FIFA Fans in South Africa
Monday, January 4, 2010
Every South African is being asked what they are going to do to welcome the world to South Africa during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, according to the Daily News newspaper in the coastal city of Durban.
Danny Jordaan, the chief executive of FIFA's local organizing committee in South Africa, told the newspaper that for five years the country had worked hard to prepare for the World Cup.
Five of the 10 football stadiums for the tournament had been built from scratch and plans for the support infrastructure were on track.
"What is needed is greater public enthusiasm... the challenge now is to mobilise the nation," he said.
The country needed South Africans in their workplaces and their communities "to stand up and decide what they are doing to welcome the world ... every South African must ask: 'What am I doing to be a good host?' "
More than 15 000 volunteers from 52 countries would soon be selected and begin training to help the country deliver the games and host the multitudes of visitors, he said.
From now on people must "play their part" in ensuring that we "come together as one nation to deliver the best Fifa World Cup ever".
The successful hosting of the event was the responsibility of all South Africans.
"This is the year when as a nation we will open our doors, hearts and sporting spirits to the world. This is our time. This is our year."
Jordaan's spokesman, Rich Mkhondo, said: "There are many ways that people can help. Are they learning Spanish and French so that they can greet visitors? What about volunteering to be a marshal at a public viewing area?" .
Deputy mayor of Durban Logie Naidoo said that since the final draw at the beginning of December "you can already feel the excitement and vibe".
He was heartened by the fact that he had already seen multi-racial audiences at the Durban's massive Moses Mabhida Stadium.
"This is an indication that we are uniting as a nation around soccer and preparing for 2010."
Durban would be launching a publicity campaign to promote the event and the city, and South African Tourism would be holding a celebration at the 100-days-to-go mark (in March) "to get the whole country involved".
More than three million people will attend the 64 matches in the tournament, of whom 450 000 will be from overseas.
More than 300 broadcasters and 18 000 journalists will cover the games, which will be watched by a cumulative audience of 26 billion around the world. {#}
Labels: Fans, FIFA, South Africa
posted @ 8:40 AM,
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