Imagine that our earth and every living creature (including ourselves) on it are part of a giant soccer match – but everyone is losing. The Earth United team needs to work a lot harder to ensure that we win the game, and that our earth and the life it sustains are able to carry on.

This is the message of a new environmental education product developed by the City’s Environmental Resource Management Department. Consisting of a poster and a teacher’s guide, the Soccer and the Environment “Making Connections” project is one of more than 40 identified for implementation in South Africa’s 2010 Green Goal Action Plan.

The ‘game’ is aimed at Grade Seven learners, helping them to become more environmentally aware and sensitive to local issues.

The unique feature of Making Connections is that the exploration of environmental issues is developed through the game of soccer, and every soccer action on the poster has an environmental action linked to it.

For example, while learning about First Aid and injuries, Grade Sevens discover that the world is like a human body: the more ‘knocks’ it takes, the more damage is done, and the longer it takes to heal. ‘Injuries’ to the planet include soil erosion, climate change, and water and air pollution.

Our earth has already been weakened by years of damage, so it is more likely to suffer injury. We need to repair it through good environmental practices (injury prevention) and preparedness to step in when disasters occur (first aid)…

The coach trains the players to use their skills and passion for the benefit of the team. You too, Grade Sevens learn, can coach others to become champions for the environment…

Perhaps learners would like to model themselves on the referee instead? The match officials ensure fair play, and uphold the rules of the game they learn. Similarly, government and environmental activists enforce the laws that are there to protect the environment.

With each soccer action or role player, class activities are designed to show learners how to score a ‘green goal’ and make a positive impact on our earth.

The project is funded by the City of Cape Town and the Royal Danish Embassy.

On 23 January, football fans will get to test the brand new R4.5 billion Cape Town Stadium at the inaugural match of the Cape Town Stadium Soccer Festival.

The match, which is hosted by the City of Cape Town and sponsored by Virgin Active, will be between Premier Soccer League giants Santos and Ajax Cape Town. All available Twenty thousand tickets have already been sold.

“The Cape Town Stadium Soccer Festival affords us the chance to celebrate the ingenuity of the team behind the magnificent Cape Town Stadium, as well as the rich traditions of Cape Town football in the match between Ajax Cape Town and Santos,” says Ross Faragher-Thomas, Managing Director of Virgin Active, the official sponsor of the Cape Town Soccer Festival.

“The Cape Town Stadium is a venue that should make all South Africans proud, not just those from the mother city, and we at Virgin Active are delighted to play our part in this most historic of occasions.

“We know that this event will be well supported by the people of Cape Town, who are passionate about their football, but also their achievements as a city, and we look forward to enjoying the day of celebration with them.” The schedule for the day is:

• 14:00 Gates open Roving podium entertainment
• 15:20 Official blessing of the field and opening of the stadium
• 15:30 Musical performance by Freshly Ground
• 16:00 Ajax Cape Town vs Santos game 1st half
• 16:45 Vuvuzela orchestra performance
• 17:00 Ajax Cape Town vs Santos game 2nd half
• 17:45 Final whistle
• 17:55 Official trophy ceremony
• 19:00 Gates close

The match is being used as an opportunity for the operators of the stadium, SAIL STADEFRANCE to test the stadium’s systems and processes by slowly building-up to the full 68 000 capacity in a number of different games before the 2010 FIFA World CupTM event.

Tickets were available from Computicket and cost between R30 and R50. Parking tickets, of which 3 000 were for sale, were priced at R20, and were only available from Computicket. Fans will not be able to buy match tickets or parking tickets at the stadium on the day.

The City of Cape Town will be providing a free shuttle service from the Civic Centre in Hertzog Boulevard to the stadium and back. To use this facility, all fans need do is present their match tickets.

A helpline has been set up for those who require additional information on the event and can be reached on 021 487 6800.

Martin Pollack

Champagne flowed and balloons were released into the sky as the new Cape Town Stadium was officially handed over to the City of Cape Town on a perfect summer afternoon on 14 December 2009.

At a ceremony in front of over 200 invited guests and the media representatives from around the world, Executive Mayor Alderman Dan Plato, received the keys to the stadium and proudly declared that “this stadium is ready to welcome the world”.

