The Eden District Municipality hosted a regional base camp meeting at Gateway Lodge in George on Tuesday and all the important role players were in attendance.
Vernon Seymour, the Fifa Organising Committee legal advisor repeatedly stressed that all the details of the local 2010 effort must be worked out in the finest detail. Seymour said that Japan is a very media driven society and that the media centres and facilities must be state-of-the-art. "Every possible gadget and device must be able to operate. Media access will also be very security driven and only accredited media will be allowed inside the ‘red line’." Because of the strict security, the travelling arrangements of the French, Danish and Japanese teams may also impact on traffic and cause delays. Seymour asked that locals be made aware of the possible inconvenience. The teams are also planning public training sessions and Japan will allow spectators at their afternoon practice session on 7 June at Outeniqua Park. The session starts at 15:00 and Seymour says it is just as important as the welcome at the airport that the fans pitch up in droves. "The city fathers have to fill the stands and show their support for the Samurai Blues. Attendance is free and the municipality will organise some fun activities." The French and Danish have yet to confirm their open training sessions in Knysna.
The practice fields at Outeniqua Park in George and Loerie Park and The Field of Dreams in Knysna have all been given the all mighty Fifa nod.
Security and disaster management are all set and and the Eden marketing programme, with a shift of focus to the domestic market, is being implemented.
Article and photos: Ilse Schoonraad
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George deputy mayor Castro Leholo surrounded by pom-pom girls before the start of the inter-municipal soccer day at Rosemoor Stadium, the only designated Fanjol (Public Viewing Area) in the Southern Cape.
