CT celebrates 30 days to SWC

2010-05-11 15:46

Cape Town - Hundreds of people packed into Cape Town's City Hall on Tuesday to celebrate the 30-day countdown to the kick-off of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato joined performers who were entertaining the crowd to mark the milestone by announcing the city's plans to include all Capetonians in the event.

While the focus will be on the eight matches being played at the newly-built Cape Town Stadium in Green Point, organisers are expecting thousands of people who don't have tickets for these matches to watch them live on big screens at the official FIFA Fan Fest on the Grand Parade, in front of the City Hall.

There will also be "Fan Jols" or Public Viewing Areas throughout the city, where the matches will also be shown on big screens.

"No ticket, no problem," said the City's 2010 operations director Lesley de Reuck.

Party capital

This forms part of Cape Town's plan to be the "party capital" of the World Cup.

De Reuck also said that Cape Town's transport, security and other plans for the World Cup are at an advanced stage and are being "fine tuned".

He added that the main entertainment acts for the Fan Fest and Fan Jols had been appointed, and that buskers, magicians, dancers and street walkers had already auditioned to provide extra entertainment.

About 600 volunteers are being trained to look after visitors to Cape Town, De Reuck said. "We are ready to welcome the world."

The 30-day countdown was being marked by events across the country on Tuesday.

- News24