Blatter to tour 2010 prep in SA next week
FIFA president Joseph S Blatter will be in South Africa next week, 14 -17 September 2008, to visit facilities in Cape Town and Johannesburg to obtain a firsthand impression of the progress of the preparations for next year's FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He will be accompanied on his trip by FIFA secretary general Jérôme Valcke and SALOC board member Tokyo Sexwale.
On Sunday 14 September, the FIFA president will also have an audience with President Thabo Mbeki at the Presidential Guest House in Pretoria/Tshwane. Other meetings are planned with various key stakeholders, including former president and Nobel Peace Prize winner FW de Klerk, ANC president Jacob Zuma, Western Cape premier Lynne Brown, executive mayor of Cape Town Helen Zille, executive mayor of Johannesburg Amos Masondo and Gauteng premier Mbhazima Shilowa.
Some programme details and arrangements:
Sunday 14 September
Meeting with Mbeki
7.30pm - 8.15pm: Private meeting of Blatter with Mbeki at Presidential Guest House in Pretoria/Tshwane.
8.15pm: Media briefing with Mbeki and Blatter at the Presidential Guest House in Pretoria/Tshwane. Members of the media are advised to arrive at 7.45pm through gate 9 on Church Street.
Media interested in attending must directly contact Terrence Manase on +27 (0)82 338 6707 or for registration by Friday 12 September.
Cape Town, Monday 15 September
2.15pm: Media representatives must collect accreditation at Green Point Visitor Centre, Green Point Stadium Site, Granger Bay Boulevard, Cape Town.
3pm - 3.45pm: Visit to Greenpoint stadium by Blatter, Valcke, SALOC chairman Irvin Khoza and SALOC CEO Danny Jordaan, Sexwale, Brown and Zille, followed by an informal media briefing
Johannesburg, Tuesday 16 September
8am: Media representatives must collect accreditation at SAFA House and board the media bus which will leave at 8:30pm -note that there is no access for individual cars at Soccer City stadium.
9am - 9.30am: Visit to Soccer City stadium by Blatter, Valcke , SALOC board members, Masondo and Shilowa (photo and filming opportunity only).
6pm: Post SALOC board press conference with Valcke, Khoza and Jordaan.
Johannesburg, Wednesday 16 September
9.15pm: Media representatives to meet and collect accreditation at main entrance of Coca-Cola Park (formerly Ellis Park Stadium).
10am - 10.15am: Visit to Coca-Cola Park by Blatter, Valcke, Khoza, Jordaan and Sexwale, guided by Masondo and Shilowa (photo and filming opportunity only).
10.15am - 11am: Media briefing with Blatter at Coca-Cola Park.
All activities require accreditation and all applications are subject to approval, due to space limitations at certain events. Media representatives interested in attending the various activities (with the exception of the event at the Presidential Guest House ) should return the accreditation form by email to or by fax +27 (0)11 567 2599 by Friday 12 September, 3.30pm at the latest.
For more information, contact FIFA media officer Delia Fischer on , cell +27 (0)83 2010 470 or go to www.FIFA.com.
