Cape Town gears up for 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Final Draw.

We have received the following communique from Cape Town Tourism, which we believe to be in the interest of all:

"The 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Final Draw, which will determine where and against whom the 32 qualified teams will be playing in next year’s 2010 FIFA World Cup™ soccer tournament, takes place on December 4, 2009 from 19h00 to 20h30 in front of some 3 000 international guests at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). It will be broadcast live to an estimated audience of 150-million viewers in 200 countries.

According to the City of Cape Town, FIFA executives, celebrities, members of the international media and representatives of each of the 32 qualifying teams will attend the event, which will also feature performances by the Soweto Gospel Choir and Johnny Clegg.

Fans will gather in Long Street to watch the Final Draw before celebrating on the legendary party street.

The Long Street Festival

Capetonians will get their first taste of next year’s 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Fan Fest concept when the entire Upper Long Street, from Dorp Street to Buitensingel, is converted into a festival zone for the Final Draw on Friday, December 4. Cape Town Tourism invites you to come and Live it! Love it! LOUDER!

About 15 000 revellers are expected to gather at the Long Street festival area, which will have video links to the CTICC so that Capetonians can experience the excitement of the event on large viewing screens in the party heart of Cape Town.

Detailed facts on the Long Street Party

• The festivities will start at 12h00 noon with music and cultural performances with a South African and African flavour. These stage performances will be complemented by buskers to embrace the festival theme.
• FIFA President Joseph S Blatter will officially launch the FIFA Fan Fest project at 14h00. The Long Street Festival will mimic the fan fest concept that will be used during next year’s football spectacle.
• Entrance to the festival is free and we expect thousands of Capetonians to congregate at Long Street to share in the world’s excitement over the Final Draw. Although the festivities start at noon, the real action is only expected to pick up from 16h00. Be sure to make it down and diski dance to CODA’s song Blow Your Vuvuzela.
• Volunteers will guide people from the Grand Parade public parking areas to the festival’s five access points in Wale Street, Leeuwen Street, Pepper Street, and Bloem Street.
• The hundreds of restaurants and bars in Long Street will continue with normal business, and their staff will be subjected to the same security measures as the visiting public.
• See the six-part Final Draw programme here.

ROAD CLOSURES

For the Final Draw event at the CTICC, there will be intermittent road closures on the Foreshore in the area of Lower Long Street, Coen Steytler and Cullinan Street, from 09h00 on Monday November 30 to 05h00 on Monday December 7.

For the Long Street Festival, there will be a full closure of Long Street, from Buitensingel to Buiten Street, and Loop Street, from 13h00 on November 30 to 05h00 on December 7.

From 01h00 on December 4 to 12h00 on December 5, there will be road closures in the area bound by Queen Victoria Street, Green Street, Buitensingel, Loop Street and Dorp Street.

Buiten Street, Bloem Street, Pepper Street, Leeuwen Street, Wale Street, Keerom Street and Vredenburg Lane will also be affected.

On-street stopping or parking will not be permitted on Long Street from Buitensingel to Buiten from 17h00 on Sunday November 29.

Access control measures will enable businesses and residents entry to the affected areas." End of press statement.