He said the ceremony was to “celebrate the new stadium and also the city” and later kicked a soccer ball around the new pitch.

The state-of-the-art stadium – which will seat 68,000 for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and will host eight matches, including a semi-final – was completed on schedule, just 32 months after the first sod was turned.

Plato said the R4.5-billion stadium was the biggest project of its kind ever undertaken in Cape Town, and is regarded as a triumph in both design and construction, despite some challenges during the construction period.

“But it has been worth the wait. Capetonians are proud of it, and pictures of it are being e-mailed around the world.

According to Mike Marsden, Executive Director for Service Delivery Integration, the target completion date was achieved through a “magnificent team effort” and thanked all those involved in the stadium, including the main building contractors, Murray & Roberts and WBHO and their “committed and dedicated workforce” of 2 500, as well as the professional team and City professional team.

The key issues in getting it ready in time included resolve, resources and skills, he said. “It’s a remarkable achievement.”

Marsden added that the structure is a “stadium of beauty” comparable to iconic structures elsewhere, such as the Sydney Opera House and Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. “This stadium will be identifiable with Cape Town,” he said.

Plato described the stadium as a “wonderful piece of art” and said it has a “grand, spacious, timeless design”.

“I can assure the whole world that this stadium will be a legacy for the entire country. Cape Town Stadium is set to be one of the world’s sporting landmarks. In this very arena, the best of the world will do battle. It will also be the iconic image of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.”

Plato also reiterated that it is a stadium for all Capetonians, not just for those in Green Point, where it is situated.

“People of Cape Town, this is your stadium, it is our stadium. I hope it will give us all the joy and the pleasure we deserve. This stadium is ready for the world.”

Martin Pollack

The success of the Final Draw proves that South Africa could deliver on the promise of hosting a world-class event, said the CEO of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Organising Committee South Africa, Dr Danny Jordaan.

The Final Draw, in which the eight groups for next year’s FIFA World Cup™ were decided, was made at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Friday 4 December 2009.

“We promised the country a spectacular and world-class event and we delivered on that promise. It was a great celebration of Africa which triggered a wave of passion and support on the streets of Cape Town, across South Africa and around the world,” said Jordaan.

Executive Mayor Dan Plato said he had received congratulatory messages from across the world.  “The hosting of the series of events around the Final Draw and the event itself proves that Cape Town and South Africa are indeed ready to host 2010 World Cup.

“We had two events with 120 000 and 55 000 strong crowds respectively. There were no incidents and the atmosphere was fantastic.  I would like to thank all Capetonians for being wonderful and supportive hosts.  You put up with some disruption and inconvenience, but your support was crucial and greatly appreciated and made these events a resounding success.”

Premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille, said on Saturday the proceedings were a “great success for Cape Town and South Africa”.

Cape Town also showed the world just why it plans to be the party capital of the FIFA World Cup™, with thousands of revellers descending on Long Street to watch the Final Draw on five giant screens.

Fans carrying flags and vuvuzelas gathered in Long Street from early Friday afternoon, where they were entertained by numerous live acts, including the Miss World contestants. FIFA President Sepp Blatter officially launched the FIFA Fan Fest project at 14:00.

With perfect warm summer weather, and Table Mountain towering in the background, the festival was Cape Town’s chance to showcase itself.

Up to 18 000 were expected at the Long Street Festival, but nearly double that number had descended on the cordoned-off area by the time the Final Draw was being made, and officials had to restrict access. Wale Street between Adderley and Loop streets was also closed off to deal with the overflow of fans. The surrounding streets soon filled with revellers, and the party continued long into the night, watched over by a large number of security officials.

The festival gave Capetonians a taste of what to expect at the official World Cup™ Fan Fest at the Grand Parade, where large numbers of people will congregate to watch the games live on big screens.

The City was also able to use the event to test its safety and security systems ahead of the World Cup™, and showcase to an international audience how Cape Town will cope with large numbers of spectators in the city centre, and ensure a safe street revellers’ experience.

