CAPE TOWN'S PREPARATIONS FOR 2010: EFFORTS

UNCLAS CAPE TOWN 000223


PLEASE PASS TO AF/S RUSH MARBURG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EIND SOCI SA
SUBJECT: CAPE TOWN'S PREPARATIONS FOR 2010: EFFORTS
UNDERWAY TO HAVE A "GREEN" WORLD CUP


1. Summary: The City of Cape Town and the Western Cape
Provincial Government showcased their plans and preparations
for the FIFA 2010 World Cup at separate events during the
last two weeks. The first event, hosted by the City of Cape
Town and the German Konrad-Stiftung NGO, included a lively
presentation of Cape Town's goal to host a "Green" World Cup
in 2010. Both Mayor Helen Zille and Western Cape Premier
Lynn Brown attended the festivity and sat side-by-side at the
same table. Various presenters outlined the Green Goal
Action Plan to be implemented by the City and the Konrad
Adenauer Stiftung. The Plan involves forty-one different
projects in nine target areas. The second event, held by the
South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA),
featured Western Cape Coordinator for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
Dr. Laurine Platzky who provided an overview of
infrastructure and other priorities underway for the big
event. She emphasized that both the provincial and municipal
governments aim to host a world-class event in 2010 and leave
a lasting legacy that will bring benefits to the area's
residents over the long-term. End Summary.


2. Two separate presentations held over the past two weeks
demonstrated the preparations made by the City of Cape Town
and the Western Cape Province in their efforts to host a
world-class and "green" World Cup. The Green Goal Action Plan
Launch, the first of the two events, took place on Friday,
October 17 and was as much a celebration as a press briefing.
The launch, which opened to loud singing, dancing and horn
blowing, provided numerous details and plans for minimizing
the impact of the World Cup on its surrounding environment.
Speakers volunteered that Cape Town will host eight matches
including one semi-final game at the Green Point Stadium
between June 11 and July 11, 2010. A Konrad Adenauer
Stiftung official pointed out that the impact of an event
like the World Cup can adversely affect its surrounding
environment. He shared that transportation, accommodation,
and stadia construction tend to have the most severe impact
on the environment and must be included in Cape Town's Green
Goal Action Plan. He added that Germany was pleased to share
its "event greening" experience gained from the 2006 World
Cup and its "tool box" of potential projects with the City of
Cape Town and the Western Cape province.

What is the Action Plan?
--------------


3. According to hand-outs provided at the launch, Cape Town
municipal and Western Cape provincial government employees
participated in a series of "greening strategy workshops"
over the past several months that were held by Konrad
Adenauer Stiftung. The result was the Green Goal Action Plan
for the 2010 World Cup. The Plan includes forty-one projects
targeting nine different areas that will minimize the carbon
footprint of the 2010 events and leave a positive
environmental legacy. The nine target areas include: 1)
energy and climate change, 2) water, 3) integrated waste
management, 4) transport, mobility and access, 5) landscaping
and biodiversity, 6) green building and sustainable
lifestyles, 7) responsible tourism, 8) green goal
communications and 9) monitoring, measurement and reporting.
Specific projects include identifying and implementing carbon
offset projects in Cape Town, installing energy efficient
technologies and water saving devices in World Cup venues,
recycling drop-off centers in the City Bowl District (CBD),
Qrecycling drop-off centers in the City Bowl District (CBD),
an indigenous gardening training program for Green Point
Urban Park and eco-taxis, among others. The Plan foresees a
range of actors and partnerships implementing the various
projects in the different target areas. Some projects are
part of existing initiatives undertaken by the city,
provincial and national governments. Some have been budgeted
under municipal and provincial budgets. The remainder will
require partnerships among donors, business, civil society
and government to be completed.


4. Cape Town Mayor Zille and Western Cape Premier Lynn Brown
both participated in the launch of the Green Goal Action Plan
and committed their administrations to work together to host
an excellent and environmentally sustainable World Cup.
Zille, who spoke first, mentioned that this event was the
first time where both she and the Premier attended an
official function together. She commented that since Brown
took office, the two levels of government worked together
much better. Zille also pointed out that the province's and
city's environmental assets were valuable and that both
governments would work together to conserve them. She
concluded that the 2010 FIFA World Cup would be beneficial
for both Cape Town and the Western Cape. Premier Brown, at
her turn, expressed the hope that the World Cup would be an
opportunity for community participation at all levels,
including for those who had been historically marginalized by
apartheid. Brown shared that the province had three
objectives for the 2010 events including environmental
integrity, social equity and economic growth. She committed
her administration to promote initiatives (for World Cup
preparations) that would minimize the impact of the event on
the environment and nearby communities while, at the same
time, generating income.

