Highlights of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™
A Dutch fan blows his vuvuzela on a sunny day in Cape Town, with Table Mountain in the background. Photo by Roy Barford
The final whistle of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ was blown last night, while the legacy of the tournament kicked off immediately afterwards.
Cape Town hosted eight matches during the tournament, including the Round of 16 match between Spain and Portugal, the quarter-final between Argentina and Germany and the semi-final between the Netherlands and Uruguay.
It was great to have football fans from around the world in the Mother City, with Dutch supporters being arguably the most colourful and spirited. It was also great to see South Africans unite and get behind Bafana Bafana, who were very unlucky to be knocked out in the first round, following a very controversial penalty and red card in the match against Uruguay in Pretoria.
The FIFA Fan Fest, V&A Waterfront and Cape Town International Convention Centre erected big screens for fans who did not have tickets to the matches. All 64 matches played in the tournament were screened at these venues, and the events were well attended by locals and visitors alike.
Music lovers had a great time during the tournament, with performances by top South African and international artists. The list of performers in Cape Town included Estelle, Fatboy Slim, R Kelly, JR, Kurt Darren, HHP, Die Antwoord, Flash Republic, Freshlyground, Prime Circle, Goldfish and many upcoming Cape Town artists.
The tournament provided a platform for emerging performers to showcase their talent at the various public viewing areas, as well as at the popular Fan Walk between the FIFA Fan Fest and Cape Town Stadium.
Local industry roleplayers received a welcome winter boost and even those who didn’t do as well as expected would have learned much from the tournament, meaning they will be better prepared for future events in Cape Town. The success of the World Cup has prompted Formula 1™ boss, Bernie Ecclestone, to announce that he considering bringing F1 racing to the Mother City in three years’ time.
Various celebrities passed through and left their signatures on the Madiba Legacy Canvas. The list of high-profile people seen out and about included Leonardo di Caprio, Prince Albert of Monaco, Charlize Theron, Reggie Bush and many others.
Cape Town has once again proven that it is eminently capable of hosting global events and everything that comes with them.
Let the legacy begin…
