The first official event to launch South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 FIFA World
Cup™ takes place in Cape Town on December 4 and the City of Cape Town is
pulling out all stops to demonstrate its readiness to welcome thousands of
soccer fans and dignitaries.
The FIFA Final Draw, which will determine the match schedule for the 32
participating teams in next year’s soccer tournament, will be held at 19:00 on
Friday, December 4 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre CTICC).
About 3 000 international dignitaries and media representatives are expected to attend this milestone event which will be televised live to an estimated 150 million
viewers across the globe. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Cape
Town to put its best foot forward," says Lesley de Reuck, the City’s Director
of 2010 Operations.
To welcome VIPs at the CTICC, the City of Cape Town will host a ‘Red Carpet’
event as from 16:00. Although the Final Draw ceremony will be closed to the
public, the City has organised a one day festival in Long Street where
Capetonians can view the Final Draw on large TV screens, says De Reuck.
Prior to and during the events, several roads will be closed temporarily to enable event organisers and various City and Provincial services to prepare and secure
these venues, says De Reuck.
For the Final Draw event at the CTICC, there will be intermittent road closures on
the Foreshore in the area of Lower Long Street, Coen Steytler and Cullinan
Street, from 09:00 on Monday November 30 to 05:00 on Monday December 7.
For the Long Street Festival, there will be a full closure of Long Street, from
Buitensingel to Buiten Street, and Loop Street, from 13:00 on November 30 to
05:00 on December 7.
From 01:00 on December 4 to 12:00 on December 5, there will be road closures in the area bound by Queen Victoria Street, Green Street, Buitensingel, Loop Street and Dorp Street.
Buiten Street, Bloem Street, Pepper Street, Leeuwen Street, Wale Street, Keerom Street and Vredenburg Lane will also be affected.
On-street stopping or parking will not be permitted on Long Street from Buitensingel to Buiten from 17:00 on Sunday 29 November.
Access control measures will enable businesses and residents entry to the affected areas.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused by these street closures and wish to
thank all Capetonians in advance for their
co-operation.
To minimise traffic disruptions, Cape Town Traffic services will be on duty to
redirect motorists and pedestrians. There will also be sufficient signage
pointing towards alternative routes, he says .
For more information on the Long Street road closures only, please contact 072 324
2476 .
The Easy Africa Site www.africatravelnetwork.net
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Air ticket prices to soar in World Cup
The Sunday Times has established that a family of four, including two teenagers, could pay as much as R41000 for return economy fares from Johannesburg to Cape Town in July next year.
At R10300 per person on British Airways, this works out at just R500 less per passenger than a return ticket to London at the same time.
Based on online quotes and telephonic verification with six reputable travel agencies this week, British Airways currently appears to be the most expensive, but that does not mean other local airlines won't be cashing in over that period.
The quotes included:
* Return economy-class tickets for a family of four on South African Airways from Johannesburg to Cape Town between July 9 and 11 could cost as much as R30500; and
* A return flight between Johannesburg and Cape Town - which now costs between R7700 and R12400 on 1time and Kulula respectively for a family of four - will cost R19112 between July 9 and 11 next year.
Return flights per person between Durban and Johannesburg between June 11 and 13 will cost R5000 (SAA), R4600 (BA) and R2600 (1time).
Flabbergasted travel agents said yesterday that airlines were "set to make a killing".
A Johannesburg travel agent said Fifa had "block-booked" most airline tickets for the World Cup, leaving very few tickets for domestic travellers.
But airlines said ticket prices would be finalised only after the draw on December 4.
SAA spokesman Vimla Maistry said cheaper fares would be made available after the draw.
"Once we know where the teams will be playing, we will be able to open bookings for tickets. There will be some increases in ticket prices over the period," said Maistry.
She said extra flights would be arranged during the period.
She said the cheaper tickets that would be made available after the draw would obviously be snapped up.
Heidi Brauer, executive manager of marketing and communication at Comair, which operates British Airways in South Africa, said they had made available a limited number of tickets for the World Cup period.
She said none of the airlines had finalised their pricing. "We are definitely not going to try and fleece the public."
http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article194452.ece
At R10300 per person on British Airways, this works out at just R500 less per passenger than a return ticket to London at the same time.
