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Joburgers are being urged to give a warm welcome to visitors to the Confederations Cup with the Smile - it starts here campaign.
Smile, it starts with you, says Gauteng’s MEC for sport, art, culture and recreation, Nelisiwe Mbatha-Mthimkhulu
SMILE - it starts here. The new Confederations Cup brand and slogan encourages Johannesburg residents to welcome the world with warmth and a smile.
The logo was unveiled on Monday, 25 May by Nelisiwe Mbatha-Mthimkulu, the MEC of sport, art, culture and recreation. The campaign will drive the province's Confederations Cup communications and marketing plan and its support of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.
Mbatha-Mthimkulu emphasised that it was important to give visitors a warm welcome so that they remembered South Africa long after they had left.
"It is not only how perfectly we organise the World Cup, how fantastically Bafana Bafana performs, how best our facilities are, and how fine our weather is that will entice our visitors to return to our country, but the treatment they receive from all of us."
The launch came amid a number of historically significant days.
"This launch comes when South Africa is preparing to observe the 33rd anniversary of the June 1976 uprising, in recognition of the young people's patriotic contributions towards our liberation and the construction and development of our country," said the MEC.
Africa Day was also marked on 25 May. She said the Confederations Cup belonged to all Africans.
"The gold of South Africa, the iron-ore and manganese of Zimbabwe, the diamonds of Angola and the mineral resources of Lesotho, Swaziland and Mozambique belong to all of us in Africa. Africa is for all of us to share and these [the Confederations Cup and World Cup] are African tournaments."
Joburg is ready to welcome the world with warmth and a smile
During the launch, people were able to tour Ellis Park and Soccer City. The two Johannesburg stadiums will be the centre stage of the two competitions, with the former hosting the opening and closing matches of the Confederations Cup and the latter hosting the opening match of the World Cup.
The Confederations Cup matches at Ellis Park Stadium are:
Sunday, 14 June: South Africa vs Iraq (Group A)
Thursday, 18 June: Egypt vs Italy (Group B)
Saturday, 20 June: Iraq vs New Zealand (Group A)
Thursday, 25 June: winner Group B vs second place Group A
Sunday, 28 June: final
Both Ellis Park and Soccer City stadiums have been revamped in preparation for the two international football events. Ellis Park has been given a face-lift with a five-level car park and additional seating, while “Soccer City has 240 suites – no stadium in the country has that many,” according to the executive director of the City’s 2010 office, Sibongile Mazibuko. By the end of June Soccer City’s roof will be in place, the fields will have grass, and the suites will be complete.
Those on the tour were excited about the pending tournament and thrilled by the work done at Soccer City. They were particularly impressed by its size.
“Let us welcome our visitors to our beloved country and continent with a smile,” said the MEC. And those listening agreed.
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