Whale Cottage Portfolio Blog

The countdown to the last 100 days to the largest sports event ever to be hosted by South Africa starts today.   FIFA has given South Africa 8/10 for its readiness to host the World Cup, with only 100 days left for it to become 10/10, reports the Cape Argus.

A whirlwind visit by the FIFA and Local Organising Committee top executives and 120 local and international journalists of all ten the World Cup host cities has focused attention on the status of the preparations for the event.

1.  The Cape Town Stadium is completed, and two test events which have taken place in the stadium went off reasonably smoothly.  FIFA Secretary-General Jerome Valcke heaped praise on Cape Town for its stadium yesterday, and he said that the city stadium pitch should be the benchmark for all stadiums.   Valcke also said that “Cape Town will be the perfect place to be during the World Cup.”   He lauded the Cape Town Stadium, and said that it would attract many thousands of soccer fans, even after the completion of the World Cup. 

   The pitch at Mombela Stadium in Nelspruit is currently a sandpit, but will be ready for the June start. 

2.  The roads in most host cities and highways leading to them, have been significantly improved, and should be completed by April.  The roads in Cape Town in particular will be transformed, with the N1 and the N2 both having more lanes, and previous traffic blockages such as Hospital Bend on the N2 will be something of the past soon.   Even in the city centre, the roads and pavements have been radically improved in Green Point, close to the Cape Town Stadium, making it a pleasure to drive past the Stadium to get to the Waterfront, and to walk in the area.

    The roads around the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg and the Mombela Stadium in Nelspruit are still in a poor condition.

3.   Bookings seem to have slowed down to a trickle as far as accommodation is concerned, and this is FIFA’s current largest challenge, in that international media are reporting negatively about the “rip-off” pricing in South Africa and the level of crime.   These two factors appear to be the major deterrents to soccer fans attending the matches.   Accommodation in a leading suburb like Camps Bay in Cape Town, a 10 minute drive from Cape Town Stadium, is about 50 % booked for the World Cup.   MATCH, FIFA’s accommodation agency, has been severely criticised for creating the image of “rip-off pricing”,  by adding 30 % commission to all its package components, including accommodation, tickets, flight tickets, and transport.

4.   FIFA’s is expanding the number of low cost tickets it is making available to South Africa, and denies lowering the price of its category 3 and 4 ticket prices offered to South Africans.   But tickets are not selling as they should, meaning that the estimate of 450000 international soccer fans attending the World Cup will not be achieved, meaning more locals will make up the viewership, but will not be using the hospitality facilities which have been pitched at international soccer fans.   More tickets could be made available at lower prices closer to the start of the World Cup.

5.   Excitement in South Africa about the World Cup remains low, and in fact appears to have reduced in interest since the Final Draw of 4 December.   This follows the news that the international soccer fans will not be attending as expected, and that top international trainers are expressing their resistamce and restentment to FIFA for choosing South Africa and maybe even Africa as the host country for the first time ever.

6.   What was meant to be an African World Cup, stressed to be such by FIFA President Sepp Blatter over and over again, appears to be a South African World Cup.  Due to a reduced demand of accommodation, MATCH is not using accommodation in neighbouring countries or in Mauritius, as previously threatened.  Worst of all is that ticket sales to soccer fans in African countries are extremely low (about 2 %), due to the difficulty in making bookings via the internet in African countries, and the low ownership of credit cards on this continent.

7.   What is missing is a campaign of support, to enthuse South Africans to be positive about the World Cup, and to be friendly and generous to soccer fans.  In Germany an advertising campaign was launched in the last few months prior to the start of the World Cup 2006, with the slogan :”Die Welt zu Gast bei Freunden” (The world at home with friends), to encourage the generally stiff Germans to reach out and welcome soccer fans from around the world.   The campaign was particularly successful in uniting East and West Germans at the time. Plans to teach locals foreign languages such as Spanish and French, and to guide them in regard to cultural differences,  have not been followed through.   Volunteers have been interviewed but not appointed.  Some of them will be appointed for their foreign language skills, and for their knowledge of their city.   But time is running thin, to train them as to how to deal with the calibre of such an event.

