by brono pisino
With less than 300 days to go to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, South Africa is in top gear in terms of preparation and spirit. Receiving a shot in the arm for successfully hosting and organizing the recently held Confederations Cup, the country is all set to deliver on its promise to host a spectacular World Cup for fans worldwide. Even US President Obama is expected to attend the opening ceremony! Wonder if he'll get into the spirit of the game and wear a soccer shirt or the South African makaraba hat?! Or, who knows, maybe he'll even have his own vuvuzela to blow on! Dr Danny Jordaan, Chief Executive Officer of the Organizing Committee, stressed that the 300 day mark should serve as a reminder of the important work completed and more that still needs to be done in the build up to the tournament. "It is important to record this milestone as a significant one in our country's history, but for those involved in organizing the tournament - from the construction worker to the marketing executive - it is just another marker along the route to ensuring the World Cup is a success," said Dr Jordaan. The completion of the stadiums, infrastructure and transportation projects, the initiation of the volunteer program and the World Cup Final Draw are some milestones to cross on the way to 2010.
Fourth of December, 2009, is a big day for the country and Cape Town in specific as it will host the World Cup Final Draw. The 32 teams who qualify for the World Cup will be drawn into groups for the first round of the tournament. South Africa took another step towards World Cup readiness by launching its first visitor information centre. This and other Visitor Information Centers is the government's initiative to boost tourism in the host cities of Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth, Nelspruit, Polokwane and Mangaung/Bloemfontein. Developed at a cost of 6.7 million rand, the centers will be a one-stop, centralized service to assist fans with information regarding tourism products.
Another shot in the arm for South Africa is President Obama's expected attendance at the opening ceremony of the 2010 World Cup that will take place in Johannesburg on the 11th of June. FIFA's president, Sepp Blatter, revealed Obama's acceptance of the invitation during a special media discussion in Johannesburg. This would mark Obama's first visit to Africa since he was elected President of the US. The opening ceremony will kick off at Soccer City, the ultra modern 100,000 capacity stadium, with either hosts Bafana Bafana or former world champions Italy playing. Blatter emphasized that the world should trust South Africa, which will deliver one of the most memorable World Cups ever! After all, the country passed the test of hosting the Confederations Cup with flying colors. And that bodes well for the 2010 World Cup. So, book your tickets, buy your soccer uniforms and other soccer merchandise and make your way to the centre stage of world soccer - South Africa 2010!
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