FIFA Prepares Africa’s Reporters for World Cup

Football’s world ruling body FIFA has endorsed an ambitious program that aims to fine-tune the skills of more than 300 African football reporters from 46 African countries in the run-up to the 2010 World Cup.

Part of FIFA’s “Win in Africa with Africa” development program, the initiative’s wider aims are to provide mid-career training to more than 300 reporters and photographers across the continent.

Launched after South Africa won the right to host the 2010 World Cup, the courses will be run by the AFP Foundation, the international training arm of Agence France-Presse news agency, and financed in cooperation with the European Union.

FIFA president Joseph S. Blatter said: “Media in Africa will play a key role to link all people of the continent with the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Consequently, FIFA is particularly proud to help by providing high quality journalism courses for African media in association with the AFP Foundation and the European Commission.”

The program will be run in four languages — English, French, Arabic and Portuguese — with the first courses held at Diambars Football Institute about 70 kilometers southwest of Dakar.

Facilities have been made available by eight national associations in Africa which have agreed to support the program, with French-speaking reporters from Senegal, Ivory Coast and Togo taking the first week-long course this week.

“This is the most ambitious project undertaken by the AFP Foundation since it was set up in July 2007 and it gives me great satisfaction,” AFP chief executive Pierre Louette said.

“We hope that our training courses will not only enhance their professional skills but also create lasting friendships,” he said.

“Training of journalists is an important first step towards the World Cup in 2010,” EU development commissioner Louis Michel said.

“This is part of the commission’s efforts to ensure the image of a modern Africa is more widely known. It is also a symbol of the strategic relationship being built between the two continents of Europe and Africa.”

Other sessions will take place this month and in June in Abuja, Cairo, Johannesburg, Libreville, Maputo, Nairobi and Rabat.

A total of 137 reporters and 15 photographers were selected for the first round of training. More courses will be held toward the end of the year and in 2010.

World Cup 'will change the face of South African tourism'

South Africa is on course to host a successful 2010 FIFA World Cup, and the tournament is set to change the face of the country's tourism industry.

That was the message to visitors to Africa's annual Indaba travel trade show, in Durban, South Africa, last week.

FIFA World Cup Organising Committee chief executive Danny Jordaan said: "In terms of the state of readiness, at the moment we do not have the levels [necessary for] 2010 - work is not complete yet. But we must [compare] the start point in 2004 and where we are today."

FIFA consultant for 2010 Horst Schmidt insisted South Africa was on schedule. He said: "The arenas and airports are ready, or will be in good time."

It is hoped the World Cup will diminish negative perceptions of South Africa, attracting a greater number and broader range of tourists during and after the event.

Jordaan said: "It gives an unprecedented opportunity to brand our country and leave a lasting legacy."

2nd Ticketing Phase for 2010 FIFA WorldTM Cup starts on 4 May

Be quick and you should be lucky! The 2nd Ticketing Phase for the 2010 FIFA World CupTM will start on Monday, 4 May 2009, at Noon (SA Time). There will be approximately 100,000 tickets made available for this phase, excluding the two Semi-Finals and the Final (matches 61, 62 and 64). From now on, the tickets will be allocated on a “first come, first serve” basis. Applications can be made at FNB branches or via the FIFA website (www.fifa.com).

For South African football fans who wish to apply at FNB Branches, they should bring a valid form of identification. South Africans need to show their ID, while a passport will be required for foreigners. Applicants that wish to make applications for friends or family should have the details of those persons incl. identity numbers, names, dates of birth and nationality ready. Each applicant can apply for up to 4 tickets per match and up to 7 matches in total. Ticket prices start at 20 USD (140 ZAR). Within ten working days you will be notified, if your application is successful (fully or partly) or not.


Tickets will be ready for collection at FIFA Venue Ticketing Centres from May 2010.

We look forward to welcoming you and your guests to the 2010 FIFA World CuptmTM South Africa and hope you enjoy the experience.

Yours sincerely

2010 FIFA World Cup™ Ticketing Centre

Green Point Stadium Cape Town 2/5/09

As promised some updated pictures of the World Cup Stadium Cape Town. You might be able to notice that the have started putting the roof on plus the pictures were taken on a Saturday so construction must be going on 7 days a week.

More pics on our Africa Travel Network Facebook page

Freedom Swim

www.freedonswim.co.za


o The Swim takes place from the beach at Murray's Bay on Robben Island to Big Bay, Bloubergstrand, on Saturday, April 25, 2009 (subject to weather and sea conditions. Should conditions be adverse, the event will take place on April 26). The first group will start at 10h00 on the day of the swim or at such hour as determined by the Swim Committee.
o In the event that the Swim is cancelled, an entry fee refund is optional
o The Swim Committee may, in its sole discretion and for any reasons whatsoever, cancel, postpone, delay, or otherwise, amend the date and time of the Swim, provided that the Swim shall not be cancelled or postponed unless:
+ The ocean swell and conditions makes swimming unsafe
+ The water temperature is 13 degrees Celsius or lower. Three readings required: Three Anchor Bay beach, Murray's Bay, middle of bay (all readings have to be above 13 degrees)
+ The wind is too strong for the boats to support the participant, or for the participants to swim effectively;
+ Visibility is too poor for the supporting boats to support their participants properly; or
+ Clear sightings of sharks in the area make it unreasonably unsafe for participants.
o All participants, once qualified, participate in the Swim entirely at their own risk.
o Each swimmer and each relay team must be supported by a vessel. Relay teams must be supported by a motorised boat, which is subject to the regulations governing support vessels. Solo swimmers who have successfully completed the Cadiz Freedom Swim previously, may be supported by a surf-ski or sea kayak, provided the paddler is graded class A or B in terms of official surf ski ratings. All other solo swimmers must be supported by a motorised boat, which is subject to regulations governing support vessels. Two solo swimmers may share one motorised boat, provided the swimmers remain within 10m of the boat.
o The swim will be subject to the Cape Long Distance Swimming Association (hereafter referred to as CLDSA) rules, except in wetsuit categories.
o A cut-off time of 2 hours at the half-way mark shall be implemented. Participants who have not made the cut-off shall be disqualified and prevented from completing the Swim.
o Participants considered high risk (i.e. having the lowest or minimum entry qualifications) shall be required to mark their supporting boats with a red sticker
o The support boats, Swim officials and the NSRI are allowed to pull participants out should they see fit, or if they believe the swimmer is at risk
o Swimmers shall not be permitted artificial aid of any kind. No wetsuits or second skins are allowed (except in wetsuit events), however, swimmers may grease themselves, use goggles, and wear a cap and a single bathing suit. During the swim, no physical contact with the swimmer shall be made by any person. Swimmers may not touch the boat while swimming.
o Pull-out process:
+ A swimmer is allowed to pull-out at anytime during the swim
+ A support boat should pull out its swimmer if the swimmer is at risk. A paddler can alert the official support boats at any time, should they require assistance
+ Swim officials may pull-out any swimmer at anytime, if they believe the swimmer is at risk
+ Once a swimmer has been instructed to pull-out he/she will be automatically disqualified
+ The swimmer's support boat or the officials will exercise their discretion and follow the swim briefing advice in order to pull a swimmer from the race.
+ Swimmers who refuse to follow a pull-out call will be automatically disqualified for the swim and the committee reserves its right to penalise the swimmer

Cape Point Certificate

Have you been to the meeting of the Two Oceans and want a personalized certificate to prove it? Well they are now available through Africa travel Network!!contact us for more info. (also available to tour operators personalized with your own logo)

Cape Town as it once was!