The 2010 Game Plan

I was so fortunate to be able to attend Gary Bailey’s Game plan: 2010 presentation. Gary is the Castrol Ambassador for the 2010 FIFA world cup and a world-renowned soccer player. He played for Wits, Kaiser Chiefs, South Africa, Manchester United and for England in the 1986 World cup. Garry is currently presenting his Game plan: 2010 presentation throughout SA in support of making 2010 the best World Cup ever!

The soccer world cup is one of the largest events that any country can hope to host. It is BIG, twenty times bigger than any rugby or cricket world cup. The soccer world cup is even bigger than the Olympic games!

At the 2008 Soccer world cup in Germany:

• 800 000 visitors were expected and 2 million arrived!
• There were 18 million spectators at Fan Parks (parks where the games are displayed via big screen TV’s) alone.
• Visitors at the soccer world cup spent $766 million.
• Germany spent R1.6 billion to revamp the stadiums.
• 3.6 million sausages were sold in fan parks.
• 3.4 million litres of Budweiser beer was sold in 4 weeks.
• 22 000 chefs were brought into the country.

At the 2010 Soccer world cup in SA:

• R50 billion has been spend on infrastructure.
• R21 billion contributes to our economy.
• Sponsors spend R250 billion thus far.
• 30 – 40 million viewers are expected.
• 450 000 foreigners are expected.
• R10 000 expected to be spend per tourist.
• R10 billion is to be spend on fighting crime (40 new police stations and 65 000 CCTV cameras).
• R640 million on deploying of 41 000 additional police officers.
• R1.7 billion in upgrading the Metro Rail (1900 new coaches).
• R1.4 million to buy 570 new busses.
• A mix of indoors and outdoors fan parks and public viewing areas in every city and small town.
• 1.5 million beds per night are required.

Did you know that.........

• the FNB stadium is the 6th largest and host 94 000 seats for the opening ceremony?
• all schools and universities will be closed during the 4 weeks of the Soccer world cup (9 June 2010 – 13 July 2010) ?
• we have the best broad band in the world therefore foreigners are encouraged to rent cell phones?
• it is expected that 50 000 people will be moving through the airport for the quarter final as opposed to the 3 000 people currently?

What does it mean for South Africa?

• It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to rebrand South Africa as a country. Thousands of people around the world will watch our every move daily for four weeks.
• It will contribute to a massive tourism boom.
• JSE values are expected to rise.
• An opportunity to promote what we have to offer e.g. arts and culture, property investment, etc. long after the world cup has passed.
• An infrastructure upgrade that we can enjoy for years afterwards.

The unique trademarks for the 2010 world cup will be that of Vuvuzelas and Makarabas (those mining and construction hard hats that have been developed into expressive football-fan outfits). That is what South Africa soccer is all about - noise, excitement, Diski dancing (a proudly South African soccer-related dance), shouting and enjoyment.

The 2010 soccer world cup is less than a year away and we are ready. It is time for us as South Africans to stand united as the proud hosts that we are and showcase our country to the world to ensure our visitors an African experience like never before.