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
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