Fans in Long Street were glued to the big screen to watch as numerous celebrities and dignitaries arrived on the red carpet outside the Cape Town International Convention Centre, and the excitement was palpable as Charlize Theron said: “Now is the time to draw the teams and find out who will be playing whom in 2010.”

There was excited speculation about the groups and which teams would be playing which opponents as the Final Draw was being made.

According to Jordaan, it is now important to “keep that passion and support for the World Cup alive, not just in terms of what happens on the field but also in terms of selling tickets”.

The next phase of ticket sales has opened on FIFA.com. To date 674 403 tickets have been sold, with 361 582 of those going to South Africans.

Martin Pollack

The City of Cape Town is pulling out all the stops to demonstrate its readiness to welcome the thousands of soccer fans and dignitaries who are expected to attend the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final Draw™ today, Friday 4 December 2009.

The Draw, which will determine the match schedule for the 32 participating teams in next year’s FIFA World Cup™, will be held at 19:00 on Friday 4 December at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). More than 3 000 dignitaries and media representatives are expected to attend the event, which will be broadcast live to an estimated audience of 150 million people in 200 countries around the world. “Cape Town is ready to host the world and to demonstrate its professionalism, creativity and expertise through this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” says Executive Mayor Dan Plato.

Long Street festival

As part of the event, the City has also organised a one-day festival in Long Street where residents can watch the ceremony on large television screens. Upper Long Street, from Dorp Street to Buitensingel, and adjoining streets, will be closed off to traffic and transformed into a pedestrian zone between the Long Street Baths and Wale Street. Top South African artists such as Freshlyground and Jimmy Dludlu will provide live entertainment between noon to midnight, to an anticipated 15 000 revellers. “We wish to thank Long Street residents, business owners and churches for supporting this event,” says Lesley de Reuck, Director 2010: Operations. Besides creating a sense of excitement among locals, the event is aimed at showcasing a safe street revellers’ experience to an international audience. “We are most grateful to all the City employees who have walked the extra mile and gone beyond the call of duty to
get Cape Town in shipshape condition for the Final Draw,” says Mayor Plato.

Festival programme

In addition to the great lineup of musicians, there will be all sorts of other entertainment, including carnival characters, stilt walkers and fire dancers.

* 12:00 – Cultural Performers
* 13:30 – Alistar Izobel and Band
* 13.55 – Alistar Izobel sings ‘Welcome to Cape Town’, joined by Zakumi to welcome FIFA representatives to launch the Fan Fest project.
* 14:00 – Fan Fest launch (with onstage photo opportunities)
* 14:20 – Cultural performers (four acts to perform for approximately 20 minutes each)
* 16:20 – Fancy Galada
* 16:45 – To be confirmed
* 17:02 – Flat Stanley
* 17:35 – TKZee
* 18:15 – K’Naan
* 19:00 – Live draw broadcast
* 20:45 – ‘Africa Unite’ Segment (song produced by Cedric Samson)
* 20:52 – Freshlyground
* 21:50 – Cassette
* 22:45 – Jimmy Dludlu
* 24:00 – Wind-down to end

Entrance is free of charge.

Note that the programme is subject to change.

Rolling out the red carpet

In the lead-up to the Final Draw at 19:00, the City is to host a spectacular ‘red carpet’ event to welcome VIPs and media to the CTICC. Top artists, including the Grammy Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir, singer-songwriter Angélique Kidjo (from Benin) and Johnny Clegg will perform in a 90-minute live show. The Long Street festivities will give Capetonians a taste of what next year’s FIFA World Cup Fan Fest™ on the Grand Parade will be like.
The Fan Fest concept, first used in Germany in 2006, provides fans with an opportunity to watch games live on big video screens and enjoy food and beverages in a festive atmosphere. In addition to the FIFA Fan Fest™, there will be four City public viewing areas, at the Athlone Civic Centre, the Bellville Velodrome, the Oliver Tambo Centre in Khayelitsha, and at the Swartklip Sports Complex in Mitchells Plain.

Martin Pollack

The City of Cape Town is hard at work preparing for the eagerly-anticipated Final Draw next Friday 4 December. Roads are being cordoned off, stages are under construction, and banners are being hung to welcome the thousands of people expected to throng into the city centre.

