South Africa’s Academy Award winner Charlize Theron will be the guest presenter assisting FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke during the Final Draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) on Friday, 4 December 2009 (19.00 local time/CET+1). They will be joined on stage by a star-studded line-up of sports celebrities, including football star David Beckham (England), one of only a few players to score in at least three consecutive FIFA World Cups, Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia), two-time Olympic gold medallist and nine-time athletics world champion, Makhaya Ntini, the first black player in the South African cricket team, John Smit, the captain of rugby world champions South Africa and Bafana Bafana player Matthew Booth.
Jacob Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa, and FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter will welcome the audience at the beginning of the 90-minute live show. Guests on the day will include Issa Hayatou, Chairman of the Organising Committee for the FIFA World Cup™, Nobel Peace Prize winners Frederik W. de Klerk and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, as well as former football icons Franz Beckenbauer, Michel Platini, Eusebio and Roger Milla. The majority of the 32 coaches of the qualified teams are expected to be present at the draw. Former South African President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela, one of the architects of the first African World Cup, will address the audience by video message.
“This is a very important event for football and Africa as the Final Draw comes to Cape Town where an unprecedented six teams from the host continent will be represented. We expect a record global audience which I hope will be glued to their screens for the duration of the show,” said the FIFA Secretary General who will marshal the actual draw.
200 million expected to watch Final Draw
The Final Draw will be beamed live to an estimated audience of more than 200 million people in more than 200 territories. It has attracted unprecedented worldwide interest and an onsite presence of 2,000 invited guests and more than 1,700 media representatives.
It has taken a year of preparations, 3,600 hours of manpower and 5,000 hours of production to put together the draw show from the stage to the actual performances. This includes a world premiere with a handmade 3D animation of the Official Mascot Zakumi, enabling the animated Zakumi to interact live on stage with the presenter during the show. Grammy award-winners Soweto Gospel Choir, Beninese singer-songwriter Angélique Kidjo and one of South Africa’s most successful solo musicians Johnny Clegg will perform alongside the Jazzart Dance Company. The grand finale will feature 80 artists including internationally acclaimed musical ensemble Africa Umoja. African beats will echo through the draw, while the show will reach a fitting climax at the moment when the 32 teams discover who they will be playing and when.
A compilation of poignant films will serve as a taster of the upcoming tournament scheduled from 11 June to 11 July 2010, including a journey through FIFA World Cup™ history and features on the host country with all its remarkable offerings for fans. The programme will be hosted by popular South African presenter Carol Manana on a giant 4,800m2 stage made of 6.5 tons of steel, 1,600m2 of printed material, a 1.2 km steel handrail and 950m2 of timber.
The draw procedures and seeding process will be announced on 2 December following the meeting of the Organising Committee for the FIFA World Cup™ under the chairmanship of FIFA Vice-President Issa Hayatou.
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Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
World Cup 2010: What are your Final Draw hopes?
The eyes of the world are on the Cape of Good Hope where excitement levels are reaching fever pitch ahead of Friday 4 December's Final Draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. Beginning at 7pm local time in Cape Town, the 32 finalists are about to discover the identity of their group rivals for the global showpiece - set to take place from 11 June to 11 July next year.
“I’m really looking forward to the draw,” said Germany coach Joachim Low, summing up the mood of players, coaches and fans around Planet Football. "That’s when the World Cup really starts for me, this is what it’s all about.”
And come Friday, millions will be looking on intently as the draw progresses, with football followers keeping their fingers crossed that their national sides can avoid the toughest groups. Even for experienced FIFA World Cup performers, getting out of the group can prove fraught with danger if the Draw goes against you, with fancied sides invariably falling at the first hurdle.
Indeed, every Draw throws up at least one fiercely competitive section, where several traditional powers have to fight for the right to progress. Who can forget Group C at Germany 2006, which comprised Argentina, Côte d'Ivoire, Serbia and Montenegro and the Netherlands? Then there are the dark horses to contend with, quality teams which strive to spring a surprise and relish the opportunity to upset the game's established heavyweights.
So, with the stage perfectly set for Friday evening's proceedings, FIFA.com has decided to use this week’s 'Have Your Say' feature to ask a very pertinent question:
What are you hoping for in the FIFA World Cup Final Draw?
Make sure your voice is heard by clicking on 'Add your comment', and please remember to keep your posts clean, respectful, on-topic and in English.
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“I’m really looking forward to the draw,” said Germany coach Joachim Low, summing up the mood of players, coaches and fans around Planet Football. "That’s when the World Cup really starts for me, this is what it’s all about.”
And come Friday, millions will be looking on intently as the draw progresses, with football followers keeping their fingers crossed that their national sides can avoid the toughest groups. Even for experienced FIFA World Cup performers, getting out of the group can prove fraught with danger if the Draw goes against you, with fancied sides invariably falling at the first hurdle.
Indeed, every Draw throws up at least one fiercely competitive section, where several traditional powers have to fight for the right to progress. Who can forget Group C at Germany 2006, which comprised Argentina, Côte d'Ivoire, Serbia and Montenegro and the Netherlands? Then there are the dark horses to contend with, quality teams which strive to spring a surprise and relish the opportunity to upset the game's established heavyweights.
So, with the stage perfectly set for Friday evening's proceedings, FIFA.com has decided to use this week’s 'Have Your Say' feature to ask a very pertinent question:
What are you hoping for in the FIFA World Cup Final Draw?
Make sure your voice is heard by clicking on 'Add your comment', and please remember to keep your posts clean, respectful, on-topic and in English.
(fifa.com) Baca selanjutnya...
