Archive for the ‘South Africa World Cup 2010’ Category

Move to South Africa for the World Cup 2010.

With only 260 days to go until the World Cup moves to South Africa, things are beginning to reach boiling point for the first ever tournament on African soil.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter was getting hot under the collar after the issue of security in South Africa was again raised by the media.

The normally placid Swede reacted with irritation to repeat suggestions that violence and crime threaten to overshadow the event.

“This is a country that already gets 11 million tourists every year, who go there because they like the place. They have had World Cups in cricket and rugby. Let us please drop these questions and get out there and support and trust the South Africans,” seethed Sepp.

And no wonder he was angry with scare-mongering horror headlines in the English media (Daily Telegraph) that warned England fans are “virtually certain’ to die” at the World Cup. While rival paper the Guardian published figures showing crime in South Africa is on the increase with just nine months to go before the games start:

In Rustenburg, tipped to be the England squad’s base, cases of sex crimes, assault, robbery with aggravating circumstances and kidnapping all increased on the previous year.

Imagine the rise in incidents when the England squad and their Wags arrive!

The 41,000 security officers currently being trained to work in South Africaand handle fans’ security may find themselves better allocated to keeping a 24-hour tantrum watch on England forward Wayne Rooney or having a constant sniper rifle pointed at Danielle Lloyd, the gobby glamour model, Big Brother racist and current ex-Wag of England soccer ace Jermain Dafoe.

Maybe we all need to cool down and take a refreshing cup of fizzy pop? Well, good news is at hand with the announcement that Coca-Cola is sponsoring a pre-tournament 225-day world tour to boost awareness for this little known tournament.

The 2010 World Cup Trophy will be on show across 86 countries and fans will be able to slake their thirst for football with a rare glimpse of the glittering 18-carat gold trophy.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter, surely a lot calmer after hearing about all the millions of pounds his organistion will indirectly gain as a result of the deal,  is backing Coca-Cola as the brand to epitomize the “unique spirit and the celebrations that football inspires.”

The drinks brand will also sponsor a dance contest to find the best dancer at next year’s World Cup. Blatter and the suits at Coke may got a shock when they see warm lager and shouting uncouth barbs at rival fans tend to be the cultural preserve of most football fans.

But as long as you have a valid South African visa, you’ll be welcome to enjoy the World Cup no matter what your tipple or fancy.

South Africa World Cup news

 Things seem to perking up at last  in South Africa as preparations for the nation’s biggest sporting spectacle gathers fresh steam.

Latest news suggests that the six stadiums to be used for the World Cup games are now 80 per cent complete and bang on their respective schedules to be ready for the tournament.

This is certainly soothing news for all the sponsors and advertisers who must have been getting a little hot around the collar as stories in the press about delays in building work, inadequate transport links for fans, and visitor security problems were getting as many column inches of doom-mongering as levels of testosterone in the bloodstream of Caster Semenya.

This week also sees the launch of the latest visitor information centre  in Polokwane, Limpopo. The R 6.7million state-of-the-art building will join similar centres across South Africa, all geared up to cater for the 450, 000 expected visitors to the country for the soccer spectacular. Just one more goal met in the organisers’ plans.

All this splendid news has prompted one key member of that organising plan to refer to the expected 26 billion eyeballs that will be fixed on television sets and South Africa’s reputation as host, as a potential “30-day commercial” for the country.

The sentiment comes from Honorary Doctor of Philosophy Irvin Khoza and Local Organising Committee Chairman for the World Cup. He mused: “Think of the tournament as a 30-day commercial for South Africa – a 30-day television commercial to be watched by many billions of cumulative audience all around the globe – this is the scale of our opportunity for South Africans to present this country effectively and proactively.”

The LOC chairman further philosophised it was up to South Africans to decide what would be their message. With recent research into South African attitudes towards the World Cup showing a more positive reaction than ever before, that “30-day commercial” could have a happy message to it after all.

And finally… with news just breaking that reality television show and World Cup ratings rival  Big Brother will leave Channel 4 next summer, for anyone who cannot stand the thought of watching a pitch or a house of over-hyped, money-hungry, talentless spooks – the World Cup is at least 60 days less to bear.