The Draw will be an internationally televised event at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) to determine the match order of the 32 participating teams. Over 150 million people from 200 countries are expected to watch. It will be accompanied by a festival on Long Street which has been organised to give Capetonians a taste of how the fan parks will function. The Long Street event will feature live entertainment, including top South African artists such as Freshlyground and Jimmy Dludlu from 12:00 and video links to the CTICC so that revellers can watch the Draw live at 19:00. The festival is expected to go on late into the night.

The Draw will be attended by some 3 000 international guests, including team representatives, FIFA executives, celebrities, sponsors and the international media, and the Long Street festival is expected to attract about 15 000 people. Altogether, both events are expected to boost this year’s visitor figure to over a million.

The annual switching on of Cape Town’s festive lights in Adderley Street on Sunday 29 November will kickstart the festive season. Over 50 000 people are expected to gather in Adderley Street to enjoy the free, open-air concert that is scheduled to start at 15:00. The concert will feature award-winning performers such as Ringo Madlingozi, Jozi, Emo Adams, The Rockets, Ready D, Die Broers, Soli Philander and Joe Barber. From 14:00 to 22:00, soccer fans will be able to visit a ‘Soccer Zone’, near the Heerengracht circle where they can meet players from Ajax CT, Santos FC and Bafana Bafana stars, Matthew Booth and Lance Davids. Other entertainment includes a diski dance competition, five-a-side soccer games and ‘foosball’ play offs. The lights will be switched on at 20:00 by Executive Mayor Dan Plato. The evening’s activities will end with the traditional carnival parade, which will feature some of the most exciting floats ever created.

“The City of Cape Town extends a warm welcome to all visitors. The City will do its utmost to enhance their comfort and safety. At the same time, we appeal to visitors and residents to help keep our city clean and safe during the holiday period,” says Mayor Plato.

A dedicated Festive Season Co-ordination Committee, representing various City departments, has been established to oversee the implementation of strategies to contribute towards a safe, clean and enjoyable experience for all visitors and residents during the festive season.

The following special measures have been put in place to enhance safety and cleanliness throughout the festive season:

* The City’s Disaster Management Team is on 24-hour full alert and is geared for all eventualities. The public may report any emergency (including medical, crime, fire and traffic) to the 107 emergency number from a Telkom line. Cellphone users need to dial 021 480 7700

* Metro Police, Traffic Services, Law Enforcement, and Security and Specialised Services staff will be on duty over the festive season

* Regular safety patrols will take place at tourist hot spots and other high risk crime areas. Targeted operations aimed at combating all forms of substance abuse as well as roadblocks will be executed throughout the festive season. The Metro Police’s newly established dog unit will also be deployed for the first time during operations over the festive season

* These safety initiatives include partnerships with other agencies such as the City Improvement Districts and Displaced Persons Support Unit

* Fire and Rescue Services will be on high alert with over 700 full-time firefighters on a shift basis at 28 fire stations on standby across the city. An additional 116 seasonal firefighters will be deployed by 15 December to assist with bush and vegetation fires. Two helicopters, operating from the Newlands forestry station, will assist in aerial fire-fighting. All citizens are requested to heed fire warnings and practice fire safe measures at all times

* The City’s partnership with Western Province Lifesaving will ensure that 115 multi-skilled lifeguards are on duty at Cape Town’s 44 beaches, as well as at its regional and community pools

* A total of 19 shark spotters are deployed at seven beaches, namely Muizenberg, St James, Kalk Bay, Fish Hoek, Noordhoek, Glencairn and Clovelly

* Over R17 million has been budgeted for cleansing. Refuse removal will continue uninterrupted over this period (even on the public holidays). More than 900 additional cleansing staff will be appointed to clean-up business districts, scenic routes and beaches.

For holiday makers to have a safe trip, motorists are encouraged to ensure that their vehicles are in a sound roadworthy condition. The City’s Traffic Services will conduct free basic vehicle safety checks at the following traffic centres: Gallows Hill, Bellville, Kuils River, Brackenfell, Hillstar, Goodwood and Durbanville, between 10:00 to 14:00 each working day from 11 December 2009 to 8 January 2010.