28 May 2010
Soccer lovers in rural KwaZulu-Natal will not miss out on the 2010 Fifa World Cup™ experience, with R80-million being spent on 10 public viewing areas spread across the province’s rural communities.
Acting provincial Economic Development and Tourism Minister Ina Cronje unveiled the public viewing area programme in Durban on Thursday.
“The aim of this programme is ensure that when we all draw down the curtain to the biggest sporting spectacle on earth, all of us would have experienced the excitement of the World Cup,” Cronje said.
The public viewing areas are:
- Pietermaritzburg: Ndumiso College Sports Ground
- Empangeni: eSikhawini College
- Ladysmith: Ezakheni College Sports Ground
- Port Shepstone: Gamalakhe-Sayidi FET College
- Zululand: Ulundi Stadium
- Greytown: Nhlalakahle Sports Ground
- Stanger: KwaDukuza Sports Ground
- Kokstad: Bhongwoni Soccer Stadium
- Mtubatuba: KwaMasame Sports Ground
- Newcastle: Osizweni Sports Ground
Local economic benefits
Cronje added that the programme was also part of the province’s 2010 economic growth strategy to offer locals economic benefits in their respective districts.
The programme is supported by nine government departments and 10 municipalities, and at least 120 small businesses and co-operatives will be afforded the opportunity to trade at the public viewing area venues.
Entertainment, refreshments
The public viewing areas will feature staging and screening facilities and soccer clinics, as well as food, beverage and liquor sales.
Local artists, comedians, poets, community radio DJs and visual artists from the province have been selected to perform at the public viewing areas, while specially trained community 2010 safety volunteers will tackle safety issues within the venues.
“It is also important to stress that the KZN [public viewing areas] are in keeping with the Fifa regulations and the entrance is free,” Cronje said. “This means that all members of the community in the respective districts can come and experience the pleasure of watching the games on the screens.”
Source: BuaNews
