Mass diski dance by Cape Town youth marks 100 days till kick off

Cape Town Tourism has organized an 800-strong group of Peninsula youths to perform the diski dance at the Cape Town Stadium on Tuesday, March 2, 2010, when the City marks 100 days until the first official FIFA 2010 World Cup™ whistle is blown. Joined by Executive Mayor, Alderman Dan Plato, and key tourism industry stakeholders, Cape Town Tourism is set to bring color, music, and the energy of youth into the iconic stadium as an inspiration for all Capetonians to “Live It! Love It! LOUDER!”

Arguably the largest formal diski dance gathering yet, the 800 children taking part in Cape Town Tourism’s “100 Days till Kick-off” celebration are from community centers across the city.

Said Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Alderman Dan Plato: “Cape Town is one of the world’s premier tourism destinations, and in preparation for the FIFA 2010 World Cup, we have spent massive amounts of money on making Cape Town an even more accessible and enjoyable destination. These improvements are taking shape as the World Cup approaches, and we look forward to them benefiting residents and visitors for decades to come.”

Lianne Burton, spokesperson for Cape Town Tourism, added: “In just over three months, Cape Town will be on the center stage of the sporting world. Today, we are getting up and dancing to celebrate our beautiful new stadium, the city’s new infrastructure, and, most importantly, the future of Cape Town – our young people, who are leading the way to ‘Live it! Love it! LOUDER!’ as we near the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It’s about ensuring that civic pride among our young people will be part of the World Cup legacy for Cape Town.”

After initial concerns, ticket sales and hotel bookings are now on the rise. Much of the preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ has been completed, and what is left to be done is assured to be on track. Managing international perceptions of a FIFA World Cup in Africa has proven to be the biggest challenge to the event, and the months ahead will be heavily invested in countering negative and skewed perceptions. Said Burton: “Ultimately, this highly-televised event will give us an opportunity to show that Cape Town, already a proven lifestyle and events capital, is capable of hosting a mega-event in an entertaining, safe, efficient, and memorable way. We are ready to welcome the world.”