World Cup in S. Africa Pavilion
- Source: Global Times
- [10:21 May 07 2010]
- Comments
Zakumi, mascot of 2010 FIFA World Cup, which will open in South Africa on June 11, stands in the center of the South Africa Pavilion. Photo: CFP
By Ni Dandan
Traveling to South Africa for the upcoming FIFA World