WRITING A GUIDEBOOK IN AFRICA
Its wealth of game - the wildebeest migration is singularly the largest movement of large animals on earth - as well as tourist add-ons of conquering that rather large mountain and relaxing among the spicy aromas and tropical beaches of Zanzibar are what Tanzania is best known for. But away from the safari lodges and beach resorts, there’s little information – Africa is certainly not a destination where friendly tourist offices dish out leaflets and, although improving, tourist boards know little about the offbeat places to visit. So as a guidebook author, it’s essential to illicit genuine help from local people. In a dusty backwater town like Tabora or Kigoma, where is the best place to get a coffee or chapatti and chips, and where can I stay that doesn’t double up as a brothel? Even as a female, I find football does the trick. All Africans are nuts about football and engage in a conversation about favourite teams and they’ll do anything to help. I learnt this in Tanzania during the 2005 UEFA European Championship League. After claiming I was a Liverpool supporter it won me a ride through the Serengeti with a local teacher from Bunda to Karatu to watch the final. After whisking past elephants and lions, two flat tyres resulting in no spare, and a torturous drive on three wheels and one rim up the Ngorongoro Crater, we made it to Karatu for kick off. After Liverpool won I had another 300 new friends to help me on my way.
By Lizzie Williams www.writeafrica.co.za & www.wanderlust.co.uk
The Easy Africa Site www.africatravelnetwork.net
Monday, March 2, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
World Cup Ticket Scramble
There was a global scramble for 2010 FIFA World Cup tickets as soon as the online ticket portal on www.FIFA.com got underway on 20 February at 12h00 CET/13h00 South African time. Twenty-four hours after the online tickets went on sale, applications from 128 countries for 216,975 tickets had been received via the website, excluding the hard paper applications handed in by South African residents at FNB branches in the host country. The biggest number of orders came from South Africans, followed by applicants from Great Britain, the USA, Germany, Brazil, Australia, Japan, Mexico, Canada, Switzerland, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain and Argentina.
"These are fantastic numbers, underlining yet again the fervour taking hold around the world for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the first on the African continent. It is very exciting and further evidence that the global football family want to be part of this unique event on this very special continent," says David Will, FIFA Honorary Vice-President and Chairman of the FIFA Ticketing Sub-Committee.
Fans have until midnight on 31 March 2009 to make ticket applications on the www.FIFA.com website. In addition, South African residents have the opportunity to file a hard paper application in one of the 700 FNB branches across the country. This ticketing purchase solution has been developed with FIFA Partner Visa.
"We are absolutely ecstatic with the phenomenal response of football fans around the world to the start of ticket sales for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. It reinforces the faith of the global football fraternity in South Africa. We stand ready as a country and a continent to warmly welcome the world in 2010, "says Danny Jordaan, CEO of the Organising Committee.
Irrespective of the date of their order, all applicants have the same chance of success. In case of over-subscribed matches a random selection draw will be organised on 15 April to allocate tickets for over-subscribed matches. All applicants will know by the end of April 2009 whether they have been successful or not.
"These are fantastic numbers, underlining yet again the fervour taking hold around the world for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the first on the African continent. It is very exciting and further evidence that the global football family want to be part of this unique event on this very special continent," says David Will, FIFA Honorary Vice-President and Chairman of the FIFA Ticketing Sub-Committee.
Fans have until midnight on 31 March 2009 to make ticket applications on the www.FIFA.com website. In addition, South African residents have the opportunity to file a hard paper application in one of the 700 FNB branches across the country. This ticketing purchase solution has been developed with FIFA Partner Visa.
"We are absolutely ecstatic with the phenomenal response of football fans around the world to the start of ticket sales for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. It reinforces the faith of the global football fraternity in South Africa. We stand ready as a country and a continent to warmly welcome the world in 2010, "says Danny Jordaan, CEO of the Organising Committee.
Irrespective of the date of their order, all applicants have the same chance of success. In case of over-subscribed matches a random selection draw will be organised on 15 April to allocate tickets for over-subscribed matches. All applicants will know by the end of April 2009 whether they have been successful or not.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
World Cup Tickets On Sale In February
FIFA have announced that tickets for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa will go on sale on February 20.
South Africa are due to host the first ever World Cup to be held on the African continent, and the event will certainly show the global community that an event of the magnitude of the greatest show on earth can be handled by one of Africa's most football-mad countries.
FIFA revealed that it has already sold record amounts of hospitality packages to businesses around the world for the show piece event that begins in June 2010.
Spokesman Jermaine Craig said more than 50,000 packages have been bought by small and large businesses, which is a “much faster pace than sales for the 2006 championship in Germany”.
Craig said that tickets to the general public for Africa's first World Cup will be on sale at the world football governing body's website, FIFA.com.
