South Africa gears up to mark 500 days to the 2010 FIFA World Cup™

22 Jan 2009

The countdown to the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ is on in earnest. On Monday 26 January 2009 it will be exactly 500 days to go to the world's biggest sporting spectacle - watched by a cumulative audience of more than 26 billion spectators worldwide - and South Africa's preparations are in overdrive.

To mark this significant milestone, a range of activities will take place on the day, with FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke, Chairman of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa (SALOC) Dr. Irvin Khoza and the CEO of the SALOC Dr. Danny Jordaan addressing media at Johannesburg's SAFA House to reflect on the achievements made since South Africa was awarded the right to host Africa's first FIFA World Cup five years ago, and to look ahead at the milestones leading up to the tournament's kick-off on 11 June 2010 at the Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg.

The focal point of the day will be in Mangaung/Bloemfontein, where the mayors/representatives of all nine 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Host Cities will converge on the Mangaung Outdoor Sports Centre for the national unveiling of the nine Host City Posters. To kick-off the day's activities, the Italian Embassy will visit together with 2010 ambassadors Mark Fish and Philemon Masinga, two schools in Mangaung as part of the 2010 Schools Campaign “Adopt a Nation”, followed by a schools mini-football tournament.