Dr. Platzky Provides More Details
--------------


5. The second event, held by the South African Institute of
International Affairs (SAIIA),featured Western Cape 2010
FIFA World Cup Coordinator Dr. Laurine Platzky. Dr. Platzky
outlined the province's role in preparations for 2010. She
noted that the province and the city have different roles.
The City of Cape Town is the contracting authority for the
World Cup and has signed the Host City Agreement with FIFA.
The province, on the other hand, has a more developmental
role in preparations. Platzky shared that the Western Cape's
objectives for the World Cup included successfully hosting
the eight matches that will take place in Cape Town,
maximizing the public's benefit from the event and enhancing
the entire province's attraction as an investment, trade and
tourist destination. As part of these efforts, the province
will create additional infrastructure and economic
opportunities, promote social cohesion with "a home for all,"
and increase environmental integrity.


6. Dr. Platzky began her presentation with information and
updates on Cape Town's Green Point Stadium. She indicated
that more and more people were feeling better about the
location of the stadium in Green Point because it is the most
accessible part of the city, being within walking distance of
many city hotels and public transportation points, such as
the train station. Platzky indicated that the stadium, which
will seat 68,000 spectators, is currently four days ahead of
schedule and about forty percent completed. She predicted
that construction would be completed in October 2009.
Platzky added that the stadium meets various FIFA
requirements. It is a multi-purpose building to be used for
both soccer and rugby matches. Its design will mitigate the
visual and audio impact of the event on nearby neighborhoods.
In line with FIFA requirements, the stadium will run on
generators with the national grid as a back-up. Platzky
maintained, nevertheless, that Eskom is committed to the
success of the World Cup events. The city has also signed a
contract with a management company for a thirty year
concession. The Fan Park, which is located by the stadium on
one side and the castle on the other, will include both
entertainment and hospitality opportunities. A large viewing
screen will be erected in the Fan Park with three other
viewing areas to be constructed around Cape Town. In
addition, planners envision the construction of another five
to eight viewing areas to be set up around the province.


7. The private sector, including small, young businesses,
will provide accommodation for the 400,000 estimated visitors
and tourists to Cape Town. Platzky indicated that the
province currently has about 108,000 beds within sixty
kilometers of Cape Town, with 14,300 beds being within two
kilometers of the stadium. She noted that eight new hotels
were also under construction in the city and that two cruise
ships would sit at the V&A Waterfront during the World Cup to
Qships would sit at the V&A Waterfront during the World Cup to
provide still more accommodation.


8. Numerous upgrades and initiatives are also underway in
the transportation sector Platzky continued. The airport and
the Cape Town train station are central to the World Cup, and
massive upgrading is underway in both places. Platzky
pointed out that World Cup planners expect the airport to be
the arrival and departure hubs for the South American teams,
and they expect to implement a rapid transit route to the
city from the airport. The train station will serve the
stadium and the fan park. Road upgrades are also taking
place at the Koeberg Interchange outside Cape Town and
Hospital Bend near Groot Schuur Hospital. There will be park
and ride venues as well as special bus routes. Parking for
the World Cup events will be available in District Six with
shuttles going back and forth to the fan park.

A Lasting Legacy for the Province
--------------


9. Dr. Platzky enumerated several initiatives that planners
hope will promote a lasting legacy for the area. One is to
build a soccer culture that will help kids to get off the
streets and to be involved in healthy activities. FIFA is
building twenty Centers of Hope around the country that will
teach soccer and life skills. Platzky indicated that the
first center will open in Khayelitsha in March/April of 2009.
Still another idea is to upgrade the stadium in Philippi,
which is a very poor township outside of Cape Town.


10. Comment: Both events were quite impressive and showed a
great deal of preparation and thought by the City of Cape
Town and the Western Cape province. A lot of enthusiasm and
clever planning went into the Green Goal Action Plan launch.
If the presentations are anything to go by, both the Western
Cape and Cape Town will host a very successful 2010 FIFA
World Cup. End Comment.


MAYBERRY