Peter Pedroncelli, Goal.com
South Africa are due to host the first ever World Cup to be held on the African continent, and the event will certainly show the global community that an event of the magnitude of the greatest show on earth can be handled by one of Africa's most football-mad countries.
FIFA revealed that it has already sold record amounts of hospitality packages to businesses around the world for the show piece event that begins in June 2010.
Spokesman Jermaine Craig said more than 50,000 packages have been bought by small and large businesses, which is a “much faster pace than sales for the 2006 championship in Germany”.
Craig said that tickets to the general public for Africa's first World Cup will be on sale at the world football governing body's website, FIFA.com.
Peter Pedroncelli, Goal.com
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
First World Cup stadium Finished!!!
Pretoria's Loftus Versfeld stadium is the first of South Africa's 10 World Cup venues to be completed ahead of next year's finals.
The stadium's renovation is finished and it will open for action when it hosts a South African Premier Soccer League match on Saturday.
Its capacity has been increased from 45,000 to 50,000 and a new roof has been fitted on one of its main stands.
The venue is also one of four to be used in June's Confederations Cup.
The other three grounds - in Johannesburg, Bloemfontein and Rustenburg - were due to be ready last year but are still weeks away from completion.
The six other 2010 World Cup venues are due to be completed by the end of this year.
Loftus Versfeld will host Saturday's match between Kaizer Chiefs and Moroka Swallows.
It is also the home ground of rugby union team Blue Bulls and will host one of the three tests matches between the touring British and Irish Lions and South Africa's Springboks on 27 June.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/7870565.stm
Friday, January 16, 2009
Cape Towns World Cup Stadium Jan 2009
As seen from the now only 6 hole par 3 Metropolitan golf course
Monday, December 15, 2008
World Cup 2010 Update
No plan B for 2010 Cup - Blatter
Fifa president Sepp Blatter
It has been an ambition of Blatter to have a World Cup in Africa
Fifa president Sepp Blatter has said there is no way the 2010 World Cup will be moved from South Africa.
Earlier this year Blatter admitted football's world governing body did have contingency plans for the event leading to rumours it could be moved.
But he has now said: "There definitely is no plan B or C, the only plan is to make the South African event a success.
"If there are still doubters, let me say that the 2010 World Cup will be organised in South Africa."
South Africa will become the first African nation to host the World Cup, with Fifa now confident that all necessary facilities will be ready in time.
There had been concerns that the 10 World Cup stadiums would not be finished on the schedule, while the country's crime rate had also been a cause of concern.
But Danny Jordaan, the head of the Local Organising Committee, has tried to allay fears over security.
"Security for any major event is the most important aspect," he said.
"But we have had 11 major events in the last 14 years and not a single incident.
"The fact is that the most peaceful time in Africa is before, during and after football matches."
South Africa will deploy 41,000 police officers specifically for the World Cup, all of whom will be sent for specialised training in crowd control.
Blatter is confident all the issues are being dealt with - and added it would fulfil a lifelong ambition of his to see the tournament held in Africa.
"Football is the most popular game in the world and in 2010 Africa will show that it is able to host a World Cup," he said.
"I'll be proud because it is my baby."
The Confederations Cup in June next year will be a key test of how ready South Africa is to host the World Cup.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/7783573.stm
www.africatravelnetwork.net
Fifa president Sepp Blatter
It has been an ambition of Blatter to have a World Cup in Africa
Fifa president Sepp Blatter has said there is no way the 2010 World Cup will be moved from South Africa.
Earlier this year Blatter admitted football's world governing body did have contingency plans for the event leading to rumours it could be moved.
But he has now said: "There definitely is no plan B or C, the only plan is to make the South African event a success.
"If there are still doubters, let me say that the 2010 World Cup will be organised in South Africa."
South Africa will become the first African nation to host the World Cup, with Fifa now confident that all necessary facilities will be ready in time.
There had been concerns that the 10 World Cup stadiums would not be finished on the schedule, while the country's crime rate had also been a cause of concern.
But Danny Jordaan, the head of the Local Organising Committee, has tried to allay fears over security.
"Security for any major event is the most important aspect," he said.
"But we have had 11 major events in the last 14 years and not a single incident.
"The fact is that the most peaceful time in Africa is before, during and after football matches."
South Africa will deploy 41,000 police officers specifically for the World Cup, all of whom will be sent for specialised training in crowd control.
Blatter is confident all the issues are being dealt with - and added it would fulfil a lifelong ambition of his to see the tournament held in Africa.
"Football is the most popular game in the world and in 2010 Africa will show that it is able to host a World Cup," he said.
"I'll be proud because it is my baby."
The Confederations Cup in June next year will be a key test of how ready South Africa is to host the World Cup.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/7783573.stm
www.africatravelnetwork.net
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