Based on online quotes and telephonic verification with six reputable travel agencies this week, British Airways currently appears to be the most expensive, but that does not mean other local airlines won't be cashing in over that period.
The quotes included:
* Return economy-class tickets for a family of four on South African Airways from Johannesburg to Cape Town between July 9 and 11 could cost as much as R30500; and
* A return flight between Johannesburg and Cape Town - which now costs between R7700 and R12400 on 1time and Kulula respectively for a family of four - will cost R19112 between July 9 and 11 next year.
Return flights per person between Durban and Johannesburg between June 11 and 13 will cost R5000 (SAA), R4600 (BA) and R2600 (1time).
Flabbergasted travel agents said yesterday that airlines were "set to make a killing".
A Johannesburg travel agent said Fifa had "block-booked" most airline tickets for the World Cup, leaving very few tickets for domestic travellers.
But airlines said ticket prices would be finalised only after the draw on December 4.
SAA spokesman Vimla Maistry said cheaper fares would be made available after the draw.
"Once we know where the teams will be playing, we will be able to open bookings for tickets. There will be some increases in ticket prices over the period," said Maistry.
She said extra flights would be arranged during the period.
She said the cheaper tickets that would be made available after the draw would obviously be snapped up.
Heidi Brauer, executive manager of marketing and communication at Comair, which operates British Airways in South Africa, said they had made available a limited number of tickets for the World Cup period.
She said none of the airlines had finalised their pricing. "We are definitely not going to try and fleece the public."
http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article194452.ece
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Cape Town one of world’s best party cities
Cape Town has earned a stamp of approval from the well known travel company Lonely Planet as one of the world’s top 10 party cities. This list is part of Lonely Planet’s new guide, the “1000 Ultimate Experiences”.
According to Lonely Planet, with the 2010 World Cup bringing a global audience to South Africa the partying will only get harder as travellers converge on a city that is already well known for nightlife.
“Luxuriate on some of the world's best beaches by day and kick back under the moonlight at suave cocktail bars by night,” suggests Lonely Planet.
The guide advises visitors to try South African wine at a Cape Town bar or one of the wineries in the area.
Other cities included in the top 10 are Belgrade in Serbia, Montreal in Canada, Buenos Aires in Argentina, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and Thessaloniki in Greece.
According to Lonely Planet, with the 2010 World Cup bringing a global audience to South Africa the partying will only get harder as travellers converge on a city that is already well known for nightlife.
“Luxuriate on some of the world's best beaches by day and kick back under the moonlight at suave cocktail bars by night,” suggests Lonely Planet.
The guide advises visitors to try South African wine at a Cape Town bar or one of the wineries in the area.
Other cities included in the top 10 are Belgrade in Serbia, Montreal in Canada, Buenos Aires in Argentina, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and Thessaloniki in Greece.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Cape Town’s Transport Fears For 2010
According to reports, Cape Town’s race to meet the deadline for the World Cup transport operations project looks tight and FIFA has drafted contingency measures should the plan be not ready in time for the football showpiece...
The international football governing body’s September update of the Mother City’s Integrated Rapid Transit (IRT) system suggests the plan may not meet its May 2010 deadline.
The operation has been described as being, "very tight and the possibility that this service may not be available for the event poses a considerable risk to the planning of the even transport services," according to the Cape Times.
The taxi industry that has been crying foul over the new bus system could well be called into the party to top-up transport services that will be needed for the event, depending on how ready the new system will be. The first phase of the IRT has been scaled down because of escalating costs.
The project, estimated to cost R1.3 billion a year ago, will now cost the city R4.3bn. Some of the University of Cape Town’s Jammie Shuttle Service buses which will be not utilised during the event.
The revised completion of the Phase1A of the IRT "within time and budget constraints" has been identified as one of the risk factors of the city's 2010 transport plan. About 175,000 extra commuters are expected daily during peak hours during when the event begins.
The city is expected to come to a round table for the extension of hours of other forms of transport in areas that will not be serviced by the first phase of the IRT.
Transport during the World Cup is expected to be concentrated in the city centre, Green Point Stadium area and Cape Town International Airport. Transport operations for the event will be coordinated from the new Transport Management Centre at Goodwood and the operational cost of managing transport during the event will be R80 million, according to the Cape Times newspaper.
