The 2010 FIFA World Cup kicked off a decade ago and was a shining moment in the history of South Africa!
Cape Town, South Africa (14 June 2020) – The biggest-ever sporting tournament in South Africa began a decade ago this week and was a golden opportunity to build Cape Town and our country as a popular tourist destination.
It also proved what we can achieve by working together, and during the current global coronavirus pandemic, we can help stop the spread if we all play our part.
“I have fond memories of the world cup, having been Mayor at the time. I remember all the work that went into the planning and hosting this mega tournament. It was challenging, but the reward was the unifying power sport had across all groups of people. To see the thousands of people singing and cheering for their teams was an incredible sight. For those wonderful weeks, we moved closer to that rainbow nation which the late Tata Madiba dreamt of,” said Executive Mayor Dan Plato.
A total of 309 554 international tourists visited South Africa to witness the world cup, with a third of that total coming from our continent. A quarter or roughly 24 percent were visitors from Europe, and 13 percent were from South America. More than half the total visitors had never been to Cape Town, South Africa.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was a perfect opportunity to build the image of Cape Town and our tourism industry. As a result of the successful tournament and the many other experiences, visitors were exposed to; our tourism industry grew to roughly 300 000 people employed in this sector across the city and province.
“As we go through the challenging times of COVID-19, let us look to the world cup as an example of what can be achieved when we all work together, of what a happy and nostalgic moment it was, and as a reminder of what Cape Town is capable of. If we work together, we can stop the spread of the coronavirus, and we can only do this if we all play our part. Please continue to wash your hands regularly, wear your face mask and practice social distancing,” said Mayor Plato.
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