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Wow, South Africa ... just 100 days to go |
Seems like the whole country is coming out in force with vuvuzelas
trumpeting, flags flying high and national patriotism at an all time
high as South Africans mark off 100 days to the 2010 FIFA (Tm) World
Cup as of tomorrow (Tues 2 March 2010).
Sandton to come to a standstill.
Heading up the celebrations is South African Tourism, who together with Johannesburg Tourism Company, plan to bring the party to the people.
 Two brightly-branded buses will tour around Sandton, stopping in Maud street for a street party where Diski Dancers will teach the latest dance craze and get everyone getting on down and Diski-ing to its five signature moves: the juggle, header, Table Mountain, trepa and the bridge.
Music, games, quizzes and live artists such as Freshly Ground, Karen Zoid and others are part of the programme.
There'll be snacks, flags and booklets for all. Everyone is asked to be there at 12h00 sharp, when the national anthem will be sung.
It's Crazy at Cresta
Further to the west, Cresta Shopping Centre, plans to start their celebrations at 12h00. Again, they'll be flying the flags, blowing the vuvuzelas, doing the Diski and getting everyone to join in the fun. It's all happening at the Amphitheatre near Spur - and don't forget to wear your soccer jerseys!
All Stadium Tour
On a national level, FIFA has announced that they'll be celebrating the 100 Days to the World Cup with a tour of all nine host cities and 10 stadiums, beginning today.
Led by the OC's chief executive, Danny Jordaan, and the FIFA secretary, Jerome Valcke, the tour is guaranteed to show the media just how ready, willing and able all the venues (as well as their cities and municipalities) are to host this amazing event.
The first stop will be Ellis Park Stadium in eastern Johannesburg, where Executive Mayor Amos Masondo and Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane will welcome guests.
The 62 000-seat stadium successfully hosted the 2009 FIFA Confederation Cup finals and is the venue for seven World Cup matches, including a quarterfinal.
After that, the delegation will go to Soccer City Stadium in Nasrec. This giant stadium, which has been extensively renovated to seat 90 200 people, is complete and will be handed over to FIFA on 3 March.
Then it's on to Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.
Durban will host the official celebrations.
The tour then heads off to the new Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, for the official 100 Days to the 2010 World Cup celebrations - where Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, FIFA president Sepp Blatter and OC chairman Irvin Khoza are expected to join in. 
And Durban has promised “the best celebration event ever”, which may be the last official event before the games start on 11 June 2010.
A huge variety of activities is on the cards and includes a football match and a special gala banquet addressed by Deputy President, Kgalema Motlanthe, and FIFA President, Sepp Blatter.
Other VIPs expected to attend include African soccer greats: Roger Milla, Hossam Hassan, Patrick Mboma, Jay Jay Okocha, Doctor Khumalo and Mark Fish.
The football match will take place on Wednesday evening and will be a friendly between South Africa and Namibia at the new Moses Mabhida Stadium.
National Radio
A 1-hour live community radio phone-in programme, where the public will participate, will be also be broadcast on 66 stations all around to country - reaching approximately 7 million listeners.
North West
Everyone here will gather at the Moruleng Stadium for the 100 day celebrations.
Provincial Tourism spokesperson, Baabua Thukubi, urged residents to come out in their numbers.
“This is a day in which South Africans should clad in their Bafana Bafana jerseys and regalia with one voice and sing the national anthem, raise flags, perform the Diski dance in anticipation of an event that will blow soccer history books away,” she said.
Tourism MEC, Mmaphefo Matsemela, and traditional leader of Bakgatla-Ba-Kgafela, Kgosi Nyalala Pilane, will lead a parade from the tribal offices to the Moruleng stadium.
Planned celebrations include teaching communities the Diski dance, soccer matches and live performances by famous artists like Tuks Senganga, KB and Rhythmic Elements.
A local resident, Mokwele, said all South Africans must take pride in celebrating the world cup. “This is our chance to market our country and promote every good thing in it,” she said.
It's for everyone
South Africans everywhere are encouraged to join in the celebrations by flying the flag, donning Bafana Bafana kit, feasting on South African food, music and dance and celebrate the huge strides the country has already achieved.
And then, take a deep breath, and get ready to get everyone into the spirit of welcoming the rest of the world for the best World Cup ever!
Source: BuaNews
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