A reported submition made to the city's transport portfolio committee by Peter Sole of Transport, Roads and Stormwater, Cape Town would have to negotiate with landowners for the use of about 32,000 parking bays. Most of the games being played at the Cape Town Stadium have a 20:30 kick-off.
Clyde Tlou, Goal.com
The international football governing body’s September update of the Mother City’s Integrated Rapid Transit (IRT) system suggests the plan may not meet its May 2010 deadline.
The operation has been described as being, "very tight and the possibility that this service may not be available for the event poses a considerable risk to the planning of the even transport services," according to the Cape Times.
The taxi industry that has been crying foul over the new bus system could well be called into the party to top-up transport services that will be needed for the event, depending on how ready the new system will be. The first phase of the IRT has been scaled down because of escalating costs.
The project, estimated to cost R1.3 billion a year ago, will now cost the city R4.3bn. Some of the University of Cape Town’s Jammie Shuttle Service buses which will be not utilised during the event.
The revised completion of the Phase1A of the IRT "within time and budget constraints" has been identified as one of the risk factors of the city's 2010 transport plan. About 175,000 extra commuters are expected daily during peak hours during when the event begins.
The city is expected to come to a round table for the extension of hours of other forms of transport in areas that will not be serviced by the first phase of the IRT.
Transport during the World Cup is expected to be concentrated in the city centre, Green Point Stadium area and Cape Town International Airport. Transport operations for the event will be coordinated from the new Transport Management Centre at Goodwood and the operational cost of managing transport during the event will be R80 million, according to the Cape Times newspaper.
A reported submition made to the city's transport portfolio committee by Peter Sole of Transport, Roads and Stormwater, Cape Town would have to negotiate with landowners for the use of about 32,000 parking bays. Most of the games being played at the Cape Town Stadium have a 20:30 kick-off.
Clyde Tlou, Goal.com
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Cape Town will be the centre of attention
As we approach the final lap of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ qualifiers, the spotlight will inevitably fall on next month's Final Draw which will decide the destination and the fate of the 32 qualified teams that will participate in Africa's maiden FIFA World Cup next year.
And, it is therefore no surprise that Cape Town, the city that will host the Final Draw on 4 December is now the centre of attention. In South Africa, Cape Town is often fondly referred to as the ‘Mother City', and after a short tour of the place, it is probably not hard to imagine as to why this artistic centre that sits at the foot of one of the most majestic peaks, Table Mountain, holds such significance for the Rainbow Nation.
Renowned for its beautiful beaches, bright sunshine and artistic places, Cape Town will provide the perfect setting for the draw and, with its summer weather, the city is now gearing itself up to welcome visitors and teams alike. Known as a melting point of different cultures, languages and ethnic groups, Cape Town is one of the highly coveted destinations in South Africa for tourists.
It has an impeccable record in hosting top international events and now the Final Draw will position it as a destination of choice in the minds of millions of viewers who will watch the proceedings around the draw from their television sets. It is these people who are expected to flock to South Africa next year to watch the first ever FIFA World Cup on African soil.
So, what is it about Cape Town that makes it so enticing? FIFA.com takes a closer look at South Africa's ‘Mother City'.
Table Mountain
Standing at just over 1,000 metres tall, the flat-topped giant that is Table Mountain towers over the city of Cape Town. The summit of Table Mountain can be accessed by hiking trails or cable car. From the top of the mountain, the expanse of Atlantic Ocean unfolds across the horizon. The prominent shapes of Lions Head and Devil's Peak loom in the distance and sitting on the ocean's surface, Robben Island, flickers from inside the ocean mist some 11 kilometers off the coast.
The Winelands
From the manicured hills of Stellenbosch to the vineyards of Franschhoek and Paarl, the wine regions located nearby Cape Town have produced some world-renowned wines. Guesthouse and hotels abound in these areas, making the winelands the perfect place to spend a few days. A typical day in the winelands brings with it scenic views, superb cuisine and mouthfuls of captivating wine.
