18 June 2010
Fifa Fan Fests™, organised at 16 venues around the world, played host to more than a million supporters during the first six days of the biggest sporting party in the world.
The fan fest is a gathering point for fans, free of charge and open all day. High quality giant screens and sound and lighting systems ensure a great experience while fans watch 2010 Fifa World Cup™ matches.
Entertainment is normally provided before kick-off, in the general party atmosphere that prevails at the fan fests.
More than 800 000 fans in 10 South African venues and more than 400 000 fans in Rome, Paris, Berlin, Sydney, Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro, followed matches on the giant screens at the fan fests, Fifa said in a statement this week.
Sunny Durban attracts crowds
The best attended venues over the course of the last six days were sunny Durban, with 200 000 spectators, and Paris with more than 100 000 spectators.
The highest numbers of spectators so far have been reached on the opening match day on 11 June, with more than 400 000 spectators across all venues. On that day, the best visited site in South Africa was Johannesburg, with more than 70 000 spectators, while the busiest international site was Mexico City with more than 50 000 spectators.
Support for national teams
Wednesday’s second match involving Bafana Bafana saw a further 300 000 fans visiting fan fests in South Africa and around the globe. The maximum capacity was reached in almost all venues every time the respective national team played.
More than 65 000 fans were counted at the fan fest in Durban, and 50 000 fans were counted at the international fan fest at Rio de Janeiro’s famous Copacabana beach the day before, when the Brazilian team played.
Many venues in South Africa reached their maximum capacities on Wednesday, when the South African team played against Uruguay.
Extra public viewing areas
Further, some Host Cities have created overspill areas which were either areas on-site – by using a second screen – or public viewing areas off-site to decentralise people if required.
The organisers in the different venues used local media to inform the fans in case the venue reached its maximum capacity and fans were advised to arrive early or listen to media to avoid disappointment.
The international fan fests are organised at six iconic locations around the world: Olympic Square in Berlin, Piazza di Siena, in Vila Borghese, Rome, Les Jardins du Trocadero in Paris, Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Zocalo in Mexico City and Darling Harbour in Sydney.
Source: BuaNews
