the boys under 18 final, along with nine other games, was televised on sports channel Supersport.

What the children did not know was that, as a reward for going so far in the campaign, 5 000 World Cup tickets were made available to the young players through the 2010 Fifa World Cup Ticket Fund.

"I feel great about the campaign because it ensures that young people like myself are removed from the streets and from participating in unsavoury activities and instead are given the opportunity to participate in something meaningful," said Seiphemulo Secondary School student Lucky Matinyane.

"Some of us come from poor families, so we would not have had the opportunity to attend a World Cup game had it not been for this initiative."

Despite falling short at the final hurdle, Buddy Dodovu from the Keurhof Special School said he felt "very good and excited about the My 2010 Schools Adventure, because it gives us the feeling that the World Cup is really here.

"I feel we have gained a lot from this experience because we've heard that there are a lot of academies that will be recruiting from these finals," Dodovu said.

The National Football Finals were contested by both boys and girls in the under 14, under 18, and Learners with Special Educational Needs divisions.

Source: 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa Organising Committee ]]> FIFA WM 2010 Pressespiegel Wed, 12 May 2010 13:40:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=814&cHash=5e62dd8e3d8aa33d2338cd699c2c5d03 The 2010 Fifa World Cup™ will forever change the world's perception of South Africa, President Jacob Zuma said at the opening of the Tourism Indaba trade show in Durban on Saturday."It is in our...
"It is in our hands to make this the best World Cup ever," Zuma said, adding that South Africa stood to benefit from hosting the event World Cup for decades to come.

"The World Cup has changed the face of this country. Not only has it revatilised our economy, but it has given impetus to infrastructural development and job creation," Zuma said.

"It is estimated that over 3.6-million additional job opportunities will be created during the tournament," Zuma said, while the country's public transport network had been completely revitalised, with over US$10.9-billion having been spent on upgrading road infrastructure and the taxi recapitalisation programme.

"The highways between the OR Tambo International Airport and Pretoria, and Johannesburg and Pretoria, are among the many roads that have been improved. The bus rapid transit system has been rolled out in most cities. The Rea Vaya bus service between Johannesburg and Soweto now transports 20 000 people a day."

By 2020, Zuma said, more than 85 percent of any South African city's population will be living within a kilometre or closer to an integrated rapid public transport network feeder or corridor.

The World Cup had "placed us on the high road," Zuma said, while giving the country an unprecedented destination marketing opportunity.

"Much has been invested in the six years leading up to kick-off next month, and investments in the tourism industry, infrastructure, airports, information technology and stadiums leaves South Africa poised to maximise growth in numerous areas going forward.

"After the tournament South Africa will have more skilled people working in tourism and better tourism infrastructure to grow arrivals and foreign direct spend into the economy," Zuma said.

"The World Cup will also deliver about 350 000 more foreign visitors this year that will, in the medium to long term, result in greater repeat visits and word-of-mouth recommendations for the destination.

"South Africa's 10 World Cup-ready football stadiums give South Africa truly magnificent, capable and world-class sports venues. As important, they give the world a capable destination for global sporting and cultural events such as the world cups of other sporting codes, the Olympic Games and music concerts.

"Other World Cup legacy bequests include broadcasting and information technology infrastructure that puts the nation at the forefront of the digital age in terms of digital broadcasting, high-definition television and broadband internet accessibility," Zuma said.

Indaba delegates were treated to an opening ceremony that included performances by TKZee, by South Africa’' world-famous Drakensberg Boys Choir, and performances of the Diski Dance that has ignited the imagination of the world and the passion of the country for the 2010 football championship.

"South Africa is ready for the World Cup," Zuma said. "We look forward to welcoming the world, to hosting the world and to celebrating with the rest of the continent the first World Cup here in Africa."

Source: South African Tourism ]]> FIFA WM 2010 Tourismus Südafrika Pressespiegel Wed, 12 May 2010 13:37:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=813&cHash=8f3eb99b24549cfbf8d9907a6f8e9649 Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium has generated over R4 million through its sky car and bungee jumping facility in the past few months, the city said on Thursday. "This proves that our...  
"This proves that our stadium will never be a white elephant.

The over R4 million does not include money generated by businesses at the stadium,” said city manager, Mike Sutcliffe.

The stadium, which was completed months before the World Cup, had become one of South Africa's tourist attractions, he said.

He said more than 80,000 people had made the trip to the top of the 106-metre arch with a sky car to experience stunning views of the city and Indian Ocean.
 
“More than 25,000 people have taken the stadium tours to discover what goes on behind the scenes at a stadium and almost 3000 have taken the 550 steps to the top of the arch,” he said.

Source: Sapa; SA GoodNews]]> FIFA WM 2010 FIFA WM 2010 Infos für Fans Wirtschaft Pressespiegel Wed, 12 May 2010 13:35:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=812&cHash=95a903c1a358bfccad63853d4fe59038 Gautrain arrives at O.R. Tambo International Airport outside of JohannesburgThe Gautrain, Africa's first high-speed rail line, will launch on June 8 in South Africa three days before the opening... The Gautrain, Africa's first high-speed rail line, will launch on June 8 in South Africa three days before the opening match of the 2010 football World Cup, the developers said Friday.

French construction giant Bouygues said the train's first segment, linking OR Tambo International Airport and the posh Johannesburg suburb of Sandton, will open in time for the June 11 kick-off of Africa's first World Cup.

The segment "will be handed over on June 8, three weeks ahead of our original schedule," said Christian Gazaignes, Bouygues' executive director.

For R100 (13 dollars, 10 euros), World Cup visitors will be able to ride the 15 kilometres from the airport to the Sandton hotel district in less than 15 minutes.

In rush-hour traffic, the same trip takes more than an hour by car.

When finished in mid-2011, the 80-kilometre regional express train will link the capital Pretoria with national economic hub Johannesburg, running at speeds of up to 160 kilometres (99 miles) an hour and enabling commuters to make the trip in 42 minutes.

"It's going to give the country a beautiful image of modernity," said Laurence Leblanc, international director of RATP Dev, a subsidiary of French group RATP, the company awarded a 15-year concession to operate the train.

"The Gautrain isn't specifically a World Cup project. It doesn't serve the stadiums," said Leblanc. "But it's a superb project for South Africa's image. That's why we're knocking ourselves out to get ready."

The Bombela Consortium, an international group that includes Bouygues, Canadian firm Bombardier and two South African companies, began construction on the project in 2006.

The developers say they have "worked like crazy" to finish the first section before the World Cup, making up time lost to strikes and construction delays.

The 3.2-million-dollar Gautrain is the first high-speed rail line in Africa. The north African cities of Casablanca, Algiers and Cairo all have metro lines, but none runs as fast or as far as the Gautrain.

South African transportation officials say the train will form the backbone of a new public transport network that will help take traffic off the notoriously congested roads of the greater metropolitan area.

"We're targeting people who have the means to own a small car but would prefer to avoid traffic jams," said Leblanc.

RATP says it is targeting South Africans with a monthly income of 1,030 to 2,580 dollars (about R7000 to R20 000), and predicts 16,000 passengers a day will use the new rail line.

To get them to the train, the company plans to roll out a network of shuttle buses serving the population centres around the train stations.

RATP has set the price for the airport-Sandton route relatively high at 13 dollars (R100). But the Sandton-Pretoria segment will cost just 4.5 dollars (about R30), rivalling the price of the mini-buses that currently provide most of area's mass transit.

Officials hope the price scheme will help turn South Africans onto public transport, in a country where mass transit systems languished for decades under apartheid policies designed to keep whites and blacks apart.

RATP also promises tight security on the trains, using closed-circuit TV cameras, 400 security guards and 50 police officers to convince South Africans to abandon the protective shell of their vehicles.

Source: Sapa-AFP ; SA GoodNews]]> FIFA WM 2010 Wirtschaft Tourismus Pressespiegel Wed, 12 May 2010 13:33:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=811&cHash=8b4d54feb184d5520a2f2e270259ae93 Former president Nelson Mandela welcomed the World Cup trophy to South Africa on Thursday before the coveted gold statue begins a tour of the country ahead of next month's World Cup."For us...
"For us there was no way that the trophy would arrive in the country and not being brought first to Mandela," FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said in a statement. "Nelson Mandela was one of the architects of this FIFA World Cup."

Football governing body FIFA sent the gold-and-malachite trophy on a 134,014-kilometre (83,272-mile) world tour that stopped in every African country ahead of the June 11 kick-off of the continent's first World Cup.

The trophy will head next to the township of Khayelitsha outside Cape Town, where it will start the final leg of its tour, stopping in 38 cities and towns across all nine South African provinces.

The Nobel Peace Prize-winner last saw the trophy in Zurich six years ago, when South Africa was awarded the 2010 World Cup.

"It was so wonderful seeing Madiba in Zurich on the day South Africa won the right to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup, so happy with tears of joy rolling down his cheeks," Danny Jordaan, CEO of South Africa's organising committee, said Thursday.

"So, it is quite an emotional and joyful moment to be back bringing the trophy to him."

In 2008, FIFA president Joseph Blatter presented Mandela with a replica of the trophy, in tribute to his role in securing the World Cup for South Africa.
       
Source: Sapa-AFP, SA GoodNews]]> FIFA WM 2010 FIFA WM 2010 Infos für Fans Pressespiegel Wed, 12 May 2010 13:31:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=809&cHash=7272ae0f295265c4d90e8e7241fe4a88 With exactly 30 days to go before the start of the 2010 Fifa World Cup, campaigns to get the nation hyped around the tournament are in top gear. Around 150 diski dancers will make stops in the...
The diski dancers will move to the Bree and Noord taxi ranks taking photo's with people and handing out flags and pamphlets. They will also engage the crowd asking questions around the World Cup. They will then move to Soweto in a convoy of buses where the program will be concluded in the afternoon.

In Cape Town, Mayor Dan Plato is expected to announce the city's 2010 World Cup programme today. The programme will detail activities available to locals and tourists during the showpiece.

The city says it wants to ensure that Capetonians have a chance to be part of events at the Grand Parade Fan Fest and other Public Viewing Areas.

South Africa, the first African nation to host the Fifa World Cup, is scheduled to host soccer fans from around the world from June 11 to July 11. The 2010 soccer extravaganza will be the 19th Fifa World Cup to take place. Italy are the defending champions.]]> FIFA WM 2010 FIFA WM 2010 Infos für Fans Pressespiegel Wed, 12 May 2010 12:34:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=802&cHash=281e872ceee6e1db1929bc70324e99b1 Berlin 10 March 2010. In the evening of the first day of the ITB, the largest tourism fair worldwide, a star-studded press conference took place. The panelists were Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk:... Marthinus van Schalkwyk talked about the World Cup being a Cup for the whole continent by saying: “Africa will be the theater and we will be the stage” and “As Africans we want to stand up on 12 July and say that we are proud to be Africans”.

Many questions addressed the safety and security measures, an issue widely discussed in German media and Police Commissioner Bheki Cele laid out all security measures that were taken by the South African police, for example establishing security zones, 44.000 extra police officers that will be on duty during the World Cup and an invitation to all participating nations to bring a delegation of 6-8 officers from their country to assist their South African counterparts. A second issue widely discussed in the German media is the sale of tickets. FIFA Advisor Horst Schmidt on this topic: “2.2 million tickets have already been sold, 35.000 tickets to Germans which means that Germany ranks third in ticket buyers and from the 15 April 2010 the tickets can also be bought over the telephone”, this will be another boost in sales since many South Africans do not have access to the internet. South Africa Tourism CEO, Thandiwe January-McLean is confident that tourists who will come to South Africa for the World Cup will not only be awed by the matches but also by South Africa as a country: “This WC will give us the opportunity to expose our greatest asset: our people”. She is also confident that tourists who have visited South Africa will certainly come back a second time. “The large infrastructural investments that are made in SA are great for tourism in the coming years”, says Ms January-McLean.

Football player Lucas Radebe added that the projects that have come about because of the World Cup in South Africa are already now part of the legacy and children will benefit from them now and in the future. When asked about his expectations for Bafana Bafana he said that the team wants to show that they are playing for their country and in reference to the Rugby World Cup 1995 when the underdog South Africa won against the mighty New Zealanders he added: “We will beat France. We have the home advantage. Like in 1995, I am certain the other team will get scared.”]]> Botschaft FIFA WM 2010 Presse Topnews Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:50:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=797&cHash=1b95d68af50e288f2337816069940387 Bonn/InWEnt, 22.01.2010. Der Andrang zur Infoveranstaltung „Südafrika 2010 -WM-Ausblick in Hannover“ am Donnerstagabend hätte größer nicht sein können: Statt der erwarteten 100 Besucher kamen über... WM-Ausblick in Hannover“ am Donnerstagabend hätte größer nicht sein können: Statt der erwarteten 100 Besucher kamen über 200 Gäste aus Hannovers Wirtschaft, Politik und Kultur. Eingeladen zur ersten Podiumsdiskussion dieser Art im WM-Jahr 2010 hatten die Niedersächsische Landesregierung, die Südafrikanische Botschaft und InWEnt - Internationale Weiterbildung und Entwicklung gGmbH. Für besondere Anziehungskraft sorgte schon allein der Veranstaltungsort: Der VIP-Bereich der AWD-Arena von Hannover 96 mit beeindruckendem Panoramablick ins Stadion ließ die Herzen der fußballbegeisterten Zuhörer höher schlagen.

Auf dem Podium diskutierten Cassandra Mbuyane-Mokone, die Gesandte der Südafrikanischen Botschaft, Steven Cherundolo von Hannover 96 und WM-Spieler der US-Nationalmannschaft, Claus Lange, Leiter des Arbeitskreises der Berufsfeuerwehren für die WM 2006 und WM-Berater 2010, und Gerd Kolbe, Leiter des WM-Büros 2006 in Dortmund und ebenfalls WM-Berater 2010 bei „Partnerschaft mit Kick“ sowie Pamina Haussecker, Projektleiterin bei InWEnt, Bonn. Die Diskussion wurde von ARD-Sportjournalist Dr. Stephan Kaußen moderiert.

Fußball und Entwicklung waren die Themen dieses Abends. Ingeborg Weisig, Leiterin des Referats Internationale Beziehungen der Staatskanzlei Niedersachsen, betonte in ihrem Grußwort, dass Sport in Südafrika gerade nach der Apartheid an Bedeutung gewonnen habe. „Sport ist ein Mittel zur Überwindung von Rassenunterschieden und zur Schaffung einer neuen nationalen Identität“, so Weisig. Mbuyane-Mokone unterstrich vor allem auch die wirtschaftliche Bedeutung der WM für Südafrika. "Durch die WM werden mindestens 55 Milliarden Rand in Südafrikas Wirtschaft fließen und fast eine halbe Million neue Arbeitsplätze geschaffen", zitierte die Gesandte eine lokale Wirtschaftsstudie.

Im Mittelpunkt der Diskussion standen die Themen Sicherheit und Transport. Die Diskutanten waren sich einig, dass die Herausforderungen in Südafrika zwar sehr viel größer seien als 2006 in Deutschland; allerdings würde das Bedrohungsszenario hierzulande häufig stark überzeichnet. So betonten Kolbe und Lange ihr subjektives Sicherheitsempfinden während der Beratungseinsätze in Südafrika und auch Cherundolo zeigte sich zuversichtlich: Vom letzten Aufenthalt in Südafrika wusste sein Team nur Positives zu berichten.

Sportlich betrachtete Cherundolo die WM als große Herausforderung. Sein Team USA kann im Achtelfinale auf die deutsche Mannschaft treffen, „aber die müssen es ja auch erst mal schaffen“, so Cherundolo. Man habe noch eine Rechnung mit der deutschen Mannschaft offen, erinnerte Cherundolo an die WM 2002.

Dass es bei einer WM gerade auf lokaler Ebene auch um Entwicklung und Nachhaltigkeit geht, erläuterte Pamina Haussecker anhand typischer Fragen, die die WM-Organisatoren in Deutschland und Südafrika gleichermaßen beschäftigt haben: „Wie bringe ich die Fans schnell und sicher von A nach B? Wie kann ich Energie und Wasser sparen beim Bau und Betrieb eines Stadions? Wie schule ich meine Volunteers für den Umgang mit internationalen Besuchern?“ Die Lösungsansätze für solche Fragen werden auch über die WM hinaus von bleibender Wirkung für die Bevölkerung vor Ort sein. „Kommunale Strukturen werden so gestärkt, und das nicht nur in Südafrika. Auch die deutschen Kommunen profitieren von den internationalen Erfahrungen ihrer Mitarbeiter“, betonte Haussecker.

Schließlich ließ Mbuyane-Mokone keinen Zweifel daran, dass Südafrika die Fußball-WM als historisch einmalige Chance erkannt hat, zur gesellschaftlichen Versöhnung und internationalen Anerkennung des einst durch Apartheid strikt geteilten Landes beizutragen: „Reisen Sie zur Weltmeisterschaft nach Südafrika und schreiben Sie mit an einem Kapitel südafrikanischer Geschichte“, lautete der fröhliche Appell der Gesandten.

Nach der regen Publikumdiskussion endete die Veranstaltung mit einem Wissensquiz ("Wie viele WM-Spielstätten gibt es in Südafrika?" "Wo fand der Final Draw statt?" "Wie heißt die Hauptstadt von Südafrika?" u.a.). Die stolze Gewinnerin wurde mit einem deutsch-südafrikanischen Fußball belohnt.

Weitere Informationsveranstaltungen sind im WM-Jahr 2010 u.a. noch in Hamburg, Bonn und Bremen geplant. ]]> FIFA WM 2010 Botschaft Topnews Presse Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:19:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=796&cHash=7c6f025ac31c93648fc05717294b74c1 A group of South Africans living in Korea have started a project called "Hug a South African" to help promote Africa’s first football World Cup in June. The project was started by ten... Making a difference
The campaign, which kicked off in December 2009, has been well received by locals in Korea. Many stop to receive hugs and take pictures with the group.
“The locals have been getting quite involved. They take pictures of us to share with their friends and family. This also ensures the promotion will continue beyond our campaign,” said Ndlovu. South Africans living in other countries have shown interest in the project and are working on setting it up where they are currently residing. Michelle Pearce, a South African living in Japan, has been coordinating with South Africans in the Kansai region to start a campaign. Kansai is in the southern-central region of Japan's main island of Honshū. Pearce said they have recently received word from the South African embassy in Japan that they support the campaign and are willing to help with the venture.
Daniel Rossouw, living in the United States, said he is also trying to round up South Africans living in Florida, in the south-eastern region of the US, to start the campaign there. “I think this is a great campaign; it encourages pride in our country. It also helps with promoting our country and this big event [Fifa 2010 World Cup]. It's great to do something for your country.” Source: MediaClubSouthAfrica]]> FIFA WM 2010 Pressespiegel Topnews Tue, 19 Jan 2010 12:18:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=786&cHash=0a9175dec73d914b259bd43eec005e2c The gun attack on Togo's team bus in Angola before the start of the African Nations Cup will have no impact on the World Cup in South Africa this year, chief World Cup organiser Danny Jordaan said on...
Two members of Togo's national soccer delegation died on Saturday following an ambush on Friday, a team member told French radio.

The attack, in which the driver was killed and seven injured, took place in Cabinda, a province where guerrillas have fought a secession campaign for decades.

Togolese officials named the dead men as media officer Stanislas Ocloo and assistant coach Amalete Abalo, and said reserve goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale had been evacuated to Johannesburg for medical treatment.

"It has no impact on our World Cup," Jordaan told Reuters from Luanda where he is to act as match commissioner for Sunday's Nations Cup opener between Angola and Mali.

"The world understands that sovereign countries are responsible for their own safety and security and to say what happened in Angola impacts on the World Cup in South Africa is the same as suggesting that when a bomb goes off in Spain, it threatens London's ability to host the next Olympics.

"It is nonsensical for South Africa to be tainted with what happens in Angola, which is not even one of our neighbouring countries."

Jordaan said the bus attack was a blow for Nations Cup hosts Angola.