Beach life
The toughest part of a Cape Town beach day is choosing which beach to frequent. Camps Bay is set across the road from a busy strip of restaurants, cafes and beach bars. Meanwhile, Clifton has long been the playground of the slim and sexy. Clifton comprises four separate beaches tucked into natural coves, which provide perfect shelter from the wind. Further out of the city, Llandudno is an old favourite amongst local surfers and sun-worshippers. Blouberg Beach is a popular surf spot for both board riders and kite surfers, while many surfers have learnt their moves at Muizenburg Beach.
The V&A Waterfront
While many people are put off by the idea of spending precious holiday hours in a shopping mall, the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront is an entertainment and shopping area without equal. Forming part of the Port of Cape Town, a busy international harbour in its own right, the Waterfront is where industry meets leisure. Shopping aside, there are numerous attractions including the Two Ocean's Aquarium, Clock Tower and Robben Island Museum. You can also take boat rides out to sea, helicopter flips along the coast and tours to Robben Island. Inside the mall, designer stores stand alongside uniquely South African stores, ensuring that the contents of your shopping bags will be as cosmopolitan as the city you bought them in.
A melting point of cultures
The contrast and overlapping of cultures in Cape Town is a characteristic that dates back over half a century. First, there were the Portuguese explorers that sailed around the southern tip of Africa in 1488; then the Dutch and British colonists that jostled to lay claim to this important stop on the trade route to India; after which there were the slaves from Indonesia and Madagascar that would form the origins of the lively Cape Creole Culture that exists today. Today, Cape Town is home to many different cultures including the Xhosas, the coloureds and other many other tribes in South Africa.
And, it is therefore no surprise that Cape Town, the city that will host the Final Draw on 4 December is now the centre of attention. In South Africa, Cape Town is often fondly referred to as the ‘Mother City', and after a short tour of the place, it is probably not hard to imagine as to why this artistic centre that sits at the foot of one of the most majestic peaks, Table Mountain, holds such significance for the Rainbow Nation.
Renowned for its beautiful beaches, bright sunshine and artistic places, Cape Town will provide the perfect setting for the draw and, with its summer weather, the city is now gearing itself up to welcome visitors and teams alike. Known as a melting point of different cultures, languages and ethnic groups, Cape Town is one of the highly coveted destinations in South Africa for tourists.
It has an impeccable record in hosting top international events and now the Final Draw will position it as a destination of choice in the minds of millions of viewers who will watch the proceedings around the draw from their television sets. It is these people who are expected to flock to South Africa next year to watch the first ever FIFA World Cup on African soil.
So, what is it about Cape Town that makes it so enticing? FIFA.com takes a closer look at South Africa's ‘Mother City'.
Table Mountain
Standing at just over 1,000 metres tall, the flat-topped giant that is Table Mountain towers over the city of Cape Town. The summit of Table Mountain can be accessed by hiking trails or cable car. From the top of the mountain, the expanse of Atlantic Ocean unfolds across the horizon. The prominent shapes of Lions Head and Devil's Peak loom in the distance and sitting on the ocean's surface, Robben Island, flickers from inside the ocean mist some 11 kilometers off the coast.
The Winelands
From the manicured hills of Stellenbosch to the vineyards of Franschhoek and Paarl, the wine regions located nearby Cape Town have produced some world-renowned wines. Guesthouse and hotels abound in these areas, making the winelands the perfect place to spend a few days. A typical day in the winelands brings with it scenic views, superb cuisine and mouthfuls of captivating wine.
Beach life
The toughest part of a Cape Town beach day is choosing which beach to frequent. Camps Bay is set across the road from a busy strip of restaurants, cafes and beach bars. Meanwhile, Clifton has long been the playground of the slim and sexy. Clifton comprises four separate beaches tucked into natural coves, which provide perfect shelter from the wind. Further out of the city, Llandudno is an old favourite amongst local surfers and sun-worshippers. Blouberg Beach is a popular surf spot for both board riders and kite surfers, while many surfers have learnt their moves at Muizenburg Beach.
The V&A Waterfront
While many people are put off by the idea of spending precious holiday hours in a shopping mall, the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront is an entertainment and shopping area without equal. Forming part of the Port of Cape Town, a busy international harbour in its own right, the Waterfront is where industry meets leisure. Shopping aside, there are numerous attractions including the Two Ocean's Aquarium, Clock Tower and Robben Island Museum. You can also take boat rides out to sea, helicopter flips along the coast and tours to Robben Island. Inside the mall, designer stores stand alongside uniquely South African stores, ensuring that the contents of your shopping bags will be as cosmopolitan as the city you bought them in.
