Service with a smile

More than 280 metered taxi drivers have been trained in Cape Town. Transport Department spokesman Aniela Gella on Wednesday said the training would ensure an improved public transport service during the 2010 World Cup and beyond. The programme was customised for the drivers to become 2010 tour guides. The four-month training module which also comprised practical skills needed to ensure the safety and comfort of tourists, was approved by the tourism, hospitality and sport education and training authority.
For soccer gifts contact Belle Regalo.

Summit to promote post-2010 benefits

The upcoming Tourism Investor Summit aims to capitalise on the 2010 World Cup by attracting major sporting event bids between over the next decade. Africa Investor which is hosting the event on 27 February says the World Cup will pave the way for Africa to host major events that will promote international tourism investment. The summit will also focus on leveraging 2010 legacy projects for shareholder returns. ‘We welcome the approach SA is taking to ensure the 2010 World Cup benefits the rest of the continent and we are happy to support that goal. We expect a commercially and logistically successful 2010 and believe tourism and economic development will pass to other African,’ said Hubert Danso, Vice Chairman of Africa investor.

For more information visit:
http://www.africa-investor.com/
For 2010 gift ideas visit: http://www.belleregalo.co.za/gifts/2010_LowCost.htm

Major World Cup tenders rejected

The city of Cape Town has rejected three tender bids by prospective operators for its
68 000-seater World Cup stadium in Greenpoint. ‘The bid evaluation committee came to the conclusion that none of the bids meet the city's require-ments and recommends that the bid not be awarded and be re-advertised,’ the city said in a statement. The tender is for the operation of the stadium and a multi-purpose 90-hectare theme park on the site. Among the heavyweights who had submitted tenders was Investec Bank which provided the city with R185m in bridging finance to assist with the construction of the R2.5 billion stadium which will host a 2010 semi-final. The consortium includes Venfin Media Investments, Western Province Rugby Union and the SAIL group.

Should you be part of any of the 2010 world cup functions and require 2010 gifts visit www.belleregalo.co.za for 2010 gifting ideas or visit our blog: http://2010gifts.blogspot.com/

Fifa heavy weights monitor progress

The Board of Directors of the 2010 Organising Committee South Africa which met in Johannesburg yesterday, have once again expressed confidence in the country’s World Cup preparations, saying the past month has been ‘particularly good’.

Fifa General Secretary Jerome Valcke who attended the meeting, said that ‘as always’ stadium construction was an important issue which is being closely monitored, but stressed: ‘We at Fifa are confident that we are on track and that we are going the right way.’ The committee’s operational budget for the next financial year was approved at the meeting. There were also discussions on the official 2010 Fifa World Cup poster, which will be unveiled during the Preliminary Draw in Durban on November 25.

Should you be part of any of the 2010 functions and require 2010 gifts visit www.belleregalo.co.za for 2010 gifting ideas.

Local companies get UK platform

SA will be sending an entire delegation of the country’s top businesses to London in the new year for a major trade and industry exhibition which will showcase various 2010 World Cup projects. The Big Business Expo is supported by the Department of Trade and Industry. With the World Cup just 32 months away, the expo will market SA at a critical time, exposing potential visitors to the possibilities that exist in order to stimulate an influx of investors both in the private and public sectors. ‘Both tourism and 2010 have truly positioned South Africa on the global map. We continue to grow from strength to strength, paving the way for big and small companies to do big business in foreign markets. All they need is the platform,’ said organiser Sue Gannon.

2010 This week

15 – 17: 2007 AMEU Convention. The convention theme is ‘Phezu Komkhono’ (Get on with it) and South Africa’s 2010 World Cup preparations will be one the issues under discussion (Durban)

15: 2010 World Cup issues expected to be addressed when President Thabo Mbeki hosts high-level delegation from Brazil (Presidential Guesthouse - Pretoria)

15: South Africa vs Italy - international friendly (Siena)

17 – 20: Botswana’s 2010 World Cup preparations under the spotlight at Global Expo to attract foreign direct investment and promote joint venture opportunities between citizens and foreign investors (Gaborone)

17: Local Organising Committee CEO Danny Jordaan to address Ghanaian and African sports media practitioners on SA’s 2010 preparations (Accra)

19: Draw for the 2008 MTN Nations Cup finals. The 16 qualifiers will be drawn into four groups of four for the tournament, which runs from January 20 to February 10.

Fifa delegation to inspect WC stadia

A Fifa inspection tour of four 2010 host cities kicks off on Monday and the Local Organising Committee says it is confident the delegation will find the project ‘well on track’.

The team is composed of experts in competitions, marketing, IT, media, accommodation, security, stadium construction and transportation.

The tour starts at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg and will continue to Cape Town and Nelson Mandela Bay the following day. It will culminate in a visit to Durban on Wednesday where the delegation will visit the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre, the location of the Preliminary Draw on November 25 which will mark the global kick-off of the journey to the 2010 World Cup.