"I feel very sorry for the Angolans because they have spent billions on fixing up their cities and building infrastructure for this tournament. This was going to be the event that would mark their transition from decades of war to a new social and economic order. In that context, it's a blow." By MARK GLEESON | CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - Jan 09 2010 18:24 Source: Mail & Guardian, http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-01-09-you-cannot-compare-angola-with-sa ]]> FIFA WM 2010 Pressespiegel Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:22:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=784&cHash=410f555fcdc8eec3c70b7bc414daf2f5 President Jacob Zuma says the attack on Togo's national soccer team in Angola will not affect the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says South Africa remains... Picture:SABC News]]> FIFA WM 2010 Pressespiegel Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:19:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=783&cHash=4a2ce69efc9a988c392a91b4cd172e44 Berlin, 11.01.2010. The gun attack on Togo’s team bus in the Cabinda enclave of Angola on Friday, before the start of the African Nations Cup has deeply shocked players, officials and fans around the... “South Africa is 100% ready to host the World Cup”, says Ambassador Sonwabo E. Funde of the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in Berlin. South African President Jacob Zuma who arrived in Luanda, Angola on Sunday, 10th of January 2010, emphasised that the shocking and unacceptable attack should not be blown out of proportion, but should serve as impetus for the African continent and the world at large to work even harder to rid the world of terrorist activity and violence wherever it surfaces. Ambassador Funde added that it is important to note that the incident in Cabinda is not a reflection of the situation in the rest of Angola. “We must realise that what happened in that part of Angola cannot be compared with the situation in South Africa. Since the end of the Apartheid regime 15 years ago, South Africa has developed into a steady democracy with a striving economy and there is neither political conflict nor separatists groups.”, says Ambassador Funde. South Africa has invested heavily in safety and security. Nothing will be left to chance in South Africa in terms of safety and security during the World Cup and long after the World Cup is over. A dedicated force of 41.000 newly recruited officers and over 200.000 officers in total will be deployed specifically for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The security concept used for the World Cup 2010 is a concept that will be used by the United Nations from now on for bigger events. It is based on four security zones around specific locations - such as the stadia.  Four high-tech command centers will receive live footage from airplanes and other cameras. The Government has also invested in state-of-the art equipment, including crowd-control equipment, unmanned aircraft, helicopters, water cannons, fast cars for highway patrol and mobile body armour. Many of the cities like Johannesburg or Durban have in place an extensive network of cctv cameras. Therefore the incident in Cabinda should not be used to cast doubt on the successful hosting of the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup by South Africa. Sarah Poehlmann
Media and Communication

South African Embassy Berlin
Tiergartenstrasse 18
10785 Berlin - Germany

Email: PoehlmannS@foreign.gov.za
www.suedafrika.org]]> Topnews FIFA WM 2010 Presse Pressespiegel Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:50:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=779&cHash=6c0a477918e63833cfaa03cb8b466bce Bafana Bafana's performance on the field may have been disappointing of late, but South Africans still believe in their abilities. The team’s giant yellow traveling Unite Mzanzi Unite jersey has... Thirty panels are already complete and organizers hope to assemble they jersey by April next year. It will be the size of a soccer pitch - just as big as the dreams of Bafana's fans. The truck is not the only place where people can sign the jersey. According to Deborah Miller, the senior Communications Manager and the head of the UMU campaign at Adidas South Africa there will also be digital signing options on the web site and via mobile as well as at selected retail outlets.]]> FIFA WM 2010 Pressespiegel Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:47:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=778&cHash=af744cfb98bb8d5d430754f05c825cf6 Durban's stadium will be one of the most dazzling in the 2010 World Cup but the port's ambition soars even higher, like the spectacular arch spanning the arena with a view across the Indian Ocean.... "It is not about what FIFA wants. FIFA will come and go. It's about what is important for the citizens of Durban." The city has already won a contest to host the 2011 congress of the International Olympic Committee, the first to be held in Africa and a golden opportunity to court top officials. Modernised facilities
To match its ambition, Durban is doing much more than building a stadium for the World Cup.  Sports facilities will be modernised and centralised in the expansive Kings Park precinct where both the new Moses Mabhida and existing rugby stadiums are situated. "In the next few years, Durban will become one of the few cities in Africa where most of the main Olympic sporting codes can be played in a centrally-located, international-standard destination," a city handout says. Plans include a retail mall and restaurants in the stadium, a walkway linking it to the adjacent beach, a "People's Park", training pitches, a walking and running track, and space for fans to enjoy barbecues and concerts before and after matches -- an idea taken from the neighbouring Absa stadium. But it is the new stadium itself that steals the eye. A gleaming white edifice topped by a
Teflon-coated roof resembling sails, with the arch rising overhead to dominate the city.  The 350m long arch is shaped like the Y on South Africa's flag, symbolising the unity of a long-divided nation. To access the view a "sky car" will run up the single northern span to the 106m summit, while intrepid visitors can climb 550 steep steps up one southern arm and down the other in an "adventure walk" like Sydney's harbour bridge. For the even more adventurous, a bungee swing will be suspended from one of the concrete supporting rungs across the top of the stadium, whose material is intended to prevent dirt marring the brilliant white. New Arena controversy
As with many of South Africa's new stadiums, Durban has not escaped controversy over the decision to build a new arena right next to an existing one, with critics suggesting the money would have been better used to improve the lot of the nation's army of poor and unemployed. This controversy also feeds into the traditional rivalry between football - predominantly a black sport - and rugby which appeals more to whites.  So far the Sharks, one of the nation's top rugby teams, have resisted overtures to eventually move to Moses Mabhida, but planners have made modifications in changing rooms and elsewhere to ensure it will be suitable for rugby, which brings in big revenue, to encourage them to change their minds. Like all the cities building new stadiums, officials are well rehearsed in the arguments for spending huge amounts on a new arena -- in the case of Durban,  R3 billion. Aggressive ambition
In accordance with its aggressive ambition, Durban wanted a stadium that could compete with the best in the world for everything from sports to pop concerts to religious meetings -- an essential part of the strategy to avoid it becoming a white elephant after 2010. Remodelling the 52-year-old Absa rugby venue, at a cost of R800 million, would never have achieved that, officials say.   "It became quite clear to us that we could throw as much money as we liked at the Absa stadium and we still would not have ended up with a world-class product to lead us into the future," Ellingson said. Most working class South Africans seem to agree, despite the eye-watering amounts that have been spent. "We have to give people what they normally have in London and elsewhere and let them play in a good stadium. So they will go home and tell other people to come," said Durban shuttle driver Joe Mboneni Ndlovu. Despite all the drive and ambition, winning the Olympics will not be easy. FIFA boss Sepp Blatter had a strong personal commitment to bringing the World Cup to Africa and the tournament already rotates around the continents.
The International Olympic Committee has no such policy so South Africa would need to overcome intense competition from around the globe, which is another reason so much is hanging on how it performs in 2010. Big problems with transport or accommodation, already highlighted by FIFA as concerns, or a major assault by South Africa's notoriously violent criminals, and Durban's ambition could come to nothing.  - Reuters]]> FIFA WM 2010 Tourismus Pressespiegel Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:44:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=776&cHash=c4319e1f2a75f716fc38f6a1244aeb2d President Jacob Zuma says 2010 is the year for South Africans to renew their commitment to national unity. "Together we must make 2010 the year in which we renew our commitment to national unity... "It [the tournament] must contribute to long-term economic growth and the creation of decent jobs." Citizens had a duty to welcome visitors and soccer teams to the country during the tournament. "We must all be active ambassadors of our country," he said. The success of Bafana Bafana in the tournament depended on the support they get from all South Africans. "Most importantly, we must make 2010 an exciting and most enjoyable year for all of us. Happy New Year and Happy 2010 Soccer World Cup to you all," Zuma said. - Sapa]]> FIFA WM 2010 Politik Topnews Pressespiegel Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:39:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=774&cHash=8b285c9105f4db880c82e1702b5b6879 Cape Town stadium, which has been chosen to host a 2010 World Cup semi-final, was on Monday declared complete. "This has been worth the wait. People of Cape Town this is our stadium, it is...
The 68,000 seater stadium boosts the views of the iconic Table Mountain and the historic Robin Island, where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated.

Its 32-months construction process was dogged by labour strikes and faced fierce opposition from enviromentalists who claimed that its existence would spoil the city landscape.

The stadium cost R4,5 billion and is one of ten venues to host the 2010 football spectacle.

Other stadiums already completed include Moses Mabhida in Durban and Soccer City in Johannesburg.

Sapa-AFP ]]> FIFA WM 2010 Pressespiegel Topnews Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:01:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=769&cHash=da36b958dd208e838376644230a0d178 An extensive audit has revealed that South Africa has enough accommodation for fans expected to visit the country during the 2010 Fifa World Cup™, Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk told the...
"The results of the audit show that South Africa has more than 202 000 rooms available across the country and I am very satisfied that this will be enough to provide for the approximately 450 000 visitors we are expecting for the World Cup.

"This audit has given us the first comprehensive overview of its kind of accommodation establishments in South Africa, and the resulting National Accommodation Database will be a powerful tourism tool long beyond the Word Cup," he said.

According to a statement by the Department of Tourism, the audit was undertaken in cooperation with stakeholders from all nine provinces, the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa, South African Tourism, the private sector and MATCH, the professional services company appointed by Fifa to manage the official accommodation solution for the World Cup.

"The wide-ranging nature of the process has ensured that we have a very good picture of the number of accommodation establishments in South Africa, the number of rooms and where these rooms are situated.

"The accommodation database is a product we can be very proud of and the strategy we have developed for its future use will be to the advantage of the entire tourism industry in South Africa," he said.
Audit results

Van Schalkwyk noted that the results of the audit showed the following:

• There are at least 18 882 accommodation establishments in South Africa, of which 7 492 are graded and 11 390 are ungraded.
• There are at least 202 712 rooms in the country, of which 107 119 are graded and 95 593 are ungraded.
• There are at least 7 520 accommodation establishments in host cities (within a 50 kilometre radius of stadiums).
• There are at least 100 853 rooms in host cities (within a 50 kilometre radius of stadiums).

He pointed out that the 202 000 total rooms available included the 55 000 rooms MATCH has to contract to provide for the Fifa family - including the Fifa delegation, commercial affiliates, media and hospitality - and the participating tour operators and members of the general public who buy accommodation through MATCH.

"I am very pleased that MATCH has already contracted more than 48 000 rooms and that it is nearing its target of 55 000. Our audit shows that in addition to the rooms contracted by MATCH, there are at least 152 000 additional rooms available in the country for the rest of the visitors coming to the World Cup.

"I am satisfied that the supply will be enough to meet the demand during the tournament."

SAinfo reporter]]> FIFA WM 2010 FIFA WM 2010 Infos für Fans Pressespiegel Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:57:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=773&cHash=774fa9163a3ff8f7a7d6ec3ab4a0cdcf In line with the media accreditation process for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, which opened in the FIFA Media Channel on 5 December 2009, the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South...
The Organising Committee will only accept media accreditation requests from media organisations whose headquarters are based in South Africa and South African nationals working in South Africa. This refers to print reporters, print photographers, internet websites, freelance writers and freelance photographers. South African nationals who are freelance writers or photographers based outside South Africa must submit their request directly to FWC2010media-accreditation@fifa.org.

Correspondents for foreign newspapers in South Africa must submit their request for accreditation to their respective national associations via the head editorial office in their home country.

Radio and television Non Rights Holders (including community broadcasters) must apply for accreditation directly to FIFA at FWC2010media-accreditation@fifa.org.

All South African Media should therefore note the following:

1. For the 2010 FIFA World Cup, FIFA has given South Africa a limited quota of accreditations to be distributed to our national media. Final allocation of media accreditation is at the discretion of the OC.
2. For print and online media only, your respective Editor can submit the list of names and designation of the reporters and photographers he/she is assigning. All requests must be submitted from a corporate Media House e-mail account. Please include a detailed description of your organization (if it is not inherently obvious).
3. Photo agencies must follow the same procedure as in point 2, above.
4. Freelance journalists and freelance photographers are strongly advised to seek assignment prior to applying for accreditation with the OC as affiliated media may have priority during the allocation process.
5. In order for media representatives to be able to access and then submit the online accreditation form, they will be required to have two important items; First, an approved individual FIFA Media Channel account and Second, a unique accreditation Control Number issued by the OC. Access to the online media accreditation form will only be possible with this said Control Number.
6. Application and/or submission of request for Media Accreditation does not mean it has been granted. That is at the sole discretion of the OC and all requests go into review process which may take several days.
7. In accordance to FIFA regulations, media accreditation is reserved exclusively for professional media practitioners (print reporters, print photographers, internet websites, freelance writers and freelance photographers).

The deadline for South African media to submit their request to the Organising Committee is Thursday, 31 December 2009.

Timeline
31 December 2009 - OC deadline for media submitting requests for media accreditation through their editors.

31 January 2009 - FIFA deadline for online submission of FIFA World Cup accreditation application via the FIFA Media Channel.

The FIFA credential application will only be available online via the FIFA Media Channel. All media who have requests from the OC approved will need an approved FIFA Media Channel account in order to complete the process. Regardless of the status of your request with the OC, we suggest opening an account at FIFA.com at your earliest opportunity as this will be vital for requesting both accreditation and, later, match tickets.

Rights Holding TV/Radio Broadcasters
There will be a separate accreditation process for Rights-Holding TV/Radio Broadcasters which will be managed by the FIFA Broadcaster Servicing Team on behalf of FIFA TV. For more information on this process, please contact FIFABroadcasterServicing@fifa.org ]]> FIFA WM 2010 Presse Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:28:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=765&cHash=b7f66d3f0f558a3b6c60b1397f821eb8 Thousands of fans partied into the night on the streets of Cape Town on Friday to celebrate the World Cup draw despite hosts South Africa being thrown into one of the tournament's tricky groups.South...
South Africa, given a seeded rating as hosts despite lacklustre recent performances, were drawn to face Mexico in the opening match on June 11 next year and must also play two former World Cup winners, Uruguay and France, in Group A.

Many South Africans resigned themselves to an early exit but that did not seem to dampen the atmosphere at Cape Town's main party venue, the city's trendy Long Street.

Photo: 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa
The Cape Town Fan Fest kicks off the party
Local and foreign fans, many with flags of their favourite teams painted on their faces, thronged the bars and restaurants.

"South Africans are positive. We believe," said Vuyani Kwinana, who carried a large national flag.

"Africa is going to conquer and take this World Cup. We will beat Mexico in the first match," Kwinana added.

Fans, some of whom had been partying since early afternoon, sat exhausted along the pavements as the blare of vuvuzelas pierced the night air.

Global spectacular
The draw for the 32-nation tournament was made at the end of a 90-minute global television spectacular, featuring African music and dancing, broadcast to more than 250 million people around the world.

The draw was conducted by Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke with South African actress Charlize Theron and the ceremony included a televised address to the world from former South African president Nelson Mandela.

Mandela, now a frail 91-year-old, sent a video message from his home in Johannesburg.

"We feel privileged and humbled that South Africa has been given the singular honour" of holding Africa's first World Cup, he said.

"We must strive for excellence... to ensure the event leaves a lasting legacy for all our people," added Mandela, who became South Africa's first post-apartheid president in 1994 after spending 27 years in jail.

The country's current president Jacob Zuma appeared on stage to make the bold prediction that the trophy would stay in Africa after the continent staged the tournament for the first time.

No African team has reached the semi-finals before though Africa's first World Cup features six African countries for the first time and there are more Africans than ever playing with the world's best club sides.

International soccer greats, including England's David Beckham and former players Eusebio of Portugal, Roger Milla of Cameroon, Germany's Franz Beckenbauer and France's Michel Platini, who is the UEFA president, were also present.

Final countdown
A huge television screen was set up to show the draw to the excited crowds on Long Street.

The ceremony ended the suspense over who the 32 qualifying teams would play and where. It began the final countdown to next year's World Cup, the first to be held in Africa.

"This is the first time I've been to South Africa and I'm finding it very cool," said Thomas Beltlwieser, a 31-year-old from Munich.

"We are already having a great time and meeting people from around the world. The locals are friendly and we feel safe but we have to be safety conscious."

Reuters ]]> FIFA WM 2010 Pressespiegel Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:46:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=763&cHash=14cbac57b2b386a6570e6be9727545ea Berlin, 4. Dezember 2009. In 188 Tagen beginnt die FIFA Fussball WM 2010 in Südafrika, am heutigen Abend trafen sich auf Einladung des Botschafters der Republik Südafrika S.E. Sonwabo Funde über 200...
Der Gastgeber, Botschafter Funde freute sich und sagte: „Wir Südafrikaner haben schon während des Confederation Cups unsere Begeisterung für den Fußball, aber auch unsere Fähigkeit, sich optimal auf ein sportliches Mega-Event vorzubreiten, bewiesen.“

Einig waren sich die Teilnehmer über die Bedeutung der WM für das Land am Kap auf vielen Gebieten, so sagte Willy Lemke, Sonderbeauftragter der Vereinten Nationen für Sport und Entwicklung in seiner Videobotschaft aus Südafrika: „Die FIFA Fussball WM bietet dem Land und auch dem gesamten Kontinent Chancen zur nachhaltigen Entwicklung. Insbesondere die „20 Centres for 2010“ im Rahmen des Programms „Football for Hope“ der FIFA und streetfootballworld eröffnen dabei neue Möglichkeiten.“

Die ebenfalls anwesende Vorsitzende des Sportausschusses des Deutschen Bundestages, Dagmar Freitag hob den Investitionsschub durch die erste Fußball-WM auf dem afrikanischen Kontinent hervor, sagte aber auch: „Der Sport im allgemeinen und der Fußball im besonderen spielen eine große Rolle wenn es um die soziale Kohäsion und gesellschaftliche Entwicklung geht. Das gilt für Südafrika wie für unsere Gesellschaft.“

Botschafter Funde ergänzte: „Die Investitionen der öffentlichen Hand in die Infrastruktur auf den Gebieten des Verkehrs- und Transportwesens, der Energiegewinnung und Telekommunikation, sowie im Sportstättenbau belaufen sich auf rund 5 fünf Milliarden Euro. Die Privatwirtschaft investiert weitere 2,5 Milliarden in Hotels und in die touristische Infrastruktur in Südafrika.“

Informationsreihe fortgesetzt
Sechs Veranstaltungen an denen über 700 Multiplikatoren und Medienvertreter teilgenommen haben, fanden bereits in der Berliner Botschaft statt. Bei der Auftaktveranstaltung am 27. Mai 2008 lagen die inhaltlichen Schwerpunkte auf der bilateralen Zusammenarbeit Südafrikas mit Deutschland sowie dem Thema Sicherheit. Ein wichtiges Element bildeten die Präsentationen der Projekte deutscher Partner, welche die WM als Katalysator für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung in Südafrika und in weiteren afrikanischen Staaten nutzen. Vertreten waren: das Auswärtige Amt, das Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung, die InWEnt (Internationale Weiterbildung und Entwicklung) gGmbH, die streetfootballworld gGmbH. Über die aktuellen und zusätzlichen Sicherheitsmaßnahmen anlässlich der 2010 FIFA Fußball-Weltmeisterschaft, informierte der stellvertretende Polizeichef Südafrikas, André Pruis.

Hochkarätige Experten
Die zweite Informationsveranstaltung beschäftigte sich mit den Themen Transport und Infrastruktur sowie dem aktuellen Stand der Vorbereitungen auf die FIFA WM 2010 im Allgemeinen. Mit Dr. Danny Jordaan, dem Haupt-Geschäftsführer des südafrikanischen Organisationskomitees, dem DFB-Schatzmeister Horst R. Schmidt in seiner Funktion als Berater für die FIFA WM 2010, konnten hochkarätige Redner für die Veranstaltung gewonnen werden. Das offizielle Maskottchen Zakumi hatte bei dieser Gelegenheit in der Botschaft seinen ersten Auftritt außerhalb Südafrikas.

Die dritte Veranstaltung befasste sich mit den Themen „Football for Hope“ bzw. „20 Centres for 2010“, worüber der Leiter der FIFA-Abteilung für Soziale Verantwortung, Federico Addiechi gemeinsam mit Jürgen Griesbeck, dem Geschäftsführenden Gesellschafter der streetfootballworld gGmbH berichtete.

An der vierten Informationsveranstaltung nahmen Willy Lemke, UN-Sonderbeauftragter für Sport sowie Erich Stather, Staatssekretär im Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ) und diskutierten mit weiteren Experten die Chancen und Herausforderungen Nachhaltiger Entwicklung im Kontext der FIFA WM 2010.

Friedensnobelpreisträger Desmond Tutu äußerte sich bei der fünften Veranstaltung zu den positiven Auswirkungen der WM auf die südafrikanische Gesellschaft und Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Maennig von der Universität Hamburg zu den erwarteten positiven mittel- und langfristigen Effekten für die Wirtschaft.