A melting point of cultures
The contrast and overlapping of cultures in Cape Town is a characteristic that dates back over half a century. First, there were the Portuguese explorers that sailed around the southern tip of Africa in 1488; then the Dutch and British colonists that jostled to lay claim to this important stop on the trade route to India; after which there were the slaves from Indonesia and Madagascar that would form the origins of the lively Cape Creole Culture that exists today. Today, Cape Town is home to many different cultures including the Xhosas, the coloureds and other many other tribes in South Africa.
Friday, November 6, 2009
World Cup Fan Parks
Fan Parks are situated in central areas so that general public can watch all the games. Entrance to the Fan Parks is free and it is expected that these Fan Parks will attract a lot of visitors. In Germany 2006 one Fan Park attracted 500 000 spectators to watch one game. To avoid large transport infrastructure expense, training venues will also double as public viewing sites.
Fan Parks in the Western Cape
The Grand Parade Somerset West Road
Stellenbosch Bellville Velodrome
Swartklip Atlantis
Khayelitsha Nomzamo Yethu (Hout Bay)
Training Facilities in the Western Cape
Newlands Rugby Ground UCT Rugby Ground
UWC Soccer Field Bellville Rugby Ground
Stellenbosch Rugby Ground Athlone Stadium
Fan Parks in Johannesburg (list to be updated)
Mary Fitzgerald Square in the Newton precinct
Fan Parks in Soweto are to be expected.
Innes-Free Park in Sandton,
Walter Sisulu Square in Kliptown
Fan Parks in Durban (list to be updated)
The Durban Beach Front has been earmarked as one of Durban’s preferred sites for one or more Fan Parks during 2010.
Fan Parks in the Western Cape
The Grand Parade Somerset West Road
Stellenbosch Bellville Velodrome
Swartklip Atlantis
Khayelitsha Nomzamo Yethu (Hout Bay)
Training Facilities in the Western Cape
Newlands Rugby Ground UCT Rugby Ground
UWC Soccer Field Bellville Rugby Ground
Stellenbosch Rugby Ground Athlone Stadium
Fan Parks in Johannesburg (list to be updated)
Mary Fitzgerald Square in the Newton precinct
Fan Parks in Soweto are to be expected.
Innes-Free Park in Sandton,
Walter Sisulu Square in Kliptown
Fan Parks in Durban (list to be updated)
The Durban Beach Front has been earmarked as one of Durban’s preferred sites for one or more Fan Parks during 2010.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
FIFA confirms South African venues on track
FIFA has confirmed that vast progress has been made after conducting a routine check of the venues that will stage the games at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
The inspectors from FIFA and the World Cup Organising Committee visited five specifically built stadiums for the tournament and were full of praise.
The tour was primarily intended to check on operational functionality of the stadia rather than actually how they are progressing in terms of completion. Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Polokwane and Johannesburg were among the places visited.
Derek Blanckensee, Chief Competitions Officer, said: “We’ve been looking for years at artists’ impressions of buildings as well as drawings, and to now see them in their final state is very satisfying. All the stadiums should be complete by the end of this year although maybe Cape Town and Soccer City may go on a little big longer.”
The remaining four venues in Bloemfontein, Pretoria, Rustenburg and Johannesburg’s Ellis Park have already proved they can handle the crowds expected next year, after hosting the Confederations Cup in June.
The inspectors from FIFA and the World Cup Organising Committee visited five specifically built stadiums for the tournament and were full of praise.
The tour was primarily intended to check on operational functionality of the stadia rather than actually how they are progressing in terms of completion. Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Polokwane and Johannesburg were among the places visited.
Derek Blanckensee, Chief Competitions Officer, said: “We’ve been looking for years at artists’ impressions of buildings as well as drawings, and to now see them in their final state is very satisfying. All the stadiums should be complete by the end of this year although maybe Cape Town and Soccer City may go on a little big longer.”
The remaining four venues in Bloemfontein, Pretoria, Rustenburg and Johannesburg’s Ellis Park have already proved they can handle the crowds expected next year, after hosting the Confederations Cup in June.
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