8.   What will give the marketing of the World Cup a much-needed boost will be the attendance of the World Cup by VIP’s : those that appear likely to attend include President Obama; Paul Allen, the Microsoft co-founder; top businessperson Lakshmi Mittal; Businessperson and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich;  Charlize Theron, who assisted with the Final Draw in December; Victoria Beckham, who is said to have rented an apartment in Camps Bay rather than join the England team in Rustenburg; rapper Akon and possibly Lady Gaga;  Franz Beckenbauer, previous German star soccer player and trainer, will spend the first five days of the World Cup on the MS Noordam outside Durban, reports The Times.

Cape Town celebrates the 100-day countdown with a demonstration of the Diski Dance at Cape Town Stadium, organised by Cape Town Tourism.

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com

Tourism in Cape Town will enjoy a double whammy at the start of the World Cup, with FIFA’s Local Organising Committee and the South African Rugby Union reaching an agreement which will allow the rugby test match between the Springboks and the French team to be played at Newlands on Saturday 12 June, reports the Cape Argus. 

According to the FIFA rules, no other sporting events may take place from 24 May onwards, to ensure that they do not drain any host city’s infrastructure, and its ability to host the World Cup.  As the rugby test match will not be played on a FIFA match day in Cape Town, permission was granted for the test match.

Cape Town can be expected to be invaded by French rugby and soccer fans in June, as the French soccer team plays Uruguay on Friday 11 June, the World Cup starting day, and the French rugby team plays the Springboks on Saturday 12 June.

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Despite sales of 650 000 World Cup tickets in total to date, few of them have been sold to African soccer fans, with the exception of those in South Africa, report the Cape Times and Cape Argus.

South Africans (350 000) have bought just more than half of all the World Cup tickets, followed by soccer fans from the USA (86 000), the UK (50 000), and Germany (25 000).

Addressing Parliament earlier this week, 2010 World Cup Local Organising Committee CEO Danny Jordaan speculated that soccer fans from Africa were waiting for their teams to qualify before they bought tickets.   So far, South Africa, Ghana and the Ivory Coast are the only African countries to have qualified for the 2010 World Cup.  Jordaan said that he was disappointed that ticket sales from South Africa’s closest neighbours were still poor.

Local organising Committee’s Irvin Khoza said that he wanted more South Africans to buy tickets, and a marketing campaign to achieve this will be launched after the FIFA Final Draw on 4 December.   He said that rumours that the special South African low-priced tickets, at R 140, had been sold out, were incorrect.

Jordaan confirmed that vuvuzelas would be welcomed at the soccer matches, but should they land on the pitch, they would be banned immediately.   “The vuvuzela must be used and allowed at World Cup stadiums next year, but … it should be used as a friendly, welcoming instrument , not as a weapon or missile.”

During the 2010 World Cup, the Global Icons Expo-Tainment Experience will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, for the duration of the World Cup, reports Southern African Tourism Update.  The expo sees 24 countries exhibiting, a different country every day, reflecting that country’s “sights, sounds and flavours in one global village.  Corporates will be able to entertain their guests, soccer fans will be able to cheer the festivities and families will be able to enjoy an entertaining day out”.  The Mandela Rhodes Foundation will benefit from the expo’s proceeds.

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The City of Cape Town and the FIFA Local Organising Committee (LOC) signed a Service Level Agreement this week, for Cape Town to host the FIFA Final Draw on 4 December, reports www.goal.com.   The Final Draw will determine which of the 32 teams play at which venues.

Mayor of Cape Town Dan Plato and LOC CEO Danny Jordaan agreed that the Final Draw will take place in the Cape Town International Convention Centre, and is to be attended by 2 000 guests and 800 media representatives.   The FInal Draw is expected to be broadcast in 200 countries. The ceremonial signing was accompanied by Minstrels.

