Switch Behind 2010 Poster

The FIFA World Cup official poster has a rich and diverse history, the first one designed in 1930 to promote ticket sales for the FIFA World Cup in Uruguay. Last week saw the launch of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa official poster, created by The Switch Group, which also designed the official logo.

According to Gaby de Abreu, creative director: the Switch Group, designing the poster enabled Switch to share the unique magic between Africa and the world of soccer: "Africa is intimately connected to soccer. We saw this as our chance to tell Africa's story: how the game has transformed and inspired the continent; and how we in turn have added our own spirit and flair to the game."

Using warm, typically "African" colours - rich gold, red, green and blue - Switch's design team simultaneously captured the aspirations of a player and the continent in their simple, yet powerful design. "Because this poster will be used throughout the world - acting in essence as an open invitation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup event - we wanted it to communicate instantly. It needed to go beyond language: breaking down barriers and capturing the spirit of the continent and game," says De Abreu.
While the team at Switch is thrilled to have been able to contribute to 2010 yet again (Switch designed the 2010 FIFA World Cup logo), S'bu Manqele, group business director: the Switch Group, says that the process wasn't without its nerve-wracking moments, "We were one of a number agencies invited to submit two poster designs each. Our poster was then selected as one of the three shortlisted, at which stage the public were asked to vote for their favourite."

The results of the public vote were overwhelming, with Switch emerging the clear winner - something which Manqele attributes to the exceptional hard work of the group, as well as its understanding of the intimate relationship between Africa and soccer, "Because we've been so involved in the 2010 FIFA World Cup project from the beginning, we've come to understand the passion and commitment behind it. Our poster is a reflection of this."

FIFA calls off New Zealand, Fiji World Cup qualifier over visa ban

FIFA postponed Fiji's World Cup qualifier at New Zealand on Saturday because the home team's government refused to allow a visiting player into the county.

FIFA said the game cannot be played unless goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau is allowed into the country. New Zealand imposed travel sanctions against members of the Fijian military and their families over last December's military coup. Tamanisau's father-in-law is a military police officer.

"The goalkeeper should have the right to play," FIFA said in a statement. "Therefore, in order to preserve this sporting principle as well as the competitive integrity of the 2010 FIFA World Cup preliminary competition, FIFA could not allow the match to take place under the current conditions."

FIFA said it will decide later when and where the game will be held.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said sports organizations do not set foreign policy and called FIFA's decision unjust.

"Entry to another country is a privilege and all countries retain the right to exclude individuals in accordance with their immigration policy,"

Peru to Provide Fan Transportation for 2010 World Cup Qualifying Match Against Paraguay

Peru is preparing for the start of the 2010 World Cup Qualifying Rounds. In its first match against Paraguay, Peru will kick off the qualifying rounds for the 2010 World Cup.

Peru's National Soccer Coach, "Chemo" del Solar has announced the 11 starters for the match while the Municipality of Ate has authorized for the game to be held at the Monumental Stadium in Ate, Lima, Peru. Fans have purchased their tickets with only several thousand remaining.

One of the main concerns Peru's police has is the safety of the tens of thousands of fans that will go to the game. 16 escape routes have already been established inside the stadium in case of any emergency.

In addition, General Octavio Salazar has announced that 20 digital cameras have been set up along Javier Prado Avenue and the Carretera Central to monitor fan's behavior. General Salazar stated that the objective was to catch anyone vandalizing the area or committing acts of violence.

"The person who is filmed by a digital camera committing a criminal act will be turned over to authorities and drastically punished," said General Salazar in an interview with Andina news.

It was also reported that 11,000 police officers have been assigned to provide security before, during and after the soccer game Peru will play against Paraguay. 3,000 officers will be around the stadium while 8,000 have been placed throughout the streets of Lima.

Salazar reported that 100 buses would take fans from Javier Prado avenue to the stadium. The buses can be taken by fans at the intersections of Javier Prado and the following avenues: Brasil Avenue, Sánchez Carrión (ex Pershing) Avenue, Guardia Civil Avenue, Jockey Plaza and La Molina Avenue.

World Cup set to boost ICT in South Africa

Information and communication technology (ICT) in South Africa is expected to get a boost from the 2010 Soccer World Cup, with infrastructure providers and local government spending billions to ensure a successful tournament, according to key players at the recent ICT Journalist Media Forum.

Botlenyana Mokhele of the Department of Communications (DOC) said that the event provides an opportunity for the government to accelerate the development of state-of-the-art, robust, reliable and affordable ICT for 2010.

