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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