“The impetus of expenditure and investment in infrastructure for 2010 could not have come at a better time to counteract the effects of the economic slump. While not every individual or suburb of Cape Town will benefit directly from the World Cup, improved facilities, services and infrastructure will benefit all indirectly,” said Plato. 

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The required total of 15 000 2010 World Cup volunteers has been exceeded in just a week after the volunteer applications opened, reports bizcommunity.com.

FIFA’s website calls for volunteers to apply to assist in the country’s largest ever event, at www.fifa.com/volunteers2010.   The application form requests a number of demographic details, language proficiency in speaking and writing, details of one’s driver’s licence, and a first and second choice of volunteer involvement.

Danny Jordaan, CEO of the Local Organising Committee, said he was delighted with the response of South Africans as well as volunteers applying from 132 countries.

Applications can be entered on the FIFA website until 31 August.

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FIFA’s Secretary General Jerome Valcke has rated South Africa as 8/10 on its readiness to stage the 2010 World Cup from 11 June to 11 July next year, reports the Cape Times.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter downsized the score to 75 % at the conclusion of the Confederations Cup.

The FIFA rating is based on the country’s current organisation and hosting of the Confederations Cup, for which the final was played on Sunday evening.   “The organisation from the LOC has been really top class.  What is more pleasing is the players are returning to their countries with a good opinion of South Africa, the people, fans, stadiums, hotels, and training facilities.  That is the best advert we could hope for”, Valcke said.

Blatter added that the Confederations Cup had been well run and that FIFA is looking forward to a “hugely successful 2010 World Cup”, reports the Cape Times.

Incidents such as a strike by volunteers at Ellis Park, and the alleged theft of cash from the Egyptian team players’ rooms have been effectively dealt with.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter said that crime could happen in any country:   “Players being robbed  is sad, but it can happen anywhere in the world - even in the United States.   We take as many precautions as possible, but I am satisfied fans, teams, and the public will be safe during the 2010 World Cup.”   At the media briefing at the conclusion of the Confederations Cup, Blatter did not refer to crime as one of the issues that need to be addressed for the 2010 World Cup.

Blatter said that he hoped to give South Africa a score of 10/10 in 2010.

Further problems which the Confederations Cup highlighted is a shortage of 15 000 beds in Bloemfontein, and problems with the park-and-ride system in Johannesburg.   FIFA has also highlighted that it does not wish the new soccer stadia to become “white elephants” after 2010.

Valcke said the the teams, the players and the officials who are part of the Confederations Cup will be South Africa’s best ambassadors for 2010.

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Given the embarrassing start to the Confederations Cup, with a near-empty Rustenburg stadium last Sunday, FIFA is to hand out free tickets to schools, soccer clubs and youth organisations to ensure that the remaining matches are played to full stadia, reports the Cape Argus.

FIFA Media Head Nicolas Maingot has said that “And if we look at previous Confederations Cup tournaments, South Africa is not doing badly at all.   He compared average tickets sales per match to the 2003 Confederations Cup in France in 2003 at almost 31 000, and over 37 000 in Germany in 2005.   Current Confederations Cup attendance is 33 170 per match on average.

Trade union federation COSATU has encouraged South Africans to buy Confederations Cup tickets.  “The low turnouts at some matches have been a serious embarrassment to the country and must be improved upon” said COSATU spokesperson Patrick Craven, probably one of the more intelligent statements made by the trade union in a long time, as reported in The Times.

Rich Mkhondo, spokesperson of the Local Organising Committee, has continued his bizarre media comments:   “We have informed the people and marketed and organised this event, but we can’t force people to buy tickets.”   He confirmed that the LOC would not cut ticket prices for the Confederations Cup.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has slammed the 2010 World Cup Local Organising Committee for the poor attendance at the Spain/New Zealand Confederations Cup game in Rustenburg on Sunday evening.  The game was played to a virtually empty stadium, with most soccer fans seen in the lower priced standing area.