Local organising committee (LOC) technology manager Zakes Mnisi said the International Broadcast Centre will serve as the central hub for all broadcasting facilities. The 30 000-square-metre facility will accommodate up to 100 broadcasters from at least 50 countries, have about 1 000 people on the premises around the clock and require more than 500 telephone lines. The largest studio will be 50 square metres.

The forum also heard that other long-term benefits of 2010 ICT development include high-definition television (HDTV).

The South African Broadcasting Corporation's (SABC) acting chief technology officer, Nic Bonthuys, said that by 2009 the broadcaster will already have six high-definition outside broadcast units. HDTV, he said, offers a better-quality picture that particularly enhances sports broadcasts.

The SABC, as the official broadcaster, will be responsible for carrying all unilateral signals for its own local coverage and for international broadcasts from the stadiums to the International Broadcast Centre, which will be the gateway to local and international video and audio circuits.

The SABC is also investing in digital terrestrial transmissions, which will be rolled out from November 2008. Digital broadcasts will, however, run in parallel with analogue until the latter mode of transmission is switched off in 2011.

South Africa's major ICT infrastructure providers are also gearing up to ensure sufficient bandwidth for the broadcast demands of the 2010 World Cup, as well as for the 300 000-plus international visitors who will be relying on state-of-the-art telecommunications technology during their month's visit.

World Wide Worx MD Arthur Goldstuck said World Cup ICT requirements extend far beyond infrastructure and facilities. It poses an exciting challenge for industry players to meet the high expectations of sophisticated cellphone users from across the world. He said that in 18 months' time the South African ICT environment will be unrecognisable due to optic-fibre cable being laid, among other improvements.

Telkom is among the local companies appointed as an ICT partner for the World Cup. Its technology will provide the fixed-line telecommunications backbone for broadcasting the soccer action to the world. In essence, Telkom will enable the interconnection of important event venues, including the 10 World Cup stadiums, broadcast compounds, media centres, the International Broadcast Centre and Fifa headquarters.

Gauteng minister of finance Paul Mashatile emphasised that the province is looking at ICT beyond 2010. One of the major challenges it is already addressing is meeting broadband demand and reducing the cost of doing business in Gauteng.

Other major projects in the province, such as the Gautrain, will allow for a reduction in costs as optic-fibre cables will run in the underground track section between Park Station and Marlboro.

The clear message of the ICT media forum was that the investment to be made by World Cup partners and the government will leave an ICT legacy to benefit South Africans beyond 2010.

SA ready to do it again in 2010

"We've done it before and will do it again in 2010," is the rallying brand message by the IMC to build optimism in the country and the world.

The International Marketing Council (IMC) is responsible for branding the country for 2010 in consultation with "Germany - Land of ideas."

"South Africa has been there, done that and is more than ready to do it again," Kheepe Moremi, Marketing Director of the IMC said.

The 2010 campaign refers to some of the world events successfully hosted by South Africa including the 1995 Rugby World Cup, 2003 Cricket World Cup and the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD).

The brand message emerged on Monday during the visit by two top European soccer players who are here to show their confidence in the country's ability to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The soccer stars Piotr Trochowski and Phillipp Lahm are expected to be in the country until 16 June, during which they will be involved in charity work including soccer clinics.

Also expected to join the two stars is Owen Hargreaves who missed his flight and failed to make it to the tour. He is expected to land in South Africa on Tuesday.

The IMC will be flighting this campaign on television and radio.

The City of Johannesburg's Executive Director for 2010, Sibongile Mazibuko reiterated that South Africa was ready to do it again.

"We have done it. We will do it again," she said referring to the city's role in the hosting of the three events.

She also said the city was bidding to host the International Broadcast Centre at the Johannesburg Expo Centre.

"We have submitted a detailed imaginative proposal to FIFA on the hosting of the International Broadcast Centre and we are confident we will win the bid," she said.

Cape Town and Durban, both of which are match host cities, are also bidding to host the IBC.

In addition to hosting fixtures at Soccer City and Ellis Park, Johannesburg will also provide six training venues for world cup teams.

They include Orlando stadium, Dobsonville, Rand, Cecil Payne, Rabie Ridge and Ruimsig stadiums.

Orlando and Dobsonville already meet FIFA's requirements in terms of the number of spectators they can accommodate.

Monday, 11 June, marked exactly three years to the day on which the first whistle will be blown for the first game of the 2010 World Cup at Soccer City, which is currently under construction.

A clock has also been unveiled at the OR Tambo International Airport for visitors to join South Africans on the count down to the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.