Im Rahmen des Fußball-Länderspiels zwischen Deutschland und Südafrika am 4. September 2009 in Leverkusen fand die sechste Veranstaltung in Düsseldorf statt. Auf Einladung des Nordrhein-Westfälischen Ministers für Generationen, Familie, Frauen und Integration, Armin Laschet und des Botschafters der Republik Südafrika, S.E. Sonwabo Funde kamen rund 200 Persönlichkeiten und Vertreter zahlreicher Organisationen zusammen, um sich über Programme und Projekte zu informieren, die das sportliche Großereignis im kommenden Jahr zum Anlass nehmen, die weitere Entwicklung der südafrikanischen Gesellschaft und Wirtschaft voran zu treiben.

Weitere Informationen unter www.suedafrika.org und bei

Sarah Pöhlmann
Südafrikanische Botschaft, Media & Marketing
Tel: +49 (0)30 22 07 31 27
Mail: PoehlmannS@foreign.gov.za ]]> Topnews Presse FIFA WM 2010 Botschaft Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:22:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=770&cHash=16970d63b949950c581b610c126a853d The South African Embassy in Berlin hosted a Round Table in cooperation with Streetfootballworld on 13th of November 2009. Ambassador Sonwabo Eddie Funde welcomed the representatives of 12 ministries... Topnews FIFA WM 2010 Botschaft Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:02:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=762&cHash=f61c9263a92408449a3af4bc2bfc4125 Johannesburg, 19 November 2009 – The first hosts and winners of the FIFA World Cup™, Uruguay, this morning became the last of the 32 countries to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ – completing one...
The 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa wasted no time in welcoming the countries to Africa’s first FIFA World Cup by hosting a symbolic flag-raising ceremony at its SAFA House headquarters in Johannesburg today, at which the flags of all 32 participating teams were raised in celebration and to mark a major moment in African sporting history.

The Ambassadors and embassy representatives of the 32 countries raised their flags outside SAFA House, metres from the Soccer City stadium at which the tournament’s opening match and final will be played on 11 June 2010 and 11 July 2010 next year.

“We congratulate all the teams that have now qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. For us this is a very emotional day. After all the years of hard work that have gone into preparing for this momentous event, it is now a tangible reality. The finalisation of the 32 participating countries is a major milestone and we would like to warmly welcome all of them to Africa’s first World Cup. Our country and our continent cannot wait to receive the players and their multitudes of fans who will descend on South Africa next year for what is sure to be an unforgettable event,” said Dr Danny Jordaan, the Chief Executive Officer of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa (OC).

Dr Jordaan was ecstatic at the calibre of teams that have qualified for South Africa 2010, which is set to showcase the world’s best footballers in state of the art, modern stadiums.

“All the major countries in world football have qualified for the tournament, as well as a number of countries that are very capable of causing major upsets. We’re particularly delighted that the giants of African football, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and Algeria, join hosts South Africa in what is a formidable line-up of African participants. Now it is no longer a case of asking whether the stadiums will be ready. They are and they will be beautiful cathedrals which will host the best footballers in the world. Now, it is about preparing to celebrate the coming together of six continents, 32 teams and billions of people around the world in a celebration of football in South Africa next year. Today marks the day where we begin that celebration,” Dr Jordaan added.

The final six places for the 2010 spectacular were decided last night in matches in Europe, Africa and South America.

The final line-up of the countries who have qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup is: Nigeria, Cameroon, New Zealand, Japan, Netherlands, Korea Republic, Korea DPR, Australia, USA, Brazil, Ghana, England, Paraguay, Spain, Denmark, Cote d’Ivoire, Chile, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Serbia, Switzerland, Argentina, Honduras, Slovakia, Algeria, Portugal, France, Slovenia, Greece, Uruguay and hosts South Africa.]]> FIFA WM 2010 Topnews Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:05:00 +0100 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=753&cHash=ecb43239e80f1b681bfe6295ae50837b FIFA is pleased to announce that the accreditation process for media representatives who intend to cover the Final Draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ in Cape Town started on 1 October... http://media.fifa.com). The deadline for accreditation applications is 30 October 2009.

The draw event will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) in Cape Town, South Africa on 4 December 2009. Media-related information for the draw, i.e. media accommodation, media facilities and activities throughout the draw week will be published on the FIFA Media Channel.

Thereafter, the applicant’s information will be subject to a review process by FIFA, the Organising Committee for the FIFA World Cup™ as well as the mandatory security screening conducted by the South African National Intelligence Agency. Successful applicants will be notified by e-mail.

Main media activities during the Final Draw week:

2 December 2009
11.00 Media conference following the meeting of the Organising Committee for the FIFA World Cup™ at the media centre in the Cape Town International Convention Centre
14.00 Mayoral welcome at the Green Point Stadium – the first official event at the new FIFA World Cup™ stadium

3 December 2009
10.00 FIFA Executive Committee meeting on Robben Island. Please note that due to limited capacity, a special registration will be required. Further details will be provided on the FIFA Media Channel in due course.

It was on Robben Island where, for many years, political prisoners had to fight for the right to play football, with men secretly playing the game in their cells with balls made of pieces of paper, cardboard and rags tied together with string. The island's authorities finally gave in, granting inmates the right to play football in 1965. The prisoners then built their own goals and would swap their drab prison garb and play in the colours of their teams on Saturdays. The Makana Football Association was founded on Robben Island in 1969. It was a football association which adhered strictly to the FIFA Statutes and principles and the Laws of the Game. On 18 July 2007 the Makana FA became the first FIFA honorary member association.

4 December 2009
9.00 Team seminar (open to TV crews/photographers for the first five minutes) at the CTICC
9.00-12.00 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup Bidding Country Media Expo (see details below)
19.00 Worldwide broadcast of the Final Draw, followed by a mixed zone and a Host City exhibition

5 December 2009
10.00-11.00 Opening of the first Football for Hope Centre in Khayelitsha
12.00-18.30 First World Press Day at the CTICC to provide media with first hand information on the preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and the host country
19.00 World Press Day Media Party

2018/2022 FIFA World Cup Bidding Country Media Expo
Within the context of the Final Draw, FIFA has organised a media event in which the 11 bidders for the 2018 and/or 2022 FIFA World Cup (Australia, Belgium-Netherlands, England, Indonesia, Japan, Korea Republic, Mexico, Qatar, Spain-Portugal, Russia and the USA) will be able to present their bids to the international media. This event will take place at Workshop 17 (Waterfront V&A) from 9.00-12.00 on 4 December 2009 and will include interview opportunities with representatives of the bidders. Media transport will be arranged from the media hotels and the CTICC to Workshop 17.

Please note that this event is independent from the Final Draw and that a separate media accreditation will be required to access the event. The accreditation procedure for this bidders media event will be conducted via the FIFA Media Channel, where a specific accreditation form will be available from 1 October to 30 October. More information will be published on the FIFA Media Channel in due course. For further information on the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, please visit the competition’s official webpage on FIFA.com: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup

FIFA Media Channel
Media representatives who have not already registered for the FIFA Media Channel can do so at https://media.fifa.com.

The FIFA Media Channel is the primary communication channel between FIFA, the local organising committee of each FIFA competition and the media. This password-protected online service is designed to provide media professionals with details on activities, including press conferences, team training sessions and other media resources, information on competition media facilities, including stadium media centres (SMCs), ticketing, FIFA and LOC media contacts, and any special media announcements.

Approval to access the FIFA Media Channel does not mean you have been granted accreditation. The media accreditation process for any FIFA competition requires the completion of an accreditation form via the FIFA Media Channel that is specific to the event]]> FIFA WM 2010 Presse Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:40:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=752&cHash=68f523f53a57d14ea81d56452dfe2874 Media are reminded about the following media accreditation workshop in your host city. Find below the various venue and times. Please RSVP immediately to assist seating and catering arrangements to:... media-accreditation@2010saloc.com

RE: MEDIA WORKSHOP VENUES

POLOKWANE:
Date: Tuesday 6 Oct 2009
Time: 11h30-13h30
Venue: Nirvana Hall, Corner Orient and Tagore Street,
Opposite Nirvana Library, Polokwane.

MANGAUNG:
Date: Thursday 8 Oct 2009
Time: 11h30-13h30
Venue: Indaba Auditorium Bram Fischer Building, Corner Markgraff & Nelson
Mandela Streets, Bloemfontein.

RUSTENBURG:
Date: Monday 12 Oct 2009
Time: 11h30-13h30
Venue: 7th Floor, Rustenburg Local Municipality (corner Beyers Naude & Nelson Mandela Drive), Rustenburg.

NELSON MANDELA BAY / PE:
Date: Tuesday 20 Oct 2009
Time: 11h30 – 13h30
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth.

DURBAN:
Date: Wednesday 21 Oct 2009
Time: 11h30-12h30
Venue: Durban (VENUE NOT FINALISED)

CAPE TOWN:
Date: Thursday 22 Oct 2009
Time: 11h30-13h30
Venue: The Crush Room, 5th Floor, Podium Block, Cape Town Civic Centre.

NELSPRUIT:
Date: Friday 23 Oct 2009
Time: 11h30-13h30
Venue: Nelspruit Civic Centre, Council Chambers, Nelspruit.
]]> FIFA WM 2010 Presse Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:36:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=749&cHash=4ebfd3b12cfcfe777300251d1711908d Johannesburg, 30 September 2009 - A 50-member delegation from the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa (OC) and FIFA has successfully completed an inspection of the five newly-built... five newly-built stadiums and the upgraded Soccer City stadium. After travelling 4,000 kilometers to six cities in six days to run the rule over the new stadiums. The operational experts concluded that preparations are on track for all stadiums to be completed by the end of the year.

“This has been a very fruitful inspection tour for us. Where before we had to visualise walls and seats, we now have been able to walk around freely in the stadium as it will be during the tournament,” said the OC’s head of delegation, Chief Competitions Officer Derek Blanckensee, who led the delegation with FIFA’s head of its South African office Ron DelMont.

In most instances the physical construction of the stadiums is virtually complete, with almost all seats installed and newly-laid pitches a welcome sight at Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth’s Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium, Nelspruit’s Mbombela Stadium, Polokwane’s Peter Mokaba Stadium and Johannesburg’s Soccer City stadium.

“Overall we are very impressed with the achievements made. In addition to the stadiums coming together we were equally pleased that the teams of the OC, Host Cities and FIFA are working on a common vision on the delivery of the event”, said Ron DelMont, who also stressed the importance of next year’s test events to be able to fine-tune operational plans.

The tour comprised operational experts in the following areas: competitions, broadcasting, media operations, medical, volunteers, transport, logistics, safety and security, protocol, marketing, information technology, hospitality, ticketing and risk management.

For the first time the tour also included a consultant from the South African Disabled Alliance to oversee the provisions that have been made for access for all spectators with disabilities. Of the 650,527 tickets sold to date for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, 7,863 wheelchair tickets have been purchased.

OC CEO, Dr. Danny Jordaan, paid tribute to the host cities. “They have all done us proud. They have ensured that their wonderful new stadiums are built to the highest standards and are ready in time. The question has always been raised as to whether we will be ready. This tour has provided ample evidence that indeed we will be. Now the work of the Organising Committee and FIFA begins in earnest as we take these stadiums and get them ready to host World Cup matches,” said Jordaan.

This entails putting in place the temporary overlay infrastructure which will be required to stage the tournament, such as the stadium media centres, hospitality areas, accreditation centres, signage and media tribunes. Inspections were also made of the venue specific team hotels and the venue specific training sites in each city. Picture: Greepoint Stadium, Cape Town, Sept. 2009. Credits: Cape Town 2010 World Cup Office]]> Topnews FIFA WM 2010 Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:03:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=747&cHash=de5530245eb7a533507086cbcb7e2bf9 Berlin, 6. September 2009. In 277 Tagen beginnt die FIFA Fussball WM 2010 in Südafrika, aber schon jetzt spielte das Mega-Event eine große Rolle bei einer Reihe von Veranstaltungen und Begegnungen im...
Bereits am Freitagabend kamen auf Einladung des Nordrhein-Westfälischen Ministers für Generationen, Familie, Frauen und Integration, Armin Laschet und des Botschafters der Republik Südafrika, S.E. Sonwabo Funde knapp 200 Persönlichkeiten und Vertreter zahlreicher Organisationen zusammen, um sich über Programme und Projekte zu informieren, die das sportliche Großereignis im kommenden Jahr zum Anlass nehmen, die weitere Entwicklung der südafrikanischen Gesellschaft und Wirtschaft voran zu treiben. Sowohl die bilaterale Zusammenarbeit als auch die Aktivitäten des nordrhein-westfälischen Mpumalanga Forums gewürdigt. Neben den beiden Gastgebern nahmen weitere Experten an einer Podiumsdiskussion teil and erörterten den Zusammenhang zwischen Sport und Entwicklung. Minister Laschet bemerkte „Ich wünsche Südafrika die positive Erfahrung, die Deutschland im Jahr 2006 machen konnte, dass unterschiedliche Kulturen im Gastgeberland geeint wurden.“

Einig waren sich die Teilnehmer über die Bedeutung der WM für das Land am Kap, so sagte der südafrikanische Botschafter Sonwabo Funde: „Die FIFA Fussball-WM eröffnet uns die Möglichkeit unsere Landsleute unabhängig von Ihrer Volkszugehörigkeit und Hautfarbe zusammen zu bringen.“

Der ebenfalls anwesende südafrikanische Tourismusminister Marthinus van Schalkwyk hob den Investitionsschub durch die erste Fußball-WM auf dem afrikanischen Kontinent hervor: „Die Investitionen der öffentlichen Hand in die Infrastruktur auf den Gebieten des Verkehrs- und Transportwesens, die Energiegewinnung und Telekommunikation, sowie im Sportstättenbau belaufen sich auf rund fünf Milliarden Euro. Die Privatwirtschaft investiert weitere 2,5 Milliarden in Hotels und in die touristische Infrastruktur in Südafrika.“

Der deutsche Botschafter in Pretoria Dieter Haller, der ebenfalls an der Diskussion teilnahm, ergänzte: „Südafrika ist ein sehr dynamisches Land, dass wir differenzierter als bisher kommunizieren und betrachten sollten, denn auch für Deutschland eröffnen sich dort große Chancen.“

Für das in Südafrika aktive Hilfswerk Misereor sagte der Geschäftsführer Martin Bröckelmann-Simon: „Sport und Entwicklung gehören zusammen, es sind zwei Seiten derselben Medaille.“

Über die Perspektive für den Fußball sprach Horst R. Schmidt, DFB Schatzmeister und FIFA-Berater: „Südafrika muss vorbereitet sein, damit die Entwicklung des Fußballs auch nach dem Abpfiff des Turniers am 11. Juli 2010 weiter gehen kann.“

Informationsreihe fortgesetzt
Fünf Veranstaltungen an denen bereits über 500 Multiplikatoren und Medienvertreter teilgenommen haben, fanden bereits in der Berliner Botschaft statt. Bei der Auftaktveranstaltung am 27. Mai 2008 lagen die inhaltlichen Schwerpunkte auf der bilateralen Zusammenarbeit Südafrikas mit Deutschland sowie dem Thema Sicherheit. Ein wichtiges Element bildeten die Präsentationen der Projekte deutscher Partner, welche die WM als Katalysator für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung in Südafrika und in weiteren afrikanischen Staaten nutzen. Vertreten waren: das Auswärtige Amt, das Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung, die InWEnt (Internationale Weiterbildung und Entwicklung) gGmbH, die streetfootballworld gGmbH. Über die aktuellen und zusätzlichen Sicherheitsmaßnahmen anlässlich der 2010 FIFA Fußball-Weltmeisterschaft, informierte der stellvertretende Polizeichef Südafrikas, André Pruis.

Hochkarätige Experten
Die zweite Informationsveranstaltung beschäftigte sich mit den Themen Transport und Infrastruktur sowie dem aktuellen Stand der Vorbereitungen auf die FIFA WM 2010 im Allgemeinen. Mit Dr. Danny Jordaan, dem Haupt-Geschäftsführer des südafrikanischen Organisationskomitees, dem DFB-Schatzmeister Horst R. Schmidt in seiner Funktion als Berater für die FIFA WM 2010, konnten hochkarätige Redner für die Veranstaltung gewonnen werden. Das offizielle Maskottchen Zakumi hatte bei dieser Gelegenheit in der Botschaft seinen ersten Auftritt außerhalb Südafrikas.

Die dritte Veranstaltung befasste sich mit den Themen „Football for Hope“ bzw. „20 Centres for 2010“, worüber der Leiter der FIFA-Abteilung für Soziale Verantwortung, Federico Addiechi gemeinsam mit Jürgen Griesbeck, dem Geschäftsführenden Gesellschafter der streetfootballworld gGmbH berichtete.

An der vierten Informationsveranstaltung nahmen Willy Lemke, UN-Sonderbeauftragter für Sport sowie Erich Stather, Staatssekretär im Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ) und diskutierten mit weiteren Experten die Chancen und Herausforderungen Nachhaltiger Entwicklung im Kontext der FIFA WM 2010.

Friedensnobelpreisträger Desmond Tutu äußerte sich bei der fünften Veranstaltung vor wenigen Wochen zu den positiven Auswirkungen der WM auf die südafrikanische Gesellschaft und Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Maennig von der Universität Hamburg zu den erwarteten positiven mittel- und langfristigen Effekten für Wirtschaft.

Bildunterschrift: DFB-Präsident Theo Zwanziger mit dem Botschafter der Republik Südafrika Sonwabo Funde (Foto: Südafrikanische Botschaft, steht zum honorarfreien Abdruck zur Verfügung.)]]> Topnews Presse FIFA WM 2010 Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:19:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=746&cHash=d6c9266ef4128e829fdd490b026a5604 Berlin, 2. September 2009. Drei Tage vor dem Freundschaftsspiel Deutschland – Republik Südafrika und 281 Tage vor dem Anstoß zur Fußball WM beginnt der Countdown für die heiße Phase. Nach der... 281 Tage vor dem Anstoß zur Fußball WM beginnt der Countdown für die heiße Phase. Nach der erfolgreichen Umsetzung des FIFA Confederations Cups im Juni 2009 in Südafrika bereitet man sich auf die nächste Herausforderung anlässlich der FIFA Fussball-Weltmeisterschaft 2010 im eigenen Land vor. Das Freundschaftsspiel der Bafana Bafana Mannschaft gegen die deutsche Fußballnationalmannschaft am 5. September 2009 in der neuen BayArena in Leverkusen nimmt die südafrikanische Botschaft deshalb zum Anlass, vor ihrem Gebäude eine Countdown-Uhr zu enthüllen.

Der Botschafter der Republik Südafrika, S.E. Sonwabo Funde, sagte anlässlich der Enthüllung: „Spätestens mit der Countdown-Uhr soll nun auch der Öffentlichkeit, die unsere Botschaft besucht oder auch nur daran vorbei fährt bewusst werden, dass die FIFA Fussball WM in Südafrika in naher Zukunft beginnen wird. Es ist uns wichtig der Welt zu zeigen, wie wir der ersten Fußball-Weltmeisterschaft auf dem afrikanischen Kontinent entgegen fiebern.“

Kontinuierliche Kommunikation der Botschaft für die FIFA Fussball WM 2010
Die Countdown-Uhr, die ab heute die Tage bis zum Anstoß am 11. Juni 2010 in Johannesburg rückwärts zählt, greift bezüglich ihrer Form und Materialien Teile des Botschaftsgebäudes auf und integriert sich so in das Gesamtensemble. Sie ist Teil einer Kommunikationskampagne, die die Botschaft anlässlich der FIFA Fussball WM 2010 in Deutschland seit Mai 2008 umsetzt. Fünf Veranstaltungen an denen bereits über 600 Multiplikatoren und Medienvertreter teilgenommen haben, fanden bereits in der Berliner Botschaft statt. Vertreten waren unter anderem bereits: das Auswärtige Amt, das Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung, die InWEnt (Internationale Weiterbildung und Entwicklung) gGmbH, die streetfootballworld gGmbH. An den Veranstaltungen nahmen prominente Redner teil, unter anderem der Chef des Organisationskomitees des FIFA World Cups 2010 Danny Jordaan, der Friedensnobelpreisträger Desmond Tutu, der stellvertretende Polizeichef Südafrikas, André Pruis, Horst R. Schmidt vom DFB, Hans Klaus von der FIFA sowie zahlreiche weitere Experten.

