‘Touch the earth lightly’ is the message that will be conveyed to FIFA Fan Fest™ visitors on the Grand Parade throughout the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

Host City Cape Town’s environmental programme for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, ‘Green Goal 2010’, will be showcased at the FIFA Fan Fest™ in a structure specifically designed to demonstrate the use of materials that are either recycled, reusable, reclaimed or newly purchased, but earmarked for reuse afterwards.

The Green Goal 2010 Expo takes this idea to a highly sustainable level by sourcing most of the construction materials within a 2,5km radius of the site thereby reducing the carbon footprint of the structure.

The form of the Green Goal 2010 Expo structure is a cube. The exterior is clad in a matrix of
1 450 multi-coloured plastic milk crates containing 17 400 empty milk bottles, all tied to a scaffolding frame. Low energy lighting illuminates the crates from behind, turning it into a glowing ‘jewel box’ by night.

Local references to indigenous plants, Fynbos smells, colours and quiet spaces, subtly entice visitors to connect with the natural world inside. A ‘forest’ of bamboo flags wave in the wind, announcing the Green Goal 2010 exhibition from afar.

Commenting on the Green Goal 2010 Expo at the Fan Fest, Lorraine Gerrans, City of Cape Town Manager: Green Goal 2010 FIFA World Cup™, stated that South Africa adapted the event-greening programme initiated by Germany, hosts of the 2006 FIFA World Cup™, and developed the Green Goal 2010 Programme to reduce the World Cup's adverse effects on the environment.

Host City Cape Town developed a Green Goal Action Plan with 41 projects that contributes to environmental awareness, waste minimisation, efficient energy use, sustainable water consumption, compensation for the event's carbon footprint, responsible tourism and green building, which takes future generations into account when building structures such as the Cape Town Stadium.

“Some of these interventions can be seen at the Fan Fest. For example, there will be no disposable cups or plates and fans buying refreshments will be sold commemorative 2010 cups. Waste will be avoided and minimised and if this is not possible, then fans are encouraged to separate wet and dry waste in the two-bin system at the Fan Fest, along the Fan Walk and at the Cape Town Stadium. The Fan Fest will be powered by renewable energy from the Darling Wind Farm, ” she said.

The drinking of tap water will also be promoted as part of the Green Goal 2010 programme, thus reducing waste. Drinking water fountains have been installed at the Fan Fest and along the Fan Walk, and videos promoting the fact that Cape Town’s tap water is safe to drink, will be shown on the big screens at the Fan Fest throughout the tournament.

Commenting on the Green Goal Expo, Mike Marsden, the City’s Executive Director: Transport, Roads and Major Projects and responsible for 2010, said: “The event will place global environmental issues, such as climate change, under a spotlight, and is an opportunity to promote pro-active approaches to these issues among local and international audiences. We are extremely proud of the responsible action taken by Host City Cape Town and in particular of the Green Goal 2010 programme that resulted in the many environmentally friendly interventions that can be seen at the Green Goal Expo at the FIFA Fan Fest™.”

Fans and locals will have the chance to visit the Green Goal 2010 Expo at the Fan Fest on the Grand Parade during the entire course of the tournament.

For more information on the Host City Cape Town FIFA 2010 World Cup™ Green Goal Programme visit www.capetown.gov.za/fifaworldcup 

For more information on the Green Goal 2010 Expo at the Fan Fest click here.