Cape Town Tourism makes some noise as the one year countdown to the 2010 FIFA World Cup begins

Cape Town Tourism took to the streets of the city to celebrate one year until the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Guests, staff, a few invited Capetonians, and media gathered on a specially soccer-theme branded City Sightseeing Bus for a trip around the city to Table Mountain, where soccer star Sergio dos Santos and rising star, Sexdouba Soumah, of the Ajax Cape Town Youth Academy, kicked a symbolic football at the sound of the noon day gun. Cape Town band CODA, played their new song, “Blow Your Vuvuzela,” directly after the kick-off. Capetonians gathered in the streets and at the Lower Cable Way Station at Table Mountain to cheer on the bus and be part of the fun. The Cape Town Tourism team handed out vuvuzelas, T-shirts, whistles, and other Cape Town memorabilia to the crowds.

After the ceremonial kick-off, Cape Town Tourism CEO, Mariette du Toit-Helmbold addressed the audience, explaining Cape Town Tourism’s plans to excite Capetonians with their year long Live It, Love It, Louder Campaign! “We can have all the infrastructure in place and ready, but if we don’t have the warmth and excitement of the people, we are not reaching our true potential as a host city.” Cape Town Tourism promised to get the people of Cape Town excited with competitions, bright billboards, fun activations, and events in the lead up to the Final Draw in December and the games in 2010.

Cape Town Tourism also unveiled their new Cape Town 2010 mini-site www.capetown.travel/2010, which serves as a portal for 2010 specific information on accommodation, transport, tours, eating out, and much more. Commenting on the site, Du Toit-Helmbold said that it was a social media space where people could explore the fun side of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. “Our aim was to create a virtual place where citizens and fans can congregate, share their love of soccer, learn about each other, and celebrate Cape Town as one of the most remarkable places on earth.”

The mini-site can also be accessed from the Cape Town Tourism home page www.capetown.travel.

The public can join the on-line community of fans by becoming a Cape Town fan on Facebook, please click on the Facebook icon on www.capetown.travel or join us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CapeTownTourism.