Bildunterschrift: Botschafter S. Funde enthüllt die Countdown-Uhr anlässlich der FIFA Fussball-Weltmeisterschaft 2010 (Foto: Uwe Steinert). Das Bild steht zum honorarfreien Abdruck zur Verfügung. ]]> Botschaft FIFA WM 2010 Presse Topnews Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:59:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=739&cHash=0ae8bb9c0b43ca553c744b29f34600f6 The government is to take the lead in driving a unified marketing and communication plan to boost local and international enthusiasm ahead of the 2010 Fifa World Cup, says Government Communication...
Speaking at the 2010 National Communication Partnership conference in Johannesburg on Monday, Maseko said communication was key to delivering a successful World Cup.

The government had set up a number of structures "to enhance our marketing and communication plan and to ensure that the government speaks with one voice," Maseko said.

He said the government had set up an inter-ministerial committee, chaired by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, to coordinate South Africa's responses to the challenges, including communication challenges, that the country faced in hosting the world's biggest single-code sporting event

Maseko said the provincial governments and host cities would soon finalise their communication plans, to be integrated into a national 2010 marketing and communication plan.

Monday's conference, hosted by GCIS and the International Marketing Council of South Africa, was attended by professional communicators from the public and private sectors.

By Proffesor Ndawonde Source: BuaNews / South Africa 2010
http://www.southafrica.info/2010/ncp-gcis.htm ]]> FIFA WM 2010 Pressespiegel Wed, 19 Aug 2009 09:57:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=738&cHash=b202d488f8ce4c4618089492c6fd676b While most television advertisements only last for 30 seconds, the 2010 Fifa World Cup offers South Africa the opportunity to stage a 30-day advertisement to the world, says 2010 Local Organising...
Speaking at the 2010 National Communication Partnership conference in Johannesburg on Monday, Khoza said the World Cup was a once-in-a-lifetime marketing opportunity for South Africa.

"Think of the tournament as a 30-day commercial for South Africa – a 30-day television commercial to be watched by a cumulative audience of billions around the globe – this is the scale of our opportunity for South Africans to present this country effectively and proactively," Khoza said.

The LOC chairman said it was up to South Africans to decide what the message of the "30-day commercial" would be.

The 2010 Fifa World Cup will be played in nine South African cities over a period of 30 days, with 32 teams playing 64 matches in the battle to be crowned football champions of the world.

Assessed in terms of the number of worldwide viewers, the World Cup is the world's biggest sporting event. It is expected to draw in a cumulative worldwide television audience of more than 26-billion spectators in 2010 – for Germany 2006, the total cumulative television audience was 26.3-billion.

Using Monday's occasion to give a 2010 stadium construction update, Khoza said the six stadiums that have not yet been completed are 80 percent complete and would be complete by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, the latest research indicates a major shift in confidence among South Africans regarding the country's ability to pull off a successful World Cup.

During the first quarter of 2009, a Fifa-commissioned survey revealed that 88 percent of South Africans felt a sense of pride at being the first African country to host the World Cup, while 77 percent predicted the tournament would be a success.

And in May this year, a separate survey by African Response found that 89 percent of South Africans believed the World Cup would benefit the country. By Simangaliso ZwaneSource: BuaNews / South Africa 2010 http://www.southafrica.info/2010/ncp-advert.htm]]> FIFA WM 2010 Pressespiegel Wed, 19 Aug 2009 09:56:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=720&cHash=2c3ee912dacd935fe2f9a4ce5c87a2cf As the world’s best football nations fight through gruelling qualifying campaigns to make it to the 2010 Fifa World Cup, one of the world’s favourite cities is ready to welcome them.On 30 July Mayor...
On 30 July Mayor of Cape Town Dan Plato and Danny Jordaan, head of the 2010 Fifa World Cup Organising Committee, signed the service level agreement for Cape Town to host the tournament’s final draw at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on 4 December this year.

The draw is expected to be broadcast in almost 200 countries and attended by some 2 000 guests and 800 media representatives. It will determine the match order for the world’s top 32 teams who will contest Africa’s first Fifa World Cup from 11 June to 11 July 2010.

The agreement sets out the roles and responsibilities for the two parties in staging the event and providing all the necessary support services.

“We can’t wait for the fourth of December and we can’t wait for 2010 to welcome all the visitors and spectators to our city,” Plato said. “Cape Town is ready and prepared to deliver a memorable final draw and to provide unique visitor experiences for visitors and the soccer fraternity alike.

“The timing coincides with Cape Town’s festive season and all stakeholders are working together on integrated planning and preparations for the event.”

According to a 2008 travel survey taken by more than 25 000 readers of UK papers The Daily and Sunday Telegraph, Cape Town gets the nod for best city in the world, beating the likes of Sydney and San Francisco.

The city has also made it onto National Geographic's Places of a Lifetime list, which features 50 of the world’s top destinations. Also in 2008, it was voted into third place in the World Edition of the Monopoly board game, coming in ahead of international icons such as Paris, London and New York.

Jordaan said the final draw in South Africa’s scenic Mother City would be a week-long event featuring a number of activities staged by Fifa, the Organising Committee, the City of Cape Town, the Western Cape Provincial Government and all South Africa’s host cities.

“There are two projects left in the delivery of the 2010 Fifa World Cup: the final draw this December and then the tournament itself starting next June,” Jordaan said.

“The final draw in Cape Town is a critical date and an important milestone for us. And we could not find a better city in which to host it. Cape Town’s a wonderful location and its Green Point Stadium is a landmark, one of the best in the world.”

Plato said the World Cup had already created a number of job opportunities in the city, particularly in infrastructure.

“The impetus of expenditure and investment in infrastructure for 2010 could not have come at a better time to counteract the effects of the economic slump,” he said. “While not every individual or suburb of Cape Town will benefit directly from the World Cup, improved facilities, services and infrastructure will benefit all indirectly.”

Do you have queries or comments about this article? Email Mary Alexander at marya@mediaclubsouthafrica.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Source: http://www.mediaclubsouthafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1266:cape-town-gears-up-for-2010-draw&catid=46:2010news&Itemid=118 ]]> Topnews FIFA WM 2010 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:50:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=705&cHash=144e02d3aa6d66297327e8be0742b110 Berlin, 17. Juli 2009. In der Botschaft der Republik Südafrika in Berlin kamen heute, am Tag vor dem 91. Geburtstag von Nelson Mandela, Vertreter zahlreicher Organisationen zusammen, um sich...
Desmond Tutu sagte: „Die FIFA Fussball WM ist wirklich unsere WM, sie wird uns sehr dabei helfen, unser Land weiter zusammen zu führen. Wir werden beweisen, dass eine multi-kulturelle Gesellschaft möglich ist. Wir sind ein Zeichen der Hoffnung für die ganze Welt.“

Seit der Vergabe des 2010 FIFA World Cup am 15. Mai 2004, bereitet sich Südafrika konzentriert auf vielfältige Art und Weise auf seine Gastgeberrolle vor. Die Generalprobe, der FIFA Confederations Cup, wurde vor wenigen Wochen erfolgreich bestanden. Frau Mbuyane-Mokone sagte: „Die Organisation dieses globalen Sportevents stellt eine große Herausforderung für viele Bereiche unserer Wirtschaft, Gesellschaft und Politik dar,“ und ergänzte:“ während des Confed Cups haben wir gesehen, dass die südafrikanischen Fans ihren Teil dazu beitragen, dass diese WM, die wir stellvertretend für den gesamten afrikanischen Kontinent ausrichten, ein Erfolg wird.“

Auch Hans Klaus sprach über den FIFA Confederations Cup 2009: „Während des Turniers konnten wir sehen, dass wir auf einem guten Weg sind, um unsere gemeinsamen Ziele zu erreichen. Zurzeit arbeiten wir an einigen Herausforderung, wie z.B. im Transportwesen. Eine perfekte Organisation des Turniers im kommenden Jahr ist wichtig, aber mindestens genau so wichtig für ein tolles Erlebnis wird eine gute und authentische Atmosphäre sein.“

Zu den ökonomischen Auswirkungen eines solchen Mega-Sportevents äußerte sich Prof.Dr. Wolfgang Maennig: „Kurzfristige Gewinne sind nicht zu erwarten und werden auch nicht angestrebt. Südafrika wird aber langfristig positive wirtschaftliche Auswirkungen der FIFA WM spüren, die aus der verbesserten Infrastruktur und der sehr hohen weltweiten Aufmerksamkeit resultieren werden.“

Informationsreihe fortgesetzt
Vier Veranstaltungen an denen bereits über 400 Multiplikatoren und Medienvertreter teilgenommen haben, fanden bereits in der Berliner Botschaft statt. Bei der Auftaktveranstaltung am 27. Mai 2008 lagen die inhaltlichen Schwerpunkte auf der bilateralen Zusammenarbeit Südafrikas mit Deutschland sowie dem Thema Sicherheit. Ein wichtiges Element bildeten die Präsentationen der Projekte deutscher Partner, welche die WM als Katalysator für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung in Südafrika und in weiteren afrikanischen Staaten nutzen. Vertreten waren: das Auswärtige Amt, das Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung, die InWEnt (Internationale Weiterbildung und Entwicklung) gGmbH, die streetfootballworld gGmbH. Über die aktuellen und zusätzlichen Sicherheitsmaßnahmen anlässlich der 2010 FIFA Fußball-Weltmeisterschaft, informierte der stellvertretende Polizeichef Südafrikas, André Pruis.

Hochkarätige Experten
Die zweite Informationsveranstaltung beschäftigte sich mit den Themen Transport und Infrastruktur sowie dem aktuellen Stand der Vorbereitungen auf die FIFA WM 2010 im Allgemeinen. Mit Dr. Danny Jordaan, dem Haupt-Geschäftsführer des südafrikanischen Organisationskomitees, dem DFB-Schatzmeister Horst R. Schmidt in seiner Funktion als Berater für die FIFA WM 2010, konnten hochkarätige Redner für die Veranstaltung gewonnen werden. Das offizielle Maskottchen Zakumi hatte bei dieser Gelegenheit in der Botschaft seinen ersten Auftritt außerhalb Südafrikas.

Die dritte Veranstaltung befasste sich mit den Themen „Football for Hope“ bzw. „20 Centres for 2010“, worüber der Leiter der FIFA-Abteilung für Soziale Verantwortung, Federico Addiechi gemeinsam mit Jürgen Griesbeck, dem Geschäftsführenden Gesellschafter der streetfootballworld gGmbH berichtete.

An der vierten Informationsveranstaltung nahmen Willy Lemke, UN-Sonderbeauftragter für Sport sowie Erich Stather, Staatssekretär im Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ) und diskutierten mit weiteren Experten die Chancen und Herausforderungen Nachhaltiger Entwicklung im Kontext der FIFA WM 2010.

18. Juli – „Mandela Day“
Um die selbstlose Hingabe für das Land und seine Bewohner angemessen zu feiern wird anläßlich des  morgigen 91. Geburtstages von Tata Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela aufgerufen, dass Bürger in Südafrika und überall auf der Welt 67 Minuten ihrer Zeit für ehrenamtliche Tätigkeiten in ihren Gemeinschaften und Gemeinden „spenden“. Die Zahl 67 spiegelt die 67 Jahre wider, die Nelson Mandela ununterbrochen für die Allgemeinheit tätig war.

Besuchen Sie uns unter www.suedafrika.org

Für weitere Informationen wenden Sie sich bitte an:

Volker Schlichting
Adjouri & Stastny Communication Management GmbH
Tel: +49 (0)30 28 39 88 58
Mail: schlichting@adjouri-stastny.com

]]> Topnews FIFA WM 2010 Botschaft Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:44:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=697&cHash=147307cf95a9e139a9e0048c13859e70 “The construction workers have been the lifeblood of the 2010 FIFA World Cup project. Their hard work has ensured that we are on track to meet our deadlines and that our stadiums will be among the...
It has always been the position of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa (OC) that we respect the right of construction workers on the 2010 FIFA World Cup stadiums to strike if they feel they have legitimate grievances. This is a right enshrined in our country’s Constitution.  We believe that the strike will be resolved as soon as possible and remain confident that the stadiums will be completed on schedule”.

*Issued by the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa (OC) Communications Division

]]> FIFA WM 2010 Pressespiegel Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:56:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=692&cHash=e97bb5df3e709152afffa300ce9b22af Attended by well over half a million football fans, a total of 44 goals scored, the most goals scored by a team 14 – by tournament winners Brazil, of course – and the youngest goal scorer only 19...
Total attendance: 584 894

Average attendance: 36 556

Matches played: 16

Number of goals: 44

Goal average: 2.75

Most goals scored: 14 Brazil

Fewest goals scored:

• 0 Iraq
• 0 New Zealand

Most goals conceded: 9 US

Fewest goals conceded: 1 Iraq

Number of penalties: 3 (2 converted, 1 missed)

Number of own goals: 1 Andrea Dossena (Italy), 21 June 2009 (Brazil - Italy)

Goals scored by substitutes: 8 (out of 44, 18.18%)

Goals first half vs second half: 20 : 24

• goals in additional time second half: 0
• goals in additional time second half: 2

Goals in first 10 minutes: 5 (11.36%)

Goals in last 10 minutes: 8 (18.18%)

Top goal scorer: 5 Luis Fabiano (Brazil)

Youngest goal scorer: 19 years 7 months Jozy Altidore (US), 24 June 2009 (Spain - US)

Fastest goal: 5 seconds Kaka (Brazil), 15 June 2009 (Brazil - Egypt)

Highest number of assists:

• 3 Mohamed Aboutrika (Egypt)
• 3 Joan Capdevila (Spain)
• 3 Elano (Brazil)
• 3 Maicon (Brazil)

Highest wins: 0 - 5, 14 June 2009 (New Zealand - Spain)

Highest-scoring matches: 4 - 3, 15 June 2009 (Brazil - Egypt)

Highest number of wins: 5 Brazil

Highest number of defeats:

• 3 South Africa
• 3 US

Number of yellow cards: 50 (average per game 3.13)

Number of red cards: 4 (average per game 0.25)

Most yellow cards:

• 10 South Africa
• 10 Spain

Least yellow cards: 2 Iraq Picture: The closing ceremony of the 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg on 28 June 2009. (Image: GCIS)]]> FIFA WM 2010 Pressespiegel Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:05:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=691&cHash=7d08743d90b4deff06be60fd1ba79cc1 South Africans rallied behind football in a rare show of unity at the Confederations Cup, a year ahead of the 2010 World Cup, in a country trying to shake off decades of race segregation. The 14-day...
While some cautioned that the stadium goodwill has to seep into normal life, Frans Cronje of the South African Institute of Race Relations told AFP that the event had brought people together.

"I think the unifying effect has been underrated," he told AFP.

"The pictures in the stadiums, the TV footage, of black and white South Africans ... suddenly together was perhaps the image of what a future South Africa might become. It's a visual representation."

The power of sport on the country's bitter race divisions was seen in 1995 when former president Nelson Mandela lifted the rugby World Cup for South Africa, wearing a Springbok jersey, for decades a white preserve.

Apartheid's legacy of separation left South Africans with little in common apart from a record crime rate and passion for sport, said Cronje.

"You certainly started to see some of that 1995 Rugby World Cup sentiment coming through again," he said.

But independent analyst Somadoda Fikeni warned that the unifying role has been overplayed and still had to be seen outside stadiums.

"In 1995, post-Springbok victory, South Africans united behind the sports but that didn't translate into unity in terms of the national agenda and other broader issues," he said.

"The dominant feature of sports is still very much racialised but these little achievements will push us inch by inch in some direction."

Organisers have hailed the tournament for bringing the "Rainbow Nation" together around sport which - like housing, buses, and schools - was strictly segregated under white minority rule.

A rallying point was local team Bafana Bafana's (The Boys) fourth placing, with unexpectedly strong showings against Spain and Brazil, despite one win in five outings after years of mixed fortunes.

"It was natural that South Africans would support the national team because people like to support winners. We have to keep producing results to maintain the level of support," former Bafana captain Neil Tovey, who led The Boys to Africa Cup of Nations glory in 1996.

Praise for Bafana found its way onto rugby forums, amid match scenes of dancing supporters wearing traditional soccer garb of oversized sunglasses and miners helmets and first-time blowers of the noisy plastic vuvuzela trumpets.

Kick Off magazine's Ryan Cooper said seeing white men dressed in Bafana shirts and carrying vuvuzelas into a stadium was a "reality check" - with the country's 4.5 million whites a rare sight at local matches.

"Most of the people who went to the stadiums went there for the big names but I think the Confeds did convert a certain percentage of white people to be interested in the game locally," he said.

"Most people although they followed Bafana they didn't know who the players were because they don't follow local soccer but I think from now they would follow the game."

The fact that sports attract the different races of South Africa's 48.7-million population does not necessarily mean racism, said Cronje, as South Africa prepares to host the Africa's first World Cup in 2010.

"It's a completely alien area to them. It's a question of the unknown and being afraid of that. Perhaps what we might start to see is a slow breaking the ice on the soccer side after this tournament.

Sapa-AFP Picture: SA Good News; Rainbow nation: a colourful crowd cheer Bafana Bafana during the Confederations Cup
]]> FIFA WM 2010 Topnews Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:02:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=690&cHash=dc837bcb35b22de791c5e2cf4af620d8 SA Good News. South Africa is on track for the continent's first football World Cup after a successful Confederations Cup showed the 2010 host's readiness, the country's newspapers said Monday....
"Take a bow, SA. Detractors of Mzansi (South Africa) said we'll mess it up. How wrong. Besides SA's hospitality, we hosted a Confed Cup second to none," said the front page of popular daily The Sowetan.

In an editorial, the tabloid declared South Africa ready for 2010 while the sports pages lauded Brazil's second-half 3-2 come-back over the United States in front of 52,291 fans on Sunday simply as "Braziliant".

"The tournament had it all, great individual players, shock results, new heroes who could possibly go on to become global icons," said the paper's editorial.

"Our appetite has been whetted. We cannot wait for the full menu that is the FIFA World Cup." The Star front page said local team Bafana Bafana - The Boys - walked away with a hard-fought fourth place with heads held high, but South Africa as a host nation deserved gold.

"Yes, there were and are some teething problems," said the paper. "But when you stand back and look at it in its entirety, and spare the whole project a moment's thought, this country's achievements are nothing short of stunning."

The Times newspaper front page said in Zulu: "Siyabonga (We thank you) - see you next year."

"The success of the Confeds Cup - which is regarded as a dress rehearsal for the main tournament - proved beyond any doubt that South Africa is on track to deliver a memorable event next year," said the newspaper.

"However, plenty of work remains to be done," it added, pointing to transport hitches, 2010 bed shortages, and the highly publicised thefts from the Egyptian and Brazilian team hotels and the mugging of touring British Lion fans.

Business Day, in an article headlined "SA passes Confed test: now for 2010", said the country's hosting 2010 capability was no longer in doubt but that challenges have to be addressed before next June's kick-off.

"But even the most cynical among the foreign visitors have slowly come to accept that SA will host a world-class Soccer World Cup next year after successfully staging the Confederations Cup."

Source: Sapa-AFP; SAGoodNews]]> Topnews FIFA WM 2010 Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:55:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=688&cHash=5ad73cd2a416aa230d380b7566de3d6f The world has now seen South Africa is ready to stage the 2010 World Cup finals which kick-off on June 11 next year, world soccer body Fifa said on Monday.On a scale of one to 10 South Africa's...
On a scale of one to 10 South Africa's readiness for the 2010 showpiece, following the current successful staging of the Confederations Cup, rates an eight on Fifa secretary-general Jerome Valcke's scale.

Speaking at a media briefing in Johannesburg, Valcke said while problems had arisen during the Confederations Cup, which was at the halfway stage, he was pleased with the event's overall organisation - a dry run for the 2010 finals.

"The best ambassadors for South Africa and 2010 are the teams, players and officials who participated in the Confederations Cup.

"The organisation from the LOC [local organising committee] has been really top class. What is more pleasing is the players are returning to their countries with a good opinion of South Africa, the people, fans, stadiums, hotels and training facilities.

"That is the best advert we could hope for."

Valcke said the LOC had encountered a last minute strike by volunteers at Ellis Park last week, which was swiftly sorted out.

"Security at matches has gone well and here we have to thank the commitment of the South African government and South African Police Services, who have really come to the party and gone out of their way to assist Fifa and the local organising committee."

The Egyptian players' hotel rooms were broken into and money stolen while they were playing world champions Italy at Ellis Park last Thursday.

However, it was pointed out to foreign media and Fifa that in 2000 in Houston, Texas, Bafana Bafana players' rooms were broken into at an upmarket hotel where they were staying. They were robbed of money and valuables. The incident happened during Bafana's match against Mexico in the annual Gold Cup.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter said no country was crime free or perfect.

