| 2010 FIFA World Cup |
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Where are the games being played? 2010 Fifa World Cup matches will be held in 10 stadiums: two in Johannesburg and one in each of the other eight host cities. Together, the 10 stadiums will host 64 matches and seat more than 570 000 people during the course of tournament. Five of the 10 are existing stadiums, which are being upgraded, with Soccer City - venue of the opening and final match - undergoing a major upgrade. The other five stadiums are being built from scratch. Which cities are hosting matches? Nine South African cities will stage the 2010 Fifa World Cup. (Image: Mary Alexander Johannesburg The economic hub of Africa, Johannesburg is a bustling, sprawling city of contrasts, spread across the small but densely populated province of Gauteng.
Cape Town South Africa's oldest and loveliest city lies in Table Bay on the Atlantic Ocean, in the south of the Western Cape province. Beautiful buildings, the nearby winelands, long white beaches and a rich cultural life make Cape Town South Africa's most favoured tourist destination.
Durban A warm subtropical place and the largest city in KwaZulu-Natal, Durban is a major tourist destination with the busiest port in South Africa.
Pretoria Pretoria is the administrative capital of South Africa, lying north of Johannesburg in the province of Gauteng. Over 150 years old, it is a place of grand monuments, delightful architecture and lovely open spaces.
Port Elizabeth Known as the Friendly City, Port Elizabeth lies in Nelson Mandela Bay on the windswept Wild Coast of the Eastern Cape province.
Bloemfontein The former capital of a Boer republic and now capital of the Free State, Bloemfontein - the name means "flower fountain" - is a pretty city with thousands of rose bushes and some poignant memorials.
Rustenburg Its tranquil Jacaranda-lined streets belie the fact that the Rustenburg area in North West province is one of the world's most heavily mined regions, with a wealth of platinum underground.
Nelspruit The capital of Mpumalanga province lies in the fertile valley of the Crocodile River, about 330km east of Johannesburg.
Polokwane The capital of Limpopo province is ideally situated near the border of the wildlife-rich, world-famous Kruger National Park.
How many tickets will be available? Some 3-million tickets will be available for the 2010 Fifa World Cup's 64 matches. One third, or a million, will be allocated to South African football fans, another million to international visitors, and the third million to sponsors, teams and the "Fifa family". Should I come even if I can't get tickets? Of course! The 2010 tournament is guaranteed to be, as South Africans say, a jol (a party). As in Germany in 2006, public viewing areas with giant screens will be set up. And you can always watch the tournament and get to know the locals at our numerous pubs, restaurants and sports bars. What time zone is South Africa in? South African Standard Time is two hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+2). During June and July - when the tournament will take place - South African time is the same as that in continental Europe, and an hour ahead of the UK. So matches that kick off at 9pm here will be comfortable viewing for Europeans, while US viewers will be taking a lot of early lunches - and Socceroo supporters will be starting their day at five in the morning! What will the weather be like? The World Cup will take place in the southern hemisphere winter - but it's warm here in Africa. Johannesburg will be dry, with sunny days and fairly chilly nights. Rustenburg, Pretoria and Nelspruit will be warmer, but Bloemfontein will be cold. Polokwane in the north will be dry and hot, warmer than most European summers. Durban will be pleasant and warm, with some humidity - and the deliciously balmy Indian Ocean to swim in. And while Cape Town is magnificent in good weather - and it can have good weather in winter - in June the city is generally cold, wet and windy, and its ocean icy cold! How do I get to South Africa? By air - unless you have a boat or rugged overland vehicle. Over 50 airlines and more than 30-million passengers a year move through South Africa's 10 principal airports, including the three major international airports in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. How do I get around? The host cities are all linked by air and train routes, and South Africa has a number of first-rate tour bus companies. The country's road infrastructure is excellent, so it's also a viable option to rent a car. When it comes to travel within the cities, while South African public transport is not up to the standard of New York or London, there are options. The most popular form of public transport is the minibus taxi. By 2010 a massive taxi recapitalisation plan, currently under way, will have replaced most of the older vehicles with larger, safer minibuses. Most host cities have Metro train and bus systems, and there are numerous meter cab companies. Otherwise, you can rent a car or use your hotel's courtesy transport. Where do I stay? "The hotel sector in South Africa is first-rate," the Fifa inspection team said in its country report. "There are enough hotel rooms to accommodate everyone taking part in the 2010 Fifa World Cup, including media representatives and fans from around the world." Other options are the many bed & breakfast establishments in and around the host cities, and over 150 backpacker lodges. What if I fall ill? "On the whole, the health system has excellent facilities and perhaps one of the best private health systems in the world, drawing on modern technology and highly qualified specialists and medical staff," the Fifa inspection team said in its report. "We have to add that there are fully equipped infirmaries with adequate first-aid facilities to meet every need in the stadiums proposed for the 2010 Fifa World Cup." What are the people like? South Africa is a nation of over 47-million people of diverse origins, cultures, languages and beliefs. Visitors to the country always remark on how warm, friendly and welcoming South Africans are. We've had a difficult past, so we don't waste time being difficult people! And we're expert at having fun. "We can say that the people of South Africa were always friendly, very boisterous and constantly celebrating during our visit to the country," Fifa's inspection team said in their country report. "[They] would stop and show their joy and support of the country's commitment whenever our group passed by." Are there lions in the streets? Er, no. But if you want to see wild animals, you won't have to go far to do so. An hour's drive from such urban jungles as Pretoria and Johannesburg, you can see lions, elephants, buffalo and hundreds more species in their natural environments. There are wildlife lodges and game parks - including the huge and magnificent Kruger National Park - across the country. Simply take your pick.
What's the beer like? Cold and delicious. South Africans generally drink bottled beer, although most pubs offer a range of draughts. The major producer is South African Breweries, now a huge multinational doing business across the world. Lager is probably the favourite, followed by pilsener. In and around the stadiums, you'll only be able to drink Budweiser - an official Fifa sponsor. And the food? Yummy, exotic and varied. South Africa's people have diverse origins, cultures, languages and beliefs, and their food is a correspondingly rich smorgasbord. For the more daring, we offer culinary challenges from crocodile sirloins to fried caterpillars to sheep heads - delicious! For the less brave, there are indigenous delicacies such as biltong (dried, salted meat), bobotie (a much-improved version of shepherd's pie) and boerewors (hand-made farm sausages, grilled on an open flame). In the space of a single city street or shopping mall you'll find Italian restaurants, two or three varieties of Chinese cookery and Japanese, Moroccan, French, Portuguese and Indian food. Not far away will be Congolese restaurants, Greek, even Brazilian and Korean establishments - and, everywhere, fusion, displaying the fantasies of creative chefs. Pubs, wine bars, township taverns known as shebeens, nightclubs, a variety of restaurants, mainstream theatre, avant-garde theatre, dinner theatre, movies … there's no shortage of places to celebrate or cry into your beer after the match. If it all gets a bit much, where's the best place to go to avoid the whole show? There are many remote places to escape to in South Africa's varied landscape, from the massive Drakensberg range of mountains, which run like a spine down the length the country, to the weird rock formations of the Cedarberg mountains in the west, the Northern Cape's haunting Richtersveld area, and the vast plains of the Karoo desert. Or you could just find a secluded beach on the country's 2 500 kilometres of coastline and bask in the African sun. |