USA Today reports that 2010 Local Organising Committee spokesperson Rich Mkhondo said that despite the poor turnout, ticket prices will not be reduced.   “The South African nation’s job is to host the event, not attend it” is the astounding quote attributed to Mkhondo!   He added: “You can take the horse to the water, but you can’t force it to drink that water”!   He expressed doubt whether an extra 100 000 unsold seats can be filled if they are given away.   Can this man really be representing the best South African interests in making such nonsensical comments?   Is there bad blood between FIFA and the Local Organising Committee in making Mkhondo utter such absurd statements?

Blatter was not happy with the empty seats, evident from the television broadcast of the Rustenburg match.  He suggested to the local organisers that they should have done more to fill the empty seats, including giving them away for free.

Attendance at the Opening Ceremony at Ellis Park was marred by problems in getting shuttle buses from the designated parking areas to the stadium.   Many soccer fans arrived late as a result.

FIFA Chairman Sepp Blatter is visiting South Africa, and has given the thumbs-up to what he has seen on his latest visit to South Africa, to mark the 365 day countdown to 11 June 2010.  

Blatter met President Zuma and Western Cape Premier Helen Zille at Green Point stadium in Cape Town this week, and declared: “South Africa is not only ready, South Africa is committed”, reports The Times!

Blatter congratulated Zuma on his presidency, stating that he was happy that “he likes football and has realised what the World Cup can bring to his country and the continent.”   Blatter added:  “You have the confidence and trust of FIFA but also of the fans.  Everyone wants to be here.”

Danny Jordaan, CEO of the Local Organising Committee, praised the beauty of Durban’s Moses Mabhida and Cape Town’s Green Point stadia.   “The 2010 Fifa World Cup must be the end of an era and the beginning of a new era.   It must herald an era.  It must herald an era in which our country becomes a major driving force and an active participant in the global economy” said Jordaan.

Jordaan also said that 630 000 tickets have been sold to fans in 188 countries, half of these being sold to South Africans, for the 2010 World Cup.   The USA and the UK are the next biggest ticket purchasers, with roughly 70 000 and 43 000, respectively.

Jordaan also said that 70 % of the 640 000 Confederations Cup tickets have been sold.  The Confederations Cup commences on Sunday.

Cape Town Tourism organised the ceremonial kicking off of soccer balls from Table Mountain on 11 June, to mark the 365 days before the start of the World Cup, and attracted a fair number of Capetonians.   CODA performed a new song they have written for the World Cup, and vuvuzelas trumpeted.   The Green Point Stadium is already about 70 % completed, and will be ready for handover on 14 December, says a special Independent Newspaper “1 year to kick off” insert.   A pedestrian underpass will run underneath the traffic circle near the stadium, and the Green Point Common will be upgraded.   Green building practices are being applied for the stadium construction.   The Cape Town International airport upgrade will have been completed by November.

All tickets for the opening match, semi-finals and final match for the 2010 World Cup are sold out, reports the Cape Times.   Team-specific tickets for England, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, Ireland and the Netherlands are also sold out, as are individual match tickets for soccer matches in Cape Town, Nelspruit and Pretoria.

The second ticket selling phase has been underway since the beginning of this month, and just over 100 000 tickets have been sold in this phase to date.

The majority of ticket sales, after those to South Africa, is to the USA, reports USA Today.   Americans have bought 93 300 tickets to date.   The USA is also the top spender in terms of broadcast rights fees, with ABC/ESPN and Univision paying FIFA $325 million for the 2010 and 2014 television rights.

Danny Jordaan, head of the South African World Cup 2010 local organising committee, told an American audience earlier this week that he hopes to prove the doubters about South Africa’s ability to host the World Cup wrong, and to change South Africa’s image:  “It’s about trade.   It’s about investment.   It’s about business.   It’s about tourism.   Those are the stories that we think we want to place on the media platforms.”

To date, 400 000 tickets have been sold for the Confederations Cup, being hosted in South Africa from 14 - 28 June this year.