"Players being robbed is sad, but as you point out, it can happen anywhere in the world - even the United States.

"We take as many precautions as possible, but I am satisfied fans, teams and the public will be safe during the 2010 World Cup finals."

Valcke said South Africa's six newly-built stadiums for the soccer showpiece had yet to be tested.

"We need test events for those venues (Soccer City, Nelspruit, Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Polokwane) before the finals."

Valcke admitted transport and lack of accommodation in Bloemfontein, where fans and media struggled to get rooms for Confederations Cup matches, was a concern.

"We are short of 15,000 beds for the Word Cup and we are working on it. Bloemfontein was a problem, even for getting Fifa members rooms during matches."

A suggestion on transport was that Fifa revert to the 1990 World Cup system in Italy, where teams were based at one venue for the first three round matches. This would alleviate the need for public transport.

Valcke also stressed it was important for the new stadiums to continue to be used after 2010.

"The last thing we want is for these brand new stadiums to become white elephants after 2010.

"It is a real concern for us and we aim to make sure these multi-purpose venues are utilised after 2010. We will discuss the issue with the PSL and SA Football Association."

Blatter said South Africa would benefit economically from the World Cup on home soil.

"The legacy is the World Cup has created jobs and stopped an economic downfall in South Africa.

"It has created a lot of opportunities for many thousands of South Africans. What the world will see in 2010 is a truly successful African World Cup with excitement and tons of energy."

Sapa Source: http://www.sagoodnews.co.za/countdown_to_2010/sa_ready_for_world_cup_fifa.html Picture: http://www.mediaclubsouthafrica.com ]]> FIFA WM 2010 Topnews Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:40:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=687&cHash=a818f358aa03a9fdc0b01dc815caa733 Built to look like a vast cooking pot simmering above a ring of fire, South Africa's Soccer City Stadium promises to be an unforgettable venue for next year's World Cup and one of the world's most...
Costing R3 billion ($373 million) the 94,000-capacity stadium is distinctive, resembling a huge calabash - a hollowed-out gourd used as a cooking pot or water carrier throughout Africa.

The calabash has inspired the colouring of the orange and brown membrane that surrounds the stadium while a ring of lights will illuminate the bottom of the building, simulating fire underneath the pot.

When it is completed later this year it will be the biggest soccer stadium in Africa.

The stadium, which will host the World Cup final on July 11, 2010, embraces modern technology and will have more than 150 executive boxes commanding superb views of the pitch, comfort for fans and excellent working conditions for the media.

A 300-seat restaurant is being completed inside the stadium, with parking for 15,000 cars around the perimeter.

Six days a week, between 3,000 and 3,500 construction workers are busy at the site, 10 kms from Johannesburg and on the outskirts of Soweto.

Construction was on schedule, even though cost over-runs had resulted from unfavourable exchange rates and the price of the steelwork which was manufactured in Italy and Germany, Rod Pearce, the project manager, told Reuters.

Dazzling monument
"When it is finished it will be the pride not only of South Africa but of the whole continent," he said.

"It will be a dazzling monument to what this country can achieve. I think it proves that we as South Africans, and Africans, can compete with the world's best in terms of what can be done here.

"There is no reason for us to think we cannot match what every other country in the world can do. This is clearly one of the world's most outstanding stadiums and will be a lasting legacy for generations of South Africa's World Cup."

Among the neat touches in the design are windows and seating aligned to point towards the other South African World Cup venues and towards Berlin, the venue for the 2006 World Cup final.

The players' tunnel that leads from the dressing rooms to the pitch has been built to resemble the inside of a gold mine, in tribute to the industry that led to Johannesburg's growth into the powerhouse city of the African economy.

There are plans to incorporate the result of every match in the World Cup into the tiling of the membrane as games are played - another lasting testimony to the first finals to be staged on African soil.

The stadium, a little similar in shape to Munich's Allianz Arena, was built on the site of the hugely popular FNB Stadium, an old icon in Soweto, part of which is now incorporated into the new construction.

Mandela rally
The old stadium hosted all South Africa's major soccer matches and was the venue of the country's celebrated win in the 1996 African Cup of Nations. In 1990 more than 100,000 people rallied there to hear Nelson Mandela, newly released from prison, call for a unified South Africa.

Work on the new stadium started in January 2007 and is expected to be finished by October, with the surrounding area completed by the end of the year.

Soccer City will not only stage the final but the opening match on June 11 and four other first-round matches, one second-round game and a quarter-final.

"Work on all the finishings has started," said Pearce. "All the carpentry, the plumbing, the glasswork, the tiling and carpeting is being put in now. The pitch will be laid soon and although it will also be used for rugby eventually it has been built first and foremost as a soccer ground.

"It is an astonishing sight," he added. "There are other great buildings in Africa but I doubt if any are quite as spectacular."

Reuters Source: http://www.sagoodnews.co.za/countdown_to_2010/spectacular_stadium_will_light_up_world_cup.html Image: www.soccercity2010.co.za
On fire: an artist's impression of Soccer City at night]]> FIFA WM 2010 Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:37:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=686&cHash=f42908aac2aa7819d43902e2beba0348 United States president Barack Obama has accepted an invitation to attend the opening ceremony of the 2010 World Cup final in Johannesburg on June 11. "The president of the United States has been...
"But you know that heads of state are extremely busy and hopefully his schedule will allow him to attend," he added.

Blatter was replying to questions relating to security and how confident Fifa was of a successful World cup being hosted by South Africa.

The opening ceremony would be performed at the new ultra modern 100,000-seater Soccer City. The match would feature either hosts Bafana Bafana or defending world champions Italy.

Obama, whose father was born in Kenya, had never visited Africa as the leader of the free world.

Blatter again stressed he had full confidence in South Africa's ability to host a successful World Cup.

"In past years the reason that the World Cup has never been staged in Africa is because people in the rest of the world did not  trust Africa.

"I trust Africa and South Africa. It is time the rest of the world did the same. The world will see a fantastic spectacle in Africa in 2010. South Africa are going to make everyone proud of Africa."

The test event, the Confederations Cup, was a success on and off  the field and augured well for the 2010 showpiece.

"The Confederations Cup is a sort of dress rehearsal where we can iron out problems. It has been a major success. My worry at the  start of the competition was that some stadiums were not full, and that has been rectified by the local organising committee.

"Now that Bafana Bafana are through to the semifinals we can expect full houses during the semifinals and final."

Blatter, paraphrasing Obama, said: "South African can do it."

Problems that arose with ticketing and transport would be solved by 2010, he added.

The world soccer chief added that it was not about Fifa making millions of dollars from the Confederations Cup and World Cup in South Africa. He explained:

"The finances are not as important as it is to give something back to Africa, and that is what Fifa is doing with the 2010 World Cup. Africa deserve to stage the World Cup."

He reiterated that under no circumstances would vuvuzelas be banned at the World Cup. Foreign media and teams competing in the Confederations Cup had complained about the "buzzing noise" at matches.

"Banning them no, in fact I will blow one of the vuvuzelas at my  press conference in Johannesburg on Friday. Vuvuzelas make the South Africa game come alive. It is part of the local culture and adds to the flavour of SA soccer."

Blatter said he was not worried about crime. Source: http://www.sagoodnews.co.za ]]> Pressespiegel FIFA WM 2010 Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:32:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=684&cHash=7aec7b097248dcfd9b4edf19e9e7e6da Der frühere südafrikanische Präsident Nelson Mandela besuchte am Mittwoch die Nationalmannschaft des Landes, um den Spielern am Vorabend des Halbfinalspiels beim FIFA Konföderationen-Pokal 2009 gegen...
Der 90-jährige Friedensnobelpreisträger begrüßte die Spieler herzlich, die sich mit einem grünen Nationaltrikot mit dem Namen Mandela auf dem Rücken bedankten. Südafrikas brasilianischer Nationaltrainer Joel Santana sprach später angeregt darüber, was das Treffen mit Mandela ihm und seiner Mannschaft bedeutet hat.

"Es war ein historischer Moment. Nelson Mandela ist eine weltweit bekannte Symbolfigur. Wir alle hatten Gänsehaut, als wir mit ihm zusammentrafen", so der Brasilianer.

Er fuhr fort: "Nelson Mandela ist eine unglaublich charismatische Persönlichkeit. Seine Gegenwart und seine Worte vermittelten uns viel Ruhe. Ich dachte, dass ich schon so ziemlich alles in meinem Leben erlebt hatte, aber das stimmt nicht. Ich empfinde großen Stolz, dass ich diese Gelegenheit hatte, und bei den Spielern herrscht das gleiche Gefühl vor."

Südafrikas Kapitän Aaron Mokoena stimmte mit den Äußerungen Santanas überein. Er meinte: "Es war ein ganz besonderer Moment, mit dem 'Alten Mann' zusammenzutreffen.

Er hat jedem einzelnen von uns viel Glück gewünscht. Seine Präsenz und innere Ruhe sind unglaublich. Von dieser Erfahrung müssen wir morgen in der Partie zehren. Als Spieler kann man durchaus nervös werden, wenn man eine solch' wichtige Partie bestreitet. Die von Mandela ausgestrahlte Ruhe wird uns sehr helfen", so Mokoena.

Mandela hatte das Präsidentenamt nach dem Ende der Apartheid übernommen und sich immer wieder der Popularität des Sports bedient, um sein Anliegen der Aussöhnung zwischen den Rassen voranzubringen.

1995 hatte Mandela ein Trikot der Rugby-Nationalmannschaft Südafrikas ("Springboks") übergestreift, um nach dem Finale der Rugby-Weltmeisterschaft dem Kapitän des siegreichen südafrikanischen Teams die WM-Trophäe zu überreichen. Das Bild ging um die Welt und wurde zu einem Symbol für das neue Südafrika. Source: www.de.fifa.com ]]> FIFA WM 2010 Pressespiegel Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:20:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=683&cHash=e8cec864235cc0b5b1e3c1679fb46700 Pretoria – South Africa is awash with Green, Black, White, Gold, Red and Blue as Bafana Bafana prepare to lock horns with Brazil in the second semi-final of the 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup at Ellis...
South Africans streets are adorned with colourful Bafana T-shirts, flags, vuvuzelas and unique soccer regalia ahead of the clash on Thursday night.

The South American champions have won all their three matches so far in the tournament and have vowed to show no mercy against the host side.

Meanwhile, Bafana have had it all. They have lost, drawn and won their matches in their Confederations Cup campaign.

One of South Africa's star performers so far, Siboniso Gaxa, has stated his belief that Bafana Bafana must stifle Brazil's strongest players if they wish to pull off an upset in Thursday 25 June's semi-final at Ellis Park.

Defender Gaxa, who plays his club football in his homeland with Mamelodi Sundowns, is relishing the challenge of taking on a Brazil side containing some of the biggest names on Planet Football, though he is fully aware of the challenge ahead.
 
“The game itself is a big match for us; I'm excited to be part of such a game. The most important thing is to believe in ourselves,” said Gaxa.

He is confident that Bafana will fair well against the Brazilians.

“We need to play attacking football; we need to put our chances away. But the most important thing is belief. I have a strong feeling that we will do well against Brazil. We have to neutralise them and their dangerous players,” he said.

Bafana’s Head Coach Joel Santana can’t wait to face his countrymen.

“We deserve to be in the semi-finals, we got four points. We outplayed New Zealand. We beat them 2-0, but could have scored six while Iraq were totally negative.

I am happy to be in the semi-finals, I could have been heading home. But now I am looking forward to a major semi-final of a big Fifa event,” said the Brazilian-born coach.

Brazilian team coach Dunga – who captained a Brazilian side that beat Bafana 3-2 in 1997 – concedes they have an uneasy task against South Africa.

“South Africa are an emerging team, but we know they will give us a difficult test. They're strong, quick and they will have the crowd behind them.

But we'll be well prepared. Brazil have a very strong squad, which helps in a tournament like this. Every player in the squad is a first-teamer,” he said.

By: Simangaliso Zwane Source: http://www.sa2010.gov.za/en/node/2386 Additional reporting: Safa.net

]]> Topnews FIFA WM 2010 Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:00:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=689&cHash=6945cfc122d31887f1050e86c1df1281 Vanderbijlpark, 23. Juni 2009 – Heute Morgen wurde das erste „Football for Hope Forum“ durch Sepp Blatter, Präsident der FIFA, Willi Lemke, UN-Sonderbeauftragter für Sport, den ehemaligen Kapitän der... streetfootballworld gGmbH
Waldenserstraße 2-4
10551 Berlin
www.streetfootballworld.org streetfootballworld ist einer der strategischen Partner der Botschaft der Republik Südafrika im Zusammenhang mit der FIFA Fußball WM 2010.]]> FIFA WM 2010 Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:10:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=679&cHash=6e2317185db192cdc9a1758b0201f60a Flying in from Canada to experience African football first-hand, Peter Severinac, from Ontario, was blown away by the electric atmosphere inside the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg on Wednesday...
Surrounded by thousands of celebrating South African fans, all making their way out of the stadium, Severniac could hardly contain his amazement at what he experienced during the game.

"Those trumpets are great, I have never experienced anything like it," Severinac said, referring to the air horns (vuvuzelas) that distinguish football matches in South Africa from anywhere else in the world. "Nothing compares to the feeling of being in the stands with all that dancing and noise.

"They treated me like a member of their family when they found out I was from outside South Africa. I will definitely be back next year for the World Cup, and will bring back as many friends as I can," said Severinac before he was swallowed up by the moving crowd. Once-in-a-lifetime experience

Benito Lenon, who travelled from Madrid, Spain, to watch La Furia Roja play in Fifa's "Festival of Continental Champions", said South Africa "seems like such a good country.

"I have been here for six days now watching football, and I really love the friendly people here," Lenon said. "I must tell you, South Africans are the most friendly and hospitable people I have met."

Although Spain were playing Iraq in Bloemfontein on the same day, Lenon chose to experience a Bafana Bafana match in Rustenburg instead, having heard from friends that it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to celebrate football in South Africa.

He certainly wasn't disappointed.

As tens of thousands of spectators made their way to the Royal Bafokeng Stadium before the game, the city of Rustenburg, in South Africa's North West province, came alive with the sound of a distinctively African Fifa Confederations Cup.

The drone of vuvuzelas competed with hooting and cheering as fans made their way toward the stadium through the city, hoping for - and getting - a night of celebration as South Africa beat New Zealand 2-0.

Hours before the match had even started, crowds were gathering outside the stadium as music and dancers entertained the excited crowd.

"I am here to support my country, and the vibe around the city is great," said Lebogang Molefe, adding that the Confederations Cup was all about showing the world what South Africa is all about.

"We are a nation that likes to sing, and we are a happy nation," Molefe said. "I hope our visitors see this now and on television, and I hope they come back for the 2010 World Cup."

Source: |+| 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa Organising Committee Picture: The colourful makarapa – headgear that starts off humbly as a miner’s helmet, and is lovingly and completely transformed into an essential item for the South African football fan. (Image: Chris Kirchhoff, |+| www.MediaClubSouthAfrica.com. For more free photos, visit the image library.)]]> FIFA WM 2010 Topnews Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:52:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=673&cHash=962ef5cb6223845d0bb356fb3997cd97 Vom 4. Mai bis 16. November läuft die zweite WM-Ticketphase. Wer bisher keinen Erfolg beim WM Ticket-Kauf hatte, kann seit dem 4. Mai erneut sein Glück versuchen. In der zweiten Ticketphase werden... www.dein-suedafrika.de und www.southafrica.net sowie der kostenfreien
Service-Nummer 0800 118 9 118. Hintergrundinformation:
SOUTH AFRICAN TOURISM ist als Organisation verantwortlich für die internationale Vermarktung Südafrikas als präferierte Urlaubsdestination. ]]> FIFA WM 2010 FIFA WM 2010 Infos für Fans Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:55:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=674&cHash=c479a3dbce91360c2e39777aa4aecc09 Vom 14. bis 28. Juni ist Südafrika Austragungsort des FIFA Confederations Cup 2009™ und damit Treffpunkt für Fußballprofis und Fans aus allen Ecken der Welt. Der Cup gilt als Generalprobe der FIFA... www.fifa.com Source: Media Newsletter von South African Toursim Erstellt von Kleber PR Network GmbH im Auftrag von South African Tourism Deutschland Weitere deutschsprachige Informationen zu Südafrika sind erhältlich unter:
www.dein-suedafrika.de und www.southafrica.net sowie der kostenfreien
Service-Nummer 0800 118 9 118. Hintergrundinformation:
SOUTH AFRICAN TOURISM ist als Organisation verantwortlich für die internationale Vermarktung Südafrikas als präferierte Urlaubsdestination. ]]> FIFA WM 2010 Sat, 13 Jun 2009 12:01:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=676&cHash=254848b59807bf73bc5305f600f3d786 Vuvuzelas brayed and construction workers cheered as President Jacob Zuma kicked off the 365-day countdown to the 2010 World Cup in Cape Town on Thursday. "We have made it," he said, before booting a...
The tournament gets under way on June 11 next year at Soccer City in Johannesburg.

"One thing is certain," Zuma told his audience, which included Lesotho Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili and Western Cape premier Helen Zille, "we have proved to the world that South Africans are special people. When we have challenges we always rise to the occasion.

"I think we have proved to the world that we are a country that must be counted on."

He paid particular tribute to the stadium's construction workers, who were given the afternoon off to attend the ceremony, saying they had made history.

"When all the planners and everybody have done their paperwork, you put your strength, your sweat in an amazing fashion," he said.

"You have done us good, made us proud." The VIP stand was set on bare sand on what will become the playing surface of the stadium when a carpet of grass, being grown in Stellenbosch, is transplanted.

Zuma, wearing a red plastic hard hat shaped like a half-soccer ball, joked that he had heard that the trumpet-like vuvuzela was known in the Western Cape as a vuvuzille - a reference to the premier.

He also promised that national soccer team Bafana Bafana would "surprise the world", and said he would referee the final match of the tournament if that was what was needed to ensure that the cup stayed in South Africa.

Zuma was presented with a pair of gold-coloured soccer boots as a gift from the City of Cape Town.

The presentation was made by the stadium's only female crane operator Zoliswa Gila, who had wanted to be a pilot but decided that sitting in a crane cab 80m above ground was the next best thing.

Earlier, Fifa local organising committee chief executive Danny Jordaan said "everything" was ready for the World Cup to begin.

"We've travelled the journey for 15 years, with one year to go... so it's a very, very special day," he said.

He said the world had forgotten about plan B - a supposed Fifa fallback arrangement to take the competition to another country if South Africa was unable to get ready for the event.

Addressing Fifa secretary-general Jerome Falcke, Jordaan said: "I think if you  have a plan B, keep it for 2014 or 2018, or 2022."

Falcke said Fifa would now move to a back seat as South Africa took ownership of the World Cup.

"We have done what we have to do, and now it's your World Cup," he said.

"Enjoy the next 12 months, enjoy the World Cup."

Sources: Sapa & South Africa Good News Image: N Engelbrecht Having a ball: President Jacob Zuma and Western Cape Premier Helen Zille visit the Greenpoint stadium in Cape Town with 365 days to kick-off of the 2010 Fifa World Cup]]> FIFA WM 2010 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:17:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=672&cHash=f840e853cbeb1388045df8828c765931 Thursday 11 June 2009 marks one year to kick-off of the 2010 Fifa World Cup, and Brand South Africa calls on all South Africans to wear a football jersey or yellow shirt, to fly the South African...
The opening ceremony, followed by the first match, of the 2010 Fifa World Cup kicks off at Soccer City, Johannesburg at 4pm on 11 June 2010. Expect a sea of yellow – South Africa, as hosts, will play in the opening match, and yellow will be the dominant colour of Bafana Bafana's World Cup kit.

This Thursday at 15h55, a five-minute count-down will begin on radio stations across the country to cue all South Africans, wherever they are, to sing Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika at 16h00 in a symbolic demonstration of national unity and pride.

President Jacob Zuma will join a crowd of football fans at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town, where the national anthem will be sung and, at exactly 4pm, a soccer ball will be kicked to mark the one-year countdown to the first World Cup to be staged on the African continent.

