FIFA Fan Fest goes global

Cape Town, Nov 25 (Indianfootball.com-IBNS): Nine South African cities and seven cities over five continents will be the host to FIFA's official public viewing events for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

From Table Mountain to the Copacabana, from Durban Beach to the Eiffel Tower, from Soweto to Sydney Harbour, the FIFA Fan Fest will enable football fans worldwide to watch FIFA World Cup matches in some of the most iconic locations in South Africa and around the world.

All nine South African Host Cities as well as Berlin, London, Mexico City, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Rome and Sydney were today (23 November 2009) unveiled as locations for the FIFA Fan Fest, the official public viewing events of football’s flagship tournament. Millions of fans are expected to watch the matches live at these events and experience the unique FIFA World Cup ambiance in these outdoor areas. Entrance to the FIFA Fan Fest is free, with all 64 matches to be broadcast on giant screens in a safe and secure environment.

Official public viewings events were first launched by FIFA in 2006 as part of the official programme under the name of “Fan Fests”. During June/July 2006, more than 18 million fans gathered at the 12 official events and transformed Germany into one of the greatest fan parties of all time.

“The FIFA Fan Fest was an important part of the success of the 2006 FIFA World Cup and we believe that the 2010 FIFA Fan Fests, both in South Africa and in the other seven international venues, will bring an unprecedented experience to millions of football fans in South Africa and around the world,” said FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter. “The first International FIFA Fan Fest is another milestone in bringing the excitement of the FIFA World Cup to an even greater audience.”

In South Africa, the FIFA Fan Fest will be organised by the Host Cities together with FIFA and the Local Organising Committee, with the International FIFA Fan Fest cities and FIFA taking responsibility for the international events. “We have always wanted the 2010 FIFA World Cup to touch the lives of as many South Africans as possible. The FIFA Fan Fest will provide an opportunity for millions of our people to watch the matches in a festival environment for free and will also provide an opportunity for small businesses and our musical talents to benefit from this event,” explained Danny Jordaan, CEO of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa.

Without the support of key stakeholders, a project of this scale could not be staged. A significant contribution to the South African FIFA Fan Fest will be made by Presenting Sponsor Coca-Cola, joined by Sponsors of the FIFA Fan Fest South Africa, MTN and Neo Africa. The official broadcaster of the event, SABC, will also be playing a vital role across all venues in South Africa. The International FIFA Fan Fest will be supported by Coca-Cola, Emirates, Hyundai/Kia and Sony as well as by the Media Rights Licensees appointed by FIFA in each of the individual territories.

Besides football, all cities will provide tastes and sounds of each of the countries through an all-day entertainment programme outside the actual broadcast of the matches. In South Africa in particular, this will offer opportunities for small local businesses to provide services and sell local arts and crafts.

On 4 December 2009 – the day of the eagerly awaited Final Draw – visitors and South Africans will have the first opportunity to get a taste of what is to come in 2010 when Cape Town hosts the Long Street Festival for the Final Draw, which will feature an official FIFA Fan Fest showcase event. The FIFA Fan Fest section will be launched on FIFA.com on 23 November 2009.

--IBNS