Now is the time to be the perfect host

Although Bafana Bafana has bowed out of the World Cup, Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato has urged Capetonians to continue filling up the fan fest and fan jols around the city for the party of a lifetime.

Plato heaped praise on the citizens of the city, saying that South Africa was proud of hosting big events such as the soccer tournament. “We have shown the world that we ready to take on big events. We have thrown the red carpet for our visitors.

“These people will go back to their countries and tell the good news about the good time they have had in our country. Thank you Capetonians for hosting our visitors,” he said. Plato said that the fans should continue enjoying the games at the fan parks even though Bafana Bafana has bowed out of the tournament with pride. He said the World Cup was only half-way through, now, and the celebrations should continue.

Meanwhile the City’s Economic, Social Development and Tourism directorate reported that restaurants, informal traders and shopping malls were experiencing “better than usual business” as foreign fans flocked in for the matches.

“The V&A Waterfront shopping mall has seen a record increase in the amount of visitors in the first week of the World Cup, said Mansoor Mohammed, Executive Director for Economic, Social Development and Tourism.

“Suburban shopping malls in Cape Town like Cavendish, Century City and Tygervalley have also seen a spike in sales.

“The restaurants in Cape Town are trading better than expected, with some beating their actual Christmas figures,” he said.

FIFA Fan Fest™, Grand Parade

Today was AfriFAN Day at the Fan Fest, and we couldn’t be any prouder after Bafana Bafana’s win yesterday.

Small groups of fans drifted into the Fan Fest to enjoy the music and relax after yesterday’s pandemonium during the dramatic encounter between Bafana Bafana and France.

Jermaine Adams and friend Zubeida Kramer (pictured right) said they were sad at the ousting of the national squad from the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, but would continue to watch all matches from the Fan Fest.

“We are both working nearby but we come and go to watch the games,” said Jermaine. “The vibe and the music are both cool.” They said they would support Portugal as the tournament progresses.

Wearing his English supporters’ vest, Chris Foster and his wife Emma (pictured right below) were enjoying a beer in the chill area while basking in the warm sunshine. While they were guarded in their assessments of England’s chances, they said they were enjoying their first visit to Cape Town.

They rated food and drink at the Waterfront as ”expensive” compared to other cities, but said they would definitely return to the Mother City. “In fact we’re coming back here for a holiday in February next year,” said Chris.

Before all the fun and games began today, we took a look at 45m² collective shop in the FIFA Fan Fest™ area. It offers the most beautiful handmade craft products that make ideal gifts and will bring back memories long after the final whistle has blown.

From wire soccer men and beaded boots to exquisite ceramic bowls encircled with soccer players, there is a vast selection to suit all tastes and pockets.

It’s comforting to know that all the products have been carefully checked by a panel comprising the City of Cape Town and its Rights Protection Unit and the Cape Craft and Design Institute (CCDI), to ensure that they are handmade, from the Western Cape, and do not flout FIFA rights protection guidelines!



World Cup could leave Cape Town a safer city

South Africa has spent around 217 million US dollars (to date) on safety and security measures for the World Cup, but the good news is that Cape Town and South Africa will probably be a safer place thereafter…

This was the suggestion from Dr Scarlet Cornelissen, Department of Political Science at Stellenbosch University, after preliminary findings from her research into the measures put in place during the World Cup.

The Final Whistle team heard that security for mega sporting events changed forever after “9/11”, and that ‘securitisation’, as it is known, now adds significantly to the cost and success criteria for any host city or country.

Beijing, for example, spent 6.5 billion US dollars to secure the Olympic Games – the most expensive sports security operation ever. The bill included the cost of 110 000 security personnel.

And Toronto’s 2010 Summit this weekend will cost that city 1.2 billion US dollars. South Africa’s 217 million USD bill includes 41 000 police officers, excluding all the private security personnel, volunteers and local authority police working day and night to ensure that visitors experience the city and the country as a safe destination.

These measures are essential, says Dr Cornelissen, particularly in the light of persistently negative international reporting.

So far the plan is working – with visitors reporting that they feel safe and welcome. And Cape Town will be left with not only a reputation as a safe and welcome destination, but will have accumulated new knowledge about large-scale policing, will benefit from improved security infrastructure (such as additional CCTV cameras and an extended City Improvement District area), and will have learned how to co-ordinate multi-tiered private-public policing.

Residents visit public viewing areas in their 100s of 1000s

A total of 600 000 fans have watched the World Cup tournament at Cape Town Stadium, FIFA Fan Fest™ and the four fan jols across the metro area, according to figures released by the City of Cape Town today.

Spectator numbers for the four games at Cape Town Stadium add up to 255 000. The FIFA Fan Fest™ on the Grand Parade has hosted more than 234 000 people, while some 104 000 people have watched the games at one of the City’s four fan jols at the Bellville Velodrome, the OR Tambo Hall in Khayelitsha, Vygieskraal in Athlone and the Swartklip Sport Complex in Mitchells Plain.

The MyCiTi shuttle has ferried more than 73 000 people to and from the Cape Town Stadium; while a total of 162 000 fans have walked the 2.5km fan walk, which is the pedestrian route to and from the stadium on match days. The fan walk has become an integral part of the match day experience and people have been entertained by a range of performers and enjoyed local food and wares.

As Cape Town reaches the halfway-mark in its hosting of 2010 FIFA World Cup™ matches, the City is pleased with the smooth running of the event thus far. Cape Town Stadium will host one more first-round match tomorrow, Thursday, 24 June.

Cape Town Stadium will then host a round of 16 game on 29 June; a quarter-final match on 03 July and a semi-final match on 06 July.

The competition is expected to get more exciting each day as the tournament moves through the knock out stages. Large numbers of supporters are expected to congregate in viewing areas across Cape Town. The FIFA Fan Fest™ will be open for every 2010 FIFA World Cup™ match, from 11:00 – 23:00. The four fan jols throughout Cape Town will be open on all Cape Town match days, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final matches and entrance is free.

Please keep using public transport to travel to and from the stadium or the public viewing areas on match days.

Where’s the jol tomorrow?

Tomorrow is Dutch Day at the Fan Fest, and the 25 000 Dutch-born passport holders living in Cape Town are expected to join their countryfolk and other Dutch fans at the Fest. (There is even a Miss Oranje!) The Dutch supporters have proved to be fun-loving, good-looking orange-clad fans, so if you’re supporting Cameroon in their match tomorrow you better go all out in support of our African country people!

To see what’s in store entertainment-wise take a look at http://www.capetownfifafanfest.com/