Be a part of South Africa's World Cup revolution! Source: www.southafrica.info ]]> FIFA WM 2010 Topnews Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:54:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=664&cHash=ae0586e4ecfe65f33fb26e4fcee638ac Berlin, 11. Juni 2009. Vor dem Hintergrund der am 11. Juni 2010 beginnenden FIFA Fussball-WM 2010 in Südafrika hat die Botschaft ihren Webauftritt grundlegend überarbeitet und den Nutzen für die...
Der Botschafter der Republik Südafrika, S.E. Sonwabo Funde, sagte anlässlich der Freischaltung: „Auf unserer neuen Website bieten wir jetzt noch umfassendere Informationen zu relevanten Themen und laden die Besucher ein, sich mit den vielen Facetten der Republik Südafrika vertraut zu machen. Ich freue mich sehr, dass wir genau ein Jahr vor Beginn der ersten FIFA Fussball-Weltmeisterschaft auf dem afrikanischen Kontinent unseren Freunden und Besuchern nützliche Informationen und Tipps geben können.“

Top News und häufig gestellte Fragen
Unter www.suedafrika.org können sich Interessierte mit den ständig aktualisierten News aus Politik, Wirtschaft sowie Kultur auf dem Laufenden halten und sich auf ihre Reise einstimmen. Darüber hinaus werden Antworten auf „Häufig gestellte Fragen“ rund um Reiseformalitäten, Klima, Spielorte bzw. Spielplan der WM und vieles mehr gegeben. „Mit diesen weiterführenden Informationen wollen wir nicht nur die Besucher der FIFA Fussball-WM informieren, sondern auch allen anderen Gästen unseres Landes wertvolle Ratschläge und Hintergrundinformationen vermitteln“, so Botschafter Funde.

Links
Über zahlreiche Links zu verschiedenen Partnern lassen sich von www.suedafrika.org aus eine ganze Reihe von Websites mit weiterführenden Informationen zu Südafrika erreichen.

Bildunterschrift: S.E. Sonwabo Funde, Botschafter der Republik Südafrika schaltet Zugang zum neuen attraktiven und informativen Webauftritt www.suedafrika.org frei (Foto: Botschaft RSA) fre. Für weitere Informationen zu dieser Pressemitteilung wenden Sie sich bitte an:

Volker Schlichting
Adjouri & Stastny Communication Management GmbH
Tel: +49 (0)30 28 39 88 58
Mail: schlichting@adjouri-stastny.com

]]> Topnews Presse Botschaft FIFA WM 2010 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 09:33:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=677&cHash=d6fe00fb39cab7f250e7f269ee8ce08d This weekend the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in the Eastern Cape Province became the first newly-built stadium to be opened for 2010 FIFA World Cup. A public opening was hosted by the Nelson Mandela...
Deputy Executive Mayor, Councillor Bicks Ndoni, said the public opening gave residents the chance to see first-hand the stadium’s “state-of-the-art facilities, experience its beauty, warmth and uniqueness, and bask in the glory and pride of knowing that we are the joint owners of a truly world-class facility”.

 “Today’s first opening of a newly-built 2010 FIFA World Cup stadium is a huge boost,” said the Organising Committee’s Chief Executive Officer Dr Danny Jordaan, who attended the stadium’s opening.

“[It] is a huge credit to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. It’s a tribute to their project management capability, the construction company and the workers that they managed to complete the stadium in record time,” he added.

Situated on the shores of the North End Lake in Port Elizabeth, the multipurpose stadium will seat 48 000 people. Eight World Cup games, including a third and fourth place playoff and a quarter final, will take place at the new stadium.

The stadium will host its first competitive game next week when the touring British & Irish Lions rugby team play a local Southern Kings Invitational side on 16 June 2009. Source: SA Good News ]]> FIFA WM 2010 Pressespiegel Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:22:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=631&cHash=2fea41de9bf1d8e60c5f980e6d9fa028 South Africa's national football team, known as Bafana Bafana, has a relatively short international history. That's because the first team to represent all South Africans only played its first match...
Class of 2009
Can the Bafana Bafana class of 2009 recapture the verve and fighting spirit of 1996?  Despite that victory over the Indomitable Lions, the effects of isolation soon showed as South Africa failed to qualify for the 1994 African Nations Cup after suffering four defeats in succession – to Cameroon, Zambia, Nigeria and Zambia. African Nations Cup 1996
Two years later, however, Bafana Bafana's place at the African Nations Cup finals was assured when the country hosted the tournament. Under coach Clive Barker, the national team rose to the occasion, topping its group after beating Cameroon 3-0 and Angola 1-0 before losing 1-0 to Egypt.
In the quarterfinals, Bafana beat Algeria 2-1 to set up a semi-final clash against Ghana, the only team that had won all its games up until that stage of the competition. Putting in one of the finest performances ever by the South African national team, the home side triumphed 3-0 in front of 75 000 spectators at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. Bafana faced Tunisia in the final, after the North Africans had defeated Zambia 4-2 in the semi-finals. In front of a crowd of 80 000 at the FNB Stadium, Neil Tovey's men gave the supporters what they wanted by beating the Tunisians 2-0, with Mark Williams netting both goals. Taking on the world champions
In the same year the potential of South African football was demonstrated when Bafana Bafana took on world champions Brazil, who were at full strength, in a Mandela Cup match in Johannesburg. Philemon Masinga put South Africa into a 25th-minute lead and Doctor Khumalo then made it 2-0 to the home side at the break, to the delight of the Bafana fans.
The Brazilians fought back after the break, with Flavio netting in the 56th minute. Twelve minutes later, Rivaldo made it 2-2.
Then, with only four minutes left, Bebeto, one of the heroes of Brazil's 1994 World Cup winning team, snatched the winner for the visitors. Although South Africa lost, the match provided ample proof that the team's African Nations Cup title was no fluke. It also proved to be a wonderful celebration of the game of football, and of the role Nelson Mandela played in bringing democracy to the country. World Cup qualification
Bafana Bafana continued to excel on the international stage when, in 1997, the team qualified for the World Cup finals for the first time. They faced the difficult task of taking on the hosts, France, in their first match in Group C. The French, with probably the best team in the country's history, beat South Africa 3-0. France went on to beat Brazil by the same score in the final.
Bafana Bafana drew 1-1 with Denmark in the team's second match, then shared a 2-2 draw with Saudi Arabia. The two draws and one loss saw South Africa exit the event in the group stages after finishing third in its group. African Nations Cup title defence
In the same year, Bafana defended their African Nations Cup title in Burkina Faso. In a controversial decision, taken shortly before the finals, coach Clive Barker was sacked and Jomo Sono appointed in a caretaker role. Some forecasts were dire, but the South African team again rose to the challenge to perform well. They finished second behind the Ivorians in their group, after a 0-0 draw against Angola, a 1-1 draw with the Ivory Coast and a 4-1 win over Nambia. A young striker by the name of Benni McCarthy made his mark by netting four goals inside 21 minutes in the victory over the Namibians.
In the quarterfinals, South Africa beat Morocco 2-1 as McCarthy and David Nyathi netted. That earned them a semi-final place against the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the semi-final, McCarthy scored on the hour-mark to level the scores after South Africa had fallen behind in the 48th minute. He then struck in extra time to earn Bafana a 2-1 win and a place in the final against Egypt, who had beaten the hosts Burkina Faso in the other semi-final. The dream of successive titles was brought to an end in the final when the Pharaohs scored two early goals to take a 2-0 victory. Nonetheless, given the uncertain build-up to the tournament, it was a good showing by South Africa. Afro-Asian champions
Despite very average results in 1999, Bafana managed to win the Afro-Asian Trophy after beating Saudi Arabia 1-0 in Cape Town and then drawing 0-0 in Riyadh. In November of the same year, Bafana Bafana achieved a notable milestone when they scored their first win over European opposition. It came in the Nelson Mandela Challenge against Sweden at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria. Siyabonga Nomvete was the hero, netting an 87th minute goal to snatch a late victory for the home side. South Africa again qualified for the African Nations Cup in 2000, hosted by Ghana and Nigeria. Bafana Bafana topped Group B, beating Gabon 3-1, the DRC 1-0, and playing to a 0-0 draw with Algeria. In the quarterfinals, Siyabonga Nomvete scored the only goal as South Africa eliminated one of the hosts, Ghana. In the semi-finals, SA's footballing nemesis, Nigeria, beat Bafana 2-0. South Africa ultimately finished third after beating Tunisia 4-3 from the penalty spot after the teams had played to a 2-2 draw in the playoff. 2002 World Cup
Although South Africa's African Nations Cup performances had gradually slipped over three continental finals - from winners to finalists to semi-finalists - their performances in at the 2002 Fifa World Cup in South Korea and Japan were noteworthy. Competing in Group B, they drew 2-2 with Paraguay and then beat Slovenia 1-0. That left Bafana with a shot of making it to the round of 16, but a tough encounter against highly fancied Spain awaited the side. In a back-and-forth tussle, Spain took an early lead through Raul. Benni McCarthy struck back in the 31st minute to make it 1-1. Gaizka Mendieta then edged the Spaniards in front with a goal in first-half injury time. Only eight minutes into the second stanza, Lucas Radebe levelled the scores. Raul, however, restored Spain's lead three minutes later, and that's how it ended: South Africa 2, Spain 3. Memorable losses
Strangely enough, two of South Africa's most memorable matches ever – against Spain in the World Cup and against Brazil in the Nelson Mandela Challenge – both ended in 3-2 defeats. At the same time as Bafana Bafana and Spain were doing battle, Slovenia and Paraguay were in action. The Slovenians took a 1-0 lead into the break, which meant South Africa would qualify for the next round regardless of whether or not they lost to Spain. Paraguay, however, came roaring back in the second half, netting three times to win 3-1. The South Americans' third goal, scored in the 84th minute, was enough to see them progress at South Africa's expense, but it was by the narrowest of margins. Paraguay edged out Bafana on goals scored after both had picked up the same number of points and had the same goal difference of zero. Paraguay, though, had scored and conceded six goals to SA's five and five. African Nations Cup slide
In the same year, South Africa's African Nations Cup slide continued in the finals held in Mali. Bafana Bafana qualified at the top of Group B, albeit with a record of only one win and two draws. They opened with a 0-0 draw against Burkina Faso, and followed that up with another goalless draw against Ghana. A 3-1 victory over Morocco, however, was enough to open a path to the quarterfinals. There, Bafana Bafana met the hosts and were beaten 2-0. In 2003, the national side managed a record of only six wins, a draw and four losses. Worryingly, losses began to come against teams that South Africa needed to beat to maintain a strong Fifa world ranking – countries like Zimbabwe, Tunisia and Egypt. The decline was made clear for all to see at the 2004 African Nations Cup. Despite opening with a 2-0 win over Benin, Bafana Bafana failed to progress beyond the group stages. They were humbled 4-0 by Nigeria in their next match, and then drew 1-1 with Morocco. A 2-0 loss to minnows Mauritius in a warm-up for the continental championship should have served as sufficient warning that South Africa was in trouble. Successful World Cup bid
In May 2004, the mood of South African football fans was considerably brightened, however, when the country won the right to host the 2010 Fifa World Cup – the first African country to be awarded the honour. Later that year, in November, the Nigerian bogey was finally ended when Bafana Bafana beat the Super Eagles 2-1 in the Nelson Mandela Challenge at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. Despite a decent showing as an invited team to the Concacaf Gold Cup, in which they drew three matches and beat Mexico 2-1, 2005 was not a good year for South Africa. They scraped wins over lightly regarded teams early in the year, but ended it with four losses and a draw in their last five matches. Disaster in Egypt
Although they qualified for the 2006 African Nations Cup in Egypt, the tournament proved to be a disaster for South Africa. They lost all three matches they played and failed to score a single goal as they crashed out of the tournament as the bottom team in their group. With four years remaining until 2010 and the national team in disarray - and down to 72nd in Fifa's world rankings - a decision was made to acquire a big-name coach to prepare Bafana for the World Cup. Carlos Alberto Parreira, who had coached Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil and Saudi Arabia in previous World Cup finals, took up the post. Parreira achieved his first goal of earning qualification for the 2008 Nations Cup in Ghana, but South Africa once again bowed out in the first round. Improvement They finished bottom of Group D after two draws and one loss, which was, at least, an improvement over their previous campaign. Bafana drew 1-1 with Angola, then lost 3-1 to Tunisia, before finishing with a 1-1 draw against Senegal. After that, South Africa appeared to be making progress under Parreira, and a stylish 3-0 victory over Paraguay in March 2008 was cause for optimism. The following month, however, in a huge shock, Parreira resigned his position to be with his wife, who had recently undergone surgery for cancer. His replacement was another Brazilian, recommended by Parreira: Joel Santana, who brought with him an excellent record in Brazilian club football, but no international experience. In at the deep end Santana was thrown in at the deep end, taking over just before a series of African Nations Cup qualifiers. He didn't know the players and he didn't have time to work with them; South Africa failed to qualify for the 2010 African Nations Cup in Angola. Signs soon emerged that Santana was making a difference when SA scored a national record five consecutive wins in succession – over Zambia, Cameroon, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, and Malawi. However, disappointing losses to Chile and Portugal in early 2009, either side of a last-gasp win over Norway, suggest that Santana and his side still have some ground to make up if they are to progress beyond the group stages of the 2010 World Cup. How they shape up against the reigning Fifa world and continental champions at the 2009 Confederations Cup that kicks off in South Africa on 14 June will give Bafana fans the clearest indication yet of how much they dare hope when the biggest event in football kicks off in June 2010.

By Brad Morgan Source: http://www.southafrica.info/about/sport/bafana-bafana.htm
]]> FIFA WM 2010 Topnews Fri, 29 May 2009 16:06:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=629&cHash=5616f5c5a5d1bef92329067abd97682d The second phase of ticket sales for the opening match, semi-finals and the final of the 2010 Fifa World Cup have been sold out, Fifa said on Thursday. The second phase had seen 105,322 tickets...
"Due to a high demand for certain team specific ticket series, these tickets are no longer available for the following countries: England, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, Ireland and Netherlands," the world football body said in a statement.

"It is no longer possible within the current sales phase to purchase match tickets for games taking place in Cape Town, Nelspruit and Tshwane/ Pretoria."

Individual match tickets for the opening match, the two semi-finals, and the final were also unavailable in this phase.

However, team specific ticket series tickets, which allow supporters to follow the team of their choice, were available for the opening match, semi-final and the final.

If their team is eliminated, the team specific ticket allows the  buyer to follow the team that progresses into the next round of the competition.

Source: Sapa, SA Goodnews]]> FIFA WM 2010 Topnews Fri, 29 May 2009 15:43:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=619&cHash=85eeef1e3927de253e8468555117d310 Multi million rand projects designed to take Cape Town to the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup spectacular and beyond are at their final stages of completion. These include the impressive new Central... http://www.sabcnews.com/

]]> Topnews Pressespiegel FIFA WM 2010 Wed, 27 May 2009 12:39:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=598&cHash=fde9c90ff0934e02f959da15cf1539c7 With just over a year left to the kick-off of the 2010 Fifa World Cup, yet another milestone will be achieved with the official sod-turning of the first Football for Hope Centre in Khayelitsha, Cape...  
This initiative is part of the Official Campaign of the 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa “20 Centres for 2010” which aims to build 20 Football for Hope Centres across Africa.
 
The centres will address local social challenges in disadvantaged areas and improve education and health services for young people.
 
The Football for Hope Centre in Khayelitsha, which officially opens in January, will be the first to open and will be run by Grassroot Soccer, a South African-based, non-profit organisation that uses football to educate young people about HIV and Aids and empower them with the knowledge to live HIV-free.
 
The location has been provided by the City of Cape Town and the Khayelitsha Development Forum as part of the Violence Prevention Through Urban Upgrade (VPUU) programme.
 
The other centres will be constructed in Mali, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Namibia, and at other locations across Africa.
http://www.kickoff.com/static/news/article.php?id=8539
]]> Pressespiegel FIFA WM 2010 Mon, 25 May 2009 12:08:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=592&cHash=52cf95b63a7abad70013b52510d696b9 VISITORS to next year’s Soccer World Cup will be able to check in at soccer stadiums and board any airline regardless of which one issued the tickets. The service is part of plans by Airports Company...
Bongani Maseko, group executive overseeing airports operations at Acsa, said yesterday that a team would travel to Rome next week for the Uefa Champions League final between Manchester United and Barcelona to observe the logistics of moving fans in and out the city.

“It is as close to a World Cup match as we can get, and we want to establish the feasibility of checking in passengers at the stadium.”

Maseko said that Acsa was also in talks with airlines about the possibility of passengers using a ticket on any airline. “The emphasis is on getting passengers moving as quickly as possible.”

Main airports were also expected to be open 24 hours a day. “The biggest pressure will be in the first round when we have 32 teams playing 48 matches in 10 cities. Our main airports will operate 24 hours while the smaller airports will extend their hours.”

Acsa had already approached the retailers and ramp handlers at the airport as well as Air Traffic and Navigational Service to provide an extended service.

Additional temporary staff would also be employed over the period, but only permanent Acsa staff would be used in secure or regulated areas.

Maseko said he was concerned about the available seat capacity on domestic routes, particularly to smaller destinations such as Polokwane and Bloemfontein. “If you look at an airport such as Bloemfontein, on any given day there are no more than 4000 seats available on airlines serving the city, and yet the stadiums seat between 40000 and 50000 people. It is clear that we will need to double or even triple capacity on match days.”

All domestic airlines have begun planning for 2010.

Maseko said planning was complicated by Fifa finalising its match schedule only in December.

“Once we know which teams have qualified, and where they are playing, we will be able to put more specific plans in place.”

By
JULIUS BAUMANN
Aviation and Tourism Editor Source: http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A1003143

]]> Pressespiegel FIFA WM 2010 Infos für Fans Wed, 20 May 2009 17:18:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=590&cHash=eca227b13abdd1e653db723bf48da549 A third of the beds available in Kruger National Park's Skukuza, Berg-en-Dal and Pretoriuskop camps will be reserved for foreign tourists through the duration of the 2010 Fifa World Cup, South...
SANParks tourism and marketing director Glenn Phillips told delegates that 30% of available accommodation in the national parks would be reserved for 2010 tourists, with the remainder for the general public.

"The exciting part of this decision is that approximately 15 000 people will get to see the national parks for the first time," Phillips said. "We want to use this event to optimise marketing opportunities while we continue to build our brand."

Other parks close to the World Cup matches that have been contracted are Addo Elephant National Park, Garden Route National Park, Tsitsikamma and the Knysna lake area, Marakele and Golden Gate Highlands National Park.

"For us this event is more than just about sport," he said. "The message we want to send to the world is that SANParks is on track to deliver next year."

Phillips believed the move would send a positive signal to critics who didn't believe South Africa would be ready to host the World Cup, adding that SANParks wanted to see optimal occupancy in all national parks during the event.

"Key to this is the retention of our regular client base, as the event falls during the extended school holidays," he explained.

MATCH income
SANParks has also signed a contract with MATCH, a professional services company selected by Fifa to provide ticketing, accommodation and event information technology during the 2010 World Cup event in South Africa.

"If all goes according to plan, the value (of available accommodation) sold to MATCH per day is in the region of R1.4-million," he said.

He said this would bring in about R52.5-million, based on two people per unit, inclusive of dinner, bed and breakfast and activities by the time the World Cup was over.

SANParks spokesperson Reynold Thakhuli said new mobile tents would also be erected in the Kruger camps: "This will provide an additional 420 beds and will form part of the legacy beyond 2010. These tents will be used after the tournament in all our national parks as and when they are needed."

By Vinni Dlamini Source: BuaNews, http://www.southafrica.info/2010/kruger-140509.htm

]]> Pressespiegel FIFA WM 2010 Infos für Fans Tue, 19 May 2009 11:57:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=570&cHash=c6eff300a9fda67066896f02d034bbb2 Today marks exactly a month before the kick-off of the Confederations Cup and operational plans are in place for the 14 day FIFA event. Tomorrow marks five years since South Africa was awarded the...
Chief Executive Officer of the LOC Danny Jordaan says: “We have come a long way since 2004 and with only a month to go before the Confeds Cup.” Jordaan says he hopes that ticket sales will improve and that Bafana Bafana, will do well in the tournament. The high levels of crime have always been a concern, but the long arm of the law is geared for both events. Deputy Police Commissioner Andre Pruis says: “South Africa's track record speaks for itself, in recent weeks they had incident free elections, incident free presidential inauguration, and also the current Indian Premier League cricket is also incident free."

Free State tested for its readiness
Meanwhile, the state of readiness of the Free State Province regarding the control of crowds during next month’s Confederations Cup was put to the test when simulation exercises were conducted at the Vodacom Park Stadium in Bloemfontein. The training division of the South African Police Services (SAPS) conducted the simulation exercises inside and outside the stadium in the run-up to the tournament. About 200 soccer fans were used in the simulation exercises to test the ability of trained police officers in crowd management techniques, such as handling hooliganism and violent incidents. The "unruly" supporters arrived by bus and the police then searched them. The crow then became unruly and the police intervened to control the situation. Another team of police officers then took over inside the stadium to make sure that fans were properly seated.

Meanwhile the VWV Consortium consultants for the Beijing Olympics opening and closing ceremonies will be responsible for the Confederations Cup ceremonies. The teams are expected to arrive in the country at the end of this month. Source: http://www.sabcnews.com/ ]]> FIFA WM 2010 Pressespiegel Mon, 18 May 2009 09:44:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=566&cHash=80c458fb8ccb8abc612b7517a89ec025 World soccer governing body, FIFA, is to aggressively market the Confederations Cup and next year's World Cup to speed up ticket sales. Just over 50% of the Confederations Cup tickets have been...
http://www.sabcnews.com/
]]> Pressespiegel FIFA WM 2010 Mon, 18 May 2009 09:40:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=558&cHash=ddf8da9cdcf0f15afee825f0b137ec22 Die Südafrikanische Tourismusbehörde hat soeben ihren offiziellen FIFA WM 2010 Werbefilm vorgestellt. Sie können ihn auf unserer Webseite betrachten. unserer Webseite betrachten.]]> FIFA WM 2010 Topnews Tue, 12 May 2009 11:23:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=552&cHash=4fd1b04a9e5d3100f309a357380f53df THE International Marketing Council (IMC), the custodian of Brand SA, launched its 2010 Soccer World Cup campaign at the Tourism Indaba in Durban yesterday, focusing on both the domestic and African...
The IMC has teamed up with SA Tourism and the 2010 World Cup organising committee for this campaign, allowing the bodies to present a single, united message.

Paul Bannister, IMC acting CEO, said yesterday there were essentially three campaigns — the domestic leg, which focus ed on getting South Africans excited and involved in the world; the African campaign, which will call on the rest of the continent to get involved in the tournament; and SA Tourism’s international campaign.

The domestic campaign includes a television commercial, which began airing on several South African channels yesterday, as well as an extensive online campaign component that includes a website, social media and “mobisites”.

An extensive editorial and public relations campaign is also in place. The theme of the African campaign is on this tournament being Africa’s World Cup, and television adverts to support this theme will also begin flighting across the continent shortly.

“From the onset, we have said that this World Cup does not belong to SA alone, but to all of Africa,” said SA Tourism acting CEO Didi Moyle yesterday. “In developing a communication campaign specifically targeting this aspect, and communicating in a manner that is widely appreciated, fun and contagious, we are firmly positioning this event and the host continent as alive and vibrant.”

The campaigns focus on both next month’s Confederations Cup as well as the World Cup next year.

On Saturday, SA Tourism launched its international destination campaign, which is expected to be viewed by 600-million people in the next year and will be aired on international channels such as CNN, BBC, Eurosport and Fox.

It will be aired in SA’s strongest tourism markets and, as SA edges closer to the World Cup, it will increasingly focus on the countries taking part in next year’s tournament.

Derek Carstens, chief marketing officer of the 2010 Soccer World Cup local organising committee, said its 2010 campaign was still being finalised and would only be launched later in the year.

“The focus is on the Confederations Cup next month, so it is great that the IMC is looking forward to next year and keeping the flame burning on 2010,” said Carstens. By JULIUS BAUMANN
Aviation and Tourism Editor

Source: http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/economy.aspx?ID=BD4A997753

]]> FIFA WM 2010 Pressespiegel Tue, 12 May 2009 10:48:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=544&cHash=6f44af14ebd5ab76cc02979b4f5e233a MAURITIUS has joined the 2010 World Cup Tour Operator Programme as a provider of top-line accommodation for visiting fans. The island nation is the latest country in the region to provide...
Match, the company tasked with grading and signing up official accommodation for next year’s tournament, had to look beyond SA to fulfil its requirement for 55000 rooms. Match’s Adam Brown said last week it had already signed up more than 35000 rooms.

However, lack of formal accommodation had forced the World Cup organisers to look at alternative lodging, including game lodges and guesthouses.

The participation of Mauritius, which would contribute 3200 rooms to the World Cup, would be of immense help to Match. Altogether 6000 rooms have been sourced from outside SA.

“We always said it is Africa’s World Cup,” he said. “To be part of the 2010 accommodation programme is a great marketing opportunity for the tourism industry in the entire southern African region to directly benefit from the 2010 Fifa World Cup.”

Fifa secretary-general Jérôme Valcke said yesterday that Mauritius and the other Southern African countries in the accommodation team had the chance to host fans from all over the world during the four weeks from June 11 to July 11 next year, and show them the “splendid and diverse landscapes and the incredible hospitality the region has to offer”.

World Cup Organising Committee CEO Danny Jordaan and Mauritian Vice-Prime Minister and Tourism, Leisure and External Communications Minister Xavier Luc Duval made the announcement at this weekend’s Tourism Indaba in Durban, where the agenda focused on the World Cup.

Fans will now be able to buy Fifa packages, which will include flight, cup tickets and accommodation.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, South African Tourism launched its official 2010 marketing campaign, which went live at the weekend on international TV channels . The organisation’s acting CEO said the campaign would reach 600-million people between now and kickoff. By JULIUS BAUMANN
Aviation and Tourism Editor Source:http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A997135 ]]> Pressespiegel FIFA WM 2010 Mon, 11 May 2009 13:28:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=538&cHash=29942055b16935af6c52d5e999734aac The 2010 Fifa World Cup is to inject an additional R21.3-billion (US$2.52-billion) into South Africa's gross domestic product (GDP), according to research by the Department of Environmental Affairs...
Of the projected growth, R12.7-billion ($1.5-billion) is attributed to direct investment and tourist spend will contribute the remaining R9.5-billion ($1.13-billion).

But Dr Azar Jammine, Econometrix chief economist, expects GDP growth to be even higher. “It is an underestimate because capital inflow will be much more substantial,” he said. “The current estimate only amounts to 0.8% of the GDP.”

The 2009 Fifa Confederations and 2010 World Cup couldn’t come at a better time for South Africa. “Given the economic crisis, South Africa would have been in a very different position without these events,” he said.

The country is already enjoying the benefits of large infrastructure projects that wouldn’t have gone ahead if it weren’t for the Fifa World Cup. Besides Fifa events, the Indian Premier League cricket tournament and the British and Irish Lions rugby tour will also generate substantial revenue for the country.

The latest foreign tourism figures show negative growth, but Jammine is confident that this situation is only temporary. “Tourism will pick up again with people coming to South Africa for the events.”
Customer service

The completion of major infrastructure developments in time for the Fifa World Cup has been under the spotlight for months. But according to Accenture SA, organisations shouldn’t neglect the importance of customer service throughout the event.

Accenture has taken an extensive look at the effects that the Fifa World Cup will have on customer experience. “The aim of the event should not only be to get people to come to South Africa, but to encourage them to return,” said Nikki Tyrer, head of  customer relations management at Accenture SA.

Tyrer pointed out that customer service will be a key differentiator during the World Cup. “We must position the country to maximise the benefits of the event beyond the actual tournament. Tourists only have a few weeks here, but the event is a phenomenal marketing opportunity for the country.”

The financial services sector, health, safety and retail will be under pressure with the influx of visitors to the country. It is estimated that the World Cup tournament will bring approximately 3-million tourists to South African shores, from across Africa and the rest of the world.

“These potential customers all have expectations in terms of customer service. Additional value added services will go a long way in meeting these expectations,” she said.

The retail sector will benefit greatly, with an international tourist expected to spend some R1 400 ($166) daily, while domestic visitors will spend about R750 ($89) daily. Thousands of tourists will be visiting shopping malls across the country, and Tyrer believes that retailers have to ensure that visitors have a positive experience of South Africa.

The most critical aspect is communication, she says. Organisations can enhance the customer’s experience by ensuring that foreign and local customers are catered for in their own languages.

One of the areas in need of attention is banking automatic teller machines (ATMs). She said although South Africa has a good ATM network, the supply chain relies on historic usage patterns. This is problematic, as more people will be making use of ATM facilities throughout the World Cup.

“This means ATMs will run out of money more quickly and we have to find ways around this,” she said.  The shoe and clothing retail sector will also have to make provision for tourists requesting information on sizing differences.

She emphasised that South Africa does have pockets of excellence as far as service is concerned. However, to ensure that the event has long-term benefits, operators and service providers need to develop and implement marketing, sales and service strategies that meet the needs of a diverse consumer base. By Wilma den Hartigh Source: MediaClubSouthAfrica.com Picture: Cape Town International Airport undergoing refurbishment to allow for the expected influx of visitors for the 2010 Fifa World Cup. South Africa is already enjoying the benefits of large infrastructure projects that wouldn’t have
gone ahead if it weren’t for the tournament. (Image: Rodger Bosch, MediaClubSouthAfrica.com. For more free photos, visit the image library.)]]> FIFA WM 2010 Wirtschaft Pressespiegel Fri, 08 May 2009 16:12:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=534&cHash=9a51dd3de786d9cb383266a0c0d54fb5 The City of Cape Town has approved a R15 million "green" project to irrigate 2010 Soccer World Cup stadiums, an official said on Thursday. After several green options were considered, the...
This will be much cheaper than using potable water, he said.

"The project will include a water supply pipeline from these natural springs to the Green Point Common area..."

It would cost about R15 million. R2.3 million was available on the current budget for the 2008/09 financial year. The remainder would come from the 2009/10 budget.

Until now, the Green Point Common, which includes the Metropolitan Golf Course, had been irrigated with pure drinking water.

"However, in keeping with the objectives of the 2010 World Cup Project -which also includes the reconfiguration of the Green Point Common - the need to reduce the long-term demand on potable water to irrigate the area was identified at an early stage."

The option of rainwater harvesting was also explored, but turned out to be unviable because water demand was high in summer, while Cape Town was a winter rainfall area.

"The outcome of the feasibility investigation in August 2008 clearly favoured the sourcing of a non-potable water supply," said Justus.

Source: http://www.anc.org.za/anc/newsbrief/index.htm]]> FIFA WM 2010 Pressespiegel Fri, 08 May 2009 15:04:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=529&cHash=43a7744eede7606103f94d918a1ad007 With 400 days to the FIFA Soccer World Cup and just 38 days to the Confederations Cup, Local Organising Committee (LOC) Chief Executive Danny Jordaan, says all major challenges have been...
Soccer City is 80% finished and Jordaan says other major projects will be completed before deadline. The tournament amongst other things, will help to address the high unemployment rate, and the legacy will be measured for years to come.

Jordaan says: "In the process we have turned many dreams into realities, and contribute to further improvement and expansion of our infrastructure and I think we all feel it was a road worth travelling." But apart from the bigger picture, it is the little touches of South Africa that will leave a lasting impression on the world.

Meanwhile, South Africa has achieved another milestone ahead of next month's Confederations Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The revamped Rand Stadium will be officially opened in two weeks time when it hosts the Nedbank Cup final, between the University of Pretoria and Moroka Swallows.

The Rand Stadium was once the home ground of Swallows and Kaizer Chiefs. The oldest stadium in Johannesburg, with a rich history, was closed in 2006 for renovations. After a R76-million face-lift, the venue with a capacity of 25 000 is ready to host a Cup final again.

Source: http://www.sabcnews.com/

]]> Pressespiegel FIFA WM 2010 Thu, 07 May 2009 10:41:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=515&cHash=0bfc463bc032465e49156eaa1113ceba THE topic of SA’s preparations for the 2010 Soccer World Cup is likely to dominate discussions at this year’s Tourism Indaba, which kicks off at Durban’s International Convention Centre this weekend....
The tone of the discussions will be set by the Global Media Face Off, a media debate on the World Cup moderated by CNN host Richard Quest.

On the panel will be Local Organising Committee CEO Danny Jordaan; Fifa consultant Horst Schimdt, the driving force behind the success of the 2006 World Cup in Germany; SA Tourism acting CEO Didi Moyle; and economist Iraj Abedian. One question likely to be asked is whether the global recession will have a major effect on the event.

“We are very excited to welcome delegates to Indaba to show that we are ready and waiting to welcome the world, not only to the 2010 football spectacular, but also at other times.

“We are realistic, though and recognise that global economies are in recession and this is certainly having a knock-on effect on the industry, both here at home and elsewhere,” said Moyle in a statement yesterday.

SA Tourism is also expected to launch its 2010 marketing campaign on Friday in Durban. The campaign is part of a broader R300m campaign launched by SA Tourism in 2007 and will go live later this week on international platforms such as the British Broadcasting Corporation and Eurosport. The Indaba is likely to spark of a flurry of marketing activity in the run up to next year’s event.

Another event likely to attract attention is the launch of the Tourism Satellite Account, an internationally tested tool which will allow Stats SA to measure the full contribution of tourism to the economy for the first time.

JULIUS BAUMANN
Aviation and Tourism Editor

Source: http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A992840

]]> Pressespiegel FIFA WM 2010 Wed, 06 May 2009 09:34:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=485&cHash=51ba7f8bc940ca499514cf30bcd3d861 THE Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) yesterday pledged to support SA and the 2010 Soccer World Cup in generating and transmitting electricity and in customer contributions and demand-side...
The pledge was made at a meeting that took place in Maputo, Mozambique, and is part of Eskom’s plans to ensure the reliability of electricity supply for this year’s Confederations Cup and next year’s World Cup.

The pledge of solidarity among the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) countries would be backed by commercial agreements yet to be negotiated and signed separately between the SAPP members and Eskom. It would include initiatives that aimed at ensuring a targeted amount of power supplied, would be “green” power, said Eskom Project 2010 unit MD Johnny Dladla.

“We are delighted with the level of co-operation we are receiving from our SAPP counterparts. This initiative confirms that the 2010 Fifa World Cup is truly and indeed an African event,” he said .

Some key parts of the agreement included ensuring adequate transmission capacity for the transfer of power to SA, preventative pre-event maintenance and clean servitudes, maximising plant production, energy efficiency initiatives and load curtailment during the events.

SAPP members would also engage in demand-side initiatives and manufacturers would be encouraged to slow production during the evening peak and increase production during the off-peak periods. Some might also take their plants off the grid for planned maintenance during game times, thus reducing pressure on the interconnected SAPP system.

The surplus power intervention would ensure that any surplus power capacity that SAPP members might have would be made available to Eskom as a contribution towards the two soccer events.

Major pre-event maintenance would be undertaken to ensure that maximum generating facilities would be continuously available to ensure reliability of supply.

SAPP chairman Rhodnie Sisala said the organisation was confident “that South Africans, the region and football fans from around the world who will be visiting our continent will be able to look forward to an unforgettable African World Cup”.

BUSINESS DAY REPORTER
Maputo Source: http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/economy.aspx?ID=BD4A988599 ]]> Pressespiegel FIFA WM 2010 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:48:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=467&cHash=30453ae795287bf0caab990d96d332c5 MARKETING of the 2010 Soccer World Cup is to kick into high gear in the second of half of the year, when the Confederations Cup, the curtain-raiser to the main event, has been concluded. The local...
But the marketing committee of the LOC board, which is representative of the stakeholders, will meet on May 4 to finalise the brand alignment of the various campaigns.

The South African Tourism 2010 marketing campaign, which is part of a broader R300m campaign launched by the agency in 2007, will go live on May 9 on international platforms such as the British Broadcasting Corporation and Eurosport.

“The World Cup is still 12 months away and I need to keep my powder dry. We only have R20m for traditional marketing while the IPL had about R120m to spend over a short period. We can’t compete with that,” says Derek Carstens, chief marketing officer at the 2010 Soccer World Cup LOC. “Our priority at the moment is the Confederations Cup and making sure that is a huge success.

“In Germany (in) 2006 their campaign really only began three months before the event. We will kick off our campaign after the Confederations Cup and really step it up after the official draw of the teams on December 4 in Cape Town.

“Fifa’s focus is really on marketing operations, which is really the branding of the stadiums and the event itself. We know the event will be sold out so there is no real need to market the event.”

It is therefore not surprising that the LOC’s budget for traditional advertising is a mere R20m.

However, the marketing of SA as a destination will fall to South African Tourism, which is relying on the event to boost tourism to SA in the next few years and will be rolling out its international campaign at the Tourism Indaba next month.

The corporate sponsors are also beginning to roll out their campaigns.

“Corporate SA cannot wait for the LOC to lead all marketing around the 2010 World Cup and it is up to us to take the initiative,” says Graham Wood, MD of Southern Sun. The hotel group has already kicked off a 2010 campaign called Football Friday, where staff are encouraged to wear a soccer jersey to work.

“The idea is to stimulate discussion between staff and guests around soccer and the World Cup. It has already been a huge success and we have had reports of staff and guests playing soccer outside Beacon Isle in Plettenberg Bay,” says Wood.

The tourists versus staff games have been so successful that Carstens may adopt the idea as a national campaign.

While the LOC cannot be held responsible for marketing SA as a destination, corporate sponsors and the tourism industry are looking to it to set the tone and message of all marketing around 2010.

Carstens says the LOC is finalising its nation-building strategy — the equivalent to Germany’s 2006 World Cup “Time to make Friends” campaign. “This will run and unify the message of all advertising around 2010,” he says.

Wood points out that the message is vital to marketing SA.

He says that with billions set to watch the event on television, there was a need to “create a passion for the country and the event through a simple and tangible slogan”.

Global events manager at South African Tourism Sugen Pillay says the International Marketing Council (IMC), South African Tourism and the LOC have long been working on brand alignment.

“While we each have our own objectives to achieve — the LOC marketing the event, SA Tourism marketing SA as destination and the IMC pushing the development of the country — there will be a common thread and message pulling together the various campaigns,” he says.

Source: http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A987065 ]]> FIFA WM 2010 Pressespiegel Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:46:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=438&cHash=f904fc5f048ac97b9860ce6b97efd183 INTERNATIONAL soccer body Fifa secured its first 2010 court victory in the Pretoria High Court yesterday against a Pretoria sports bar for ambush marketing. “The judgment is timely, coming two months...
“It sends out a signal to any other organisation considering ambush marketing that they will suffer untoward consequences. Fifa has shown it has an effective game plan for taking on ambush marketers and that it has the will, the team and the wherewithal to prevent ambush marketing.”

In the matter in issue, popular sports bar Eastwoods Tavern carried the legend “World Cup 2010” below the main signage on its roof. It also erected banners featuring the flags of a number of prominent soccer playing countries accompanied by the numerals “2010” along with the words “Twenty Ten South Africa”.

An application was launched in Fifa’s name in the Pretoria High Court claiming interdicts against Eastwoods Tavern on the grounds of infringing the registered trade marks World Cup 2010, South Africa 2010 and Twenty Ten South Africa, passing off under the common law, and unlawful competition through violating the Merchandise Act and the Trade Practices Act.

The action against the sports bar was the culmination of a five-year collaboration between Fifa and Spoor & Fisher. This entailed an extensive trade mark registration programme covering trade marks relating to the World Cup as far back as 2004. The Merchandise Marks Act gives the trade and industry minister the power to designate major sporting events as “protected events”.

“By this means, ambush marketers can be prevented from competing unlawfully with Fifa by obtaining special promotional benefit from, or associating themselves with, the 2010 World Cup, without being sponsors,” Dean said.

“By virtue of the large fees which sponsors of the tournament pay, it is essential that Fifa can guarantee and deliver exclusivity of advertising exposure to sponsors in their fields of business.” Damaging the relationship between Fifa and its sponsors by detracting from the exclusive rights given to sponsors could seriously damage Fifa and place the staging of the World Cup in jeopardy, Dean said .

SANCHIA TEMKIN
Professional Services Editor http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A984793

]]> FIFA WM 2010 Pressespiegel Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:01:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=430&cHash=f2fcc4f2a7ed44ac3a0dc14b55b0c1f6 Der Stadionbau läuft in Südafrika weiterhin auf Hochtouren. In unserer |+| Bildergalerie finden Sie die neuesten Bilder des Soccer City Stadions in Johannesburg. |+| Bildergalerie finden Sie die neuesten Bilder des Soccer City Stadions in Johannesburg.]]> FIFA WM 2010 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:48:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=428&cHash=f5882c61caebae99106b66a2beb14d11 The 2010 Fifa World Cup final match scheduled for Soccer City on July 14 has generated so much interest that its ticket sales are already 3 000% over-subscribed. This emerged as MATCH, the company in...

A total of 1 862 319 tickets were requested;

Applications came from 205 countries;

A whopping 555 871 tickets were drawn successfully;

South African residents were allocated 245 948 tickets out of those drawn which means that 44% tickets from the first phase will go to local soccer fans;

The highest number of tickets drawn to fans outside the host country were to residents of the United States which received 69 208 tickets;

The United Kingdom was next with 39 421 tickets followed by Germany with 29 330 tickets;

England topped the team specific ticket applications with a total of 228 822 team-specific tickets;

Category 4 tickets which were designed specifically for South African residents, proved to be the most popular.

Fifa honorary vice-president David Will, who chairs the ticketing sub-committee, said: “The whole draw procedure worked smoothly. Of course, we would have liked to please even more football fans at this stage, but there will be other ticket sales phases, the next one starting on May 4. “By implementing an electronic random selection draw, we are able to guarantee that the whole procedure remains fair and all applicants have an equal chance. This is very important to us. ” SA 2010 Fifa World Cup Local Organising Committee chief executive Danny Jordaan added: “We are obviously happy to see the huge number of South Africans that have successfully secured tickets for next year’s Fifa World Cup. MATCH started this week contacting applicants on the status of their applications. ]]> FIFA WM 2010 Topnews Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:38:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=418&cHash=02774cd88cf338bcf9abdbb7cdff8d01 Named after a hero of the working class; the Durban Kwazulu Natal Moses Mabhida Stadium located adjacent the ABSA Stadium in the Kings Park Sporting Precinct - a site located in Stamford Hill, is yet...
To make way for this prestigious contribution Kings Park Stadium was demolished in the late 2006 to develop a new a stadium complex set to comprise of an adjoining indoor arena, sporting museum, sport institute and a new transmodal transportation station in preparations ahead of the world showpiece.

• 70 000 spectator seats
• Demountable seating will be removed to reduce the capacity to 54 000 post 2010 in legacy mode.
• 50 percent of the seats will be accessible from the main entrance while a 150 suites with housing ability totaling 7 500 set to cover a range of hospitality options.
• There are plans and allocations to increase the capacity of the stadium to 84 000 seats in the future to further accommodate major events such as Olympics.

For the provision and successful accomplishment of this development, the allocated budget amounts to R1, 83-billion.

• Planning of the development started:
• Internally in January 2006
• The demolition of Kings Park started June/July 2006
• Piling in November 2006
• Principal Building Constructor started with the site in January 2007

The date for completion is end of October 2009 and is very well on schedule.

The stadium is owned by the South African Football Association and put to house and cater for a variety of sporting activities such as rugby, cricket and athletics; the stadium is not only planned not be a white elephant, but is also set to be a flexibly operating facility since it will operate seven days a week and 365 days a year unlike other stadiums post 2010 Fifa World Cup.

Source: http://www.sa2010.gov.za/node/564

]]> FIFA WM 2010 Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:08:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=416&cHash=c7ef01e699484d3fef2f1db614047768 The random selection draw for the first phase of ticket sales for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ took place yesterday afternoon at the UK offices of MATCH Services, the professional services company...
Each applicant was able to apply for a maximum of four tickets per match and for a maximum of seven matches only. Out of the total of 1,862,319 tickets requested from 205 countries, 555,871 tickets were drawn successfully. Of those, 245,948 tickets were drawn to South African residents - this corresponds to 44 per cent of all tickets successfully drawn during this first phase of ticket sales. Outside the host country, the highest number of tickets drawn was to residents of the United States (69,208 tickets), followed by the United Kingdom (39,421 tickets) and Germany (29,330 tickets). From the applications received, the most popular team was England, for which a total of 228,822 team-specific tickets (TST) were requested and for which the total number of available TSTs was 8,895. With regard to individual match tickets, the most popular ticket category was Category 4 and the most heavily oversubscribed match was the final, by a factor of 3,000 per cent.

"The whole draw procedure worked smoothly. Of course, we would have liked to please even more football fans at this stage, but there will be other ticket sales phases, the next one starting on 4 May. By implementing an electronic random selection draw, we are able to guarantee that the whole procedure remains fair and all applicants have an equal chance. This is very important to us," said David Will, FIFA Honorary Vice-President and chairman of the FIFA Ticketing Sub-Committee.

"We are obviously happy to see the huge number of South Africans that have successfully secured tickets for next year's FIFA World Cup. But of course we will continue to encourage all other South Africans as well as fellow Africans to apply for their tickets during the second phase so as not to miss out on this once in a lifetime experience," emphasised Danny Jordaan, CEO of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa.

Between today and the end of April 2009, all applicants will be informed via e-mail or SMS whether they were completely or partially successful or whether they were unsuccessful in securing all the tickets they applied for. Applicants who do not receive any correspondence by the end of this month should contact:

Residents of South Africa:
Post: 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Ticketing Centre (FWCTC) PO Box 4928, Cresta, 2118, South Africa
E-mail: enquiries@2010FWCTC.co.za
Phone: 083 123 2010
SMS: 083 123 2010

International General Public:
Post: 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Ticketing Centre (FWCTC) Aurorastrasse 100, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland
E-mail: enquiries@2010FWCTC.com
Fax: +41 43222 6800

Those who were unlucky this time will be able to submit further ticket requests from 4 May 2009, when the second ticket phase commences. It will remain open until 16 November 2009. During this second sales phase, tickets will be allocated on a "first come, first served, subject to availability" basis, i.e. applications will be processed in the order they are received. Tickets will be ready for collection at FIFA venue ticketing centres from April 2010.

FIFA Confederations Cup 2009
With less than two months before the kick-off of the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009, there have been requests for over 300,000 tickets, which accounts for almost 50 per cent of the tickets available for the event. Fans can order tickets online via www.FIFA.com. Additionally, in the host country, paper applications are available at all branches of FIFA sponsor FNB. Source: FIFA.com]]> FIFA WM 2010 FIFA WM 2010 Infos für Fans Topnews Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:57:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=411&cHash=e02dac21a28d221b999d65469410038d Artikel vom 16.04.2009 im |+| Handelsblatt. 29 330 Eintrittskarten für Spiele der Fußball-WM 2010 in Südafrika sind in London beim ersten elektronischen Losverfahren deutschen Fans zugeteilt worden.... |+| Handelsblatt. 29 330 Eintrittskarten für Spiele der Fußball-WM 2010 in Südafrika sind in London beim ersten elektronischen Losverfahren deutschen Fans zugeteilt worden. Dies teilte der Weltverband Fifa am Donnerstag mit. ]]> Pressespiegel FIFA WM 2010 Infos für Fans FIFA WM 2010 Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:58:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=401&cHash=06fe2cb56a28008d36acc2e99695373b The most coveted icon in world football will spread excitement throughout Africa later this year when the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola takes an unprecedented journey across the continent...
The initial four-month long leg of the Trophy Tour kicks off in Cairo in September 2009 and will draw to a close in Cape Town in December, around the time of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Finals draw.

At events in each city, fans will have the opportunity to have a souvenir photo taken of themselves with the trophy, view a special 3-D movie showcasing memorable moments of the FIFA World Cup, participate in interactive displays and enjoy other forms of entertainment.

The 2010 Trophy Tour draws on the huge success of the first global Trophy Tour held in 2006. The tour visited 31 cities in 29 countries, covering 63,734 miles (102,570 kilometres) with millions of fans around the world enjoying the chance to have a closer look at football’s most famous prize.

The FIFA World Cup trophy is awarded to the winning nation at each tournament. The iconic trophy measures 36.8 centimetres high, weighs at 6,175 grams and is made of solid 18-carat gold. The winners retain it until the next tournament and are awarded a replica that is gold-plated, rather than solid gold. The base contains two layers of semi-precious malachite, while the bottom side of the trophy bears the engraved year and name of each FIFA World Cup winner since 1974. Source: SA Good News]]> FIFA WM 2010 Fri, 17 Apr 2009 10:02:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=397&cHash=de4aa8b68cbc94349c1236fbdfa0c5cb The Departments of Education, Sport and Recreation, the Embassy of Iraq and the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Organising Committee South Africa (OC) would like to invite members of the media to join them as...
Saturday 18 April 2009
Western Cape Sports School – Cape Town, Western Cape
Address: Nooiensfontein Road, Kuilsriver
Time: 11:00 to 14:30

The visit forms part of the My 2010 School Adventure campaign, which aims to promote both education and participation in football using the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ as a platform for this. Part of the campaign, Adopt-a-Nation, saw the schools of all provinces each adopting a country participating in the upcoming FIFA Confederations Cup, with the Western Cape having adopted Iraq.

The Iraqi Embassy, along with officials from the Western Cape Departments of Education and Sport, will be present at the school where the four teams who won the Provincial My 2010 Competition will be gathered for a Training camp.  The winning schools are Lwazi Primary, Phakamisani Primary, Fezeka High and Western Cape Sports School.  The winning teams are both girls and boys teams in age groups of under 15 and senior, will participate in the National Competition on 14 – 16 May 2009.

During the training camp they will learn more about their adopted country, Iraq. Twelve selected grade 7 learners from the Western Cape will participate in the training camp by teaching the winning provincial soccer teams  about Iraqi culture. The learners will make and display artwork which depicts how they see life in Iraq. This will be followed by a training session and a football match be held at the school.

Please send your RSVP to janet.sebastian@2010oc.com or phone 083 2010 272.
]]> Topnews FIFA WM 2010 Presse Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:32:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=387&cHash=ff565d412bbd8b74c9fc3815f2dab0ab South Africa's 2010 Local Organising Committee (LOC) has stepped up efforts to market the Confederations Cup, 61 days before the tournament kicks off. The LOC together with government's 2010 Soccer...
]]> FIFA WM 2010 Pressespiegel Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:30:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=380&cHash=c580be36526a28004c5ce01e9a9d831e Kapstadt baut ein den FIFA Normen entsprechendes und 68.000 Plätze Weltklasse-Stadion in Green Point. In unserer Bildergalerie sehen Sie aktuelle Bilder der Bauarbeiten. Bildergalerie sehen Sie aktuelle Bilder der Bauarbeiten.]]> Topnews FIFA WM 2010 Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:57:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=378&cHash=0b4188fab7cd6fea905fd540d876ae15 The latest edition of Ke Nako Update Magazine with all the latest news from the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa is now available for download on the FIFA Media Channel (pdf, 6,4... FIFA Media Channel (pdf, 6,4 MB).]]> FIFA WM 2010 Topnews Presse Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:30:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=376&cHash=bde0b8ed82d376e48573a78183d4fffb As the refurbished Free State Stadium this weekend officially opened its gates, residents of the city of Mangaung/Bloemfontein equally impressively showed they're more than ready for the Fifa...
And while the city is a fanatical sporting mecca at the best of times, this weekend football frenzy had no bounds as the city proudly showcased its Confederations Cup credentials, just as Rustenburg's Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace did in opening their stadium last weekend.

Around 46 000 predominantly Celtic fans filed into the stadium today, creating a carnival atmosphere few football citadels in the world could match, as the incredible Celtic fans sang, danced and partied away in the stands in their most inimitable fashion.

Celtic's partisan fans in full swing are a joy to behold for any football fan. There was the sight today of thousands of them in their green and white hooped jerseys singing passionately in unison and swaying perfectly in sync from side to side - like a single, well-oiled football fan machine which would be the envy of any team in the world. Win or lose, Celtic fans - known as the Siwelele - are behind their team throughout. A huge banner in the crowd read ‘Bloemfontein Celtic FC. Siwelele Sa Masele. Ready for the Confederations Cup and World Cup'. And what a unique, wonderful element they will certainly add to those historic Fifa tournaments.

The fans, however, aren't the only ones gearing up for big match football, new hotels and businesses are springing up, including a brand new hotel - less than a kilometre from the stadium - which opened its doors just three weeks ago, in time for the Fifa Confederations Cup kick-off on June 14 this year.

The hotel, with its plush new fittings, distinctly African motifs and European power plug sockets, even boasts its own zoo on the hotel premises. The zoo comes complete with elephants, springbok and kudu, ensuring that even in the ‘city of roses' the wildlife feel is on the urban doorstep for Brazilian and Spanish fans travelling to the city for June's Confederations Cup. Service levels throughout the city were extremely impressive, with a sea of smiles and attention to every request given - with hotel staff even ringing up their guests in their rooms to check if they're comfortable - this without any prompting.

The stadium wasn't the only place that was buzzing this weekend. About 70 kilometres away, Tshediso Leeuw's entertainment centre was also a hotbed of activity, with business booming as locals watched the city's sporting action on a big screen in what is sure to be a popular public viewing area during the Fifa Confederations Cup 2009 and 2010 Fifa World Cup.

When Leeuw opened his establishment - quaintly called ‘Love and Happiness' - 15 years ago, it was a modest venue with just two employees. But today Leeuw has a staff of 23 and has brought job creation and newfound opportunities to the township, with his venue now a popular, sprawling entertainment centre.

A pre-match party the night before today's big game saw Leeuw's patrons entertained by popular South African artists and skilful soccer ball jugglers, as they partied the night away in high spirits.

"I know many people around here won't be able to see the live games, so we have put up a big screen and people can watch the games and be entertained at the same time. We've got a braai (barbecue) going and the vibe is totally African, like no other. We will be doing this on a bigger scale for the Confederations Cup and for 2010," said Leeuw, smiling broadly.

And for Leeuw, good football certainly means good business.

"On a normal Friday and Saturday we have between 200 and 250 people, but now there are more than 400 people partying ahead of the Celtic/Pirates game. This is a trial run and we are looking forward to showing the international fans, when they come from the Confederations Cup and 2010, how we do soccer here in Africa," added Leeuw, who regularly ploughs back into his community by providing seven bursaries annually to grade 12 pupils in the township, as well as hosting an annual party for the more than 700 pensioners in the area for the last six years.

In addition to his entertainment centre, Leeuw also owns a grocery store and liquor store located next door.

"My dreams of growing my business and helping my community, as well as seeing this place full of people enjoying themselves, are coming true. I know for the Confederations Cup there will be even more people here and we are looking forward to being good hosts to the international fans so they can also enjoy our African hospitality," said Leeuw.

Mangaung is a city with an impressive architectural and historical heritage woven into the very fabric of the modern, developing city of Manguang - true to its motto of being a ‘city on the move'.

This weekend, though, it held true to another popular slogan for the Fifa Confederations Cup - that being ‘Ke Nako (It's time). Time to host the Champions'.

For Mangaung/Bloemfontein's it's very much time to roll out the world's football champions and biggest megastars - this friendly, football mad city's certainly more than ready. Source: http://www.sa2010.gov.za/node/1973]]> FIFA WM 2010 Pressespiegel Tue, 07 Apr 2009 11:35:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=374&cHash=13e0d414d7f38d9a0af92839155a6161 In a massive boost for the 2010 Fifa World Cup™ legacy programme, the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF) on Monday made a major contribution to a programme which will significantly aid...
The NLDTF has granted R81-million in support of the 2010 Artificial Football Turf programme. Under the programme a total of 27 Fifa one star artificial turfs will be built over the next three years in rural and township areas around South Africa. These facilities will also complement the South African Football Association’s (Safa) grassroots programme by providing the much needed facilities.

“One of the worst legacies of sport under apartheid is the dearth of football facilities in disadvantaged areas and the complete lack of recognition and support by the apartheid government of the sport,” OC Chief Executive Officer Dr Danny Jordaan said at the announcement today.

“That is why when we bid to host the 2010 Fifa World Cup we did so on the basis that it leaves a lasting legacy for football in South Africa. We need to strengthen grassroots development by providing quality football fields to accelerate the generation of world class players at the level of the regions of Safa. The 27 fields will be the catalyst to build a new generation of footballers and I am delighted that the World Cup can contribute to this important development,” explained Jordaan.

The proposed facilities are to be built with synthetic surfaces which reduces the cost of upkeep on a continual basis. It is proposed that at each facility there will be a clubhouse and office for use by the local football community.

The OC, through its legacy sub-committee and in conjunction with Safa has identified the first nine facilities for the year 2008, one in each of the nine provinces.

“The NLDTF places emphasis on areas of greatest need and greatest potential, so that all South Africans can gain from, and contribute to, South Africa’s development. In supporting this project, the National Lottery Distribution Fund is confident that the grant will have a positive impact on the communities the facilities will serve,” said NLDTF media liaison manager Sershan Naidoo.

The NLDTF, which relies on funds generated by the National Lottery, currently has in the region of R2 billion a year to distribute to registered non-profit organisations in the fields of charities, arts, culture and national heritage and sport and recreation that meet the qualifying criteria. Source: http://www.sa2010.gov.za/node/1977]]> FIFA WM 2010 Topnews Tue, 07 Apr 2009 11:19:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=372&cHash=3245b421412cf72a98bf0ae856b5ad97 Thousands of European fans travelling to the Fifa World Cup in 2010 will disembark at OR Tambo Airport as part of a plan that will see specific nationalities directed to "hub" airports around the... FIFA WM 2010 FIFA WM 2010 Infos für Fans Pressespiegel Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:07:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=370&cHash=0477a8c379d5e5e32e1ad4c0f848ce9e OR Tambo International Airport took a step further to being ready for 2010 as the new R2.3 billion Central Terminal Building (CTB) was declared fully operational during a celebratory function held...
“With the completion of the CTB, passengers will be able to enjoy a fully complete multi-level terminal building that links the existing two terminals,” said the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) in a statement.   

In line with existing airport flow, departures activity will be predominantly on the upper level with arrivals activity on the ground level. The mezzanines will offer retail facilities and basements will be in use for services and baggage handling.

The consolidation of the international and domestic terminals is expected to provide and overall improved experience to visitors to the airport.   ACSA believes that the changes will reduce congestion, improve queue management and make it easy for the travelling public to navigate their way around the airport and within the building.

The new CTB forms part of the airports overall terminal upgrade project which is now 95% complete. Other projects that have been completed in the past two years include the international pier, the duty free mall extension and the multi-storey parking extension.

ACSA says that by the time visitors start arriving for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the airport construction will be complete. Source: SAGoodNews
Picture: ACSA]]> FIFA WM 2010 Topnews Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:02:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=368&cHash=1f6151732f1ef79b6e77c5494864fcaf The City of Cape Town is building a world-class, FIFA-compliant 68 000-seat stadium in Green Point. This will serve as a semi-final venue in 2010 and a sustainable multi-purpose venue thereafter for...
Despite initial concerns about costs, the distance of the stadium in relation to the majority of the city's soccer fans, and objections by residents of the Green Point area, construction is going ahead as planned and is scheduled for completion in October 2009 - a FIFA requirement. The tender has been awarded to a joint venture between Murray & Roberts and WBHO.

After the World Cup, the City will lease the stadium to an operator as a commercial venture for an estimated 30 years. The operating lease will include managing the urban park and Common surrounding the stadium. The top tier of seats inside the stadium will be removed, leaving 55 000 seats, and space to use for income generation. Source: City of Cape Town]]> FIFA WM 2010 Mon, 06 Apr 2009 11:44:00 +0200 http://www.suedafrika.org/index.php?id=58&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=366&cHash=771af80df8089eeefd424d71a67f5260 The first phase of ticket sales for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa ended at midnight on 31 March with applications for a total of 1,635,136 tickets since tickets first went on sale on 20...
“This impressive total underlines the extraordinary level of interest all over the globe. Not surprisingly, the opening match and the final are most sought after. But we are delighted that the team specific series is in such big demand, even before the actual fixtures for the tournament are known,” said David Will, FIFA Honorary Vice-President and Chairman of the FIFA Ticketing Sub-Committee.

All applications received will be entered into a random selection draw which will be held on 15 April 2009. Applicants will be informed, either via email or SMS, by the end of this month at the latest, letting them know whether their application was successful or not. Further details on the first round of applications will be made available after all the data has been processed following the Draw.

“It is very pleasing to see the huge global interest in the first African FIFA World Cup. We want to encourage even more South Africans and Africans to apply for their FIFA World Cup tickets during the next sales phase, so they do not miss out on this unique once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Danny Jordaan, CEO of the 2010 Organising Committee.

The ticketing application site on www.FIFA.com will remain closed until the second sales phase, which will start on 4 May 2009, and will then remain open until 16 November Tickets will then be allocated on a first come, first served basis, subject to availability in this sales period, i.e. applications will be processed in the order they are received.

Source: FIFA]]> FIFA WM 2010 Topnews Mon, 06 Apr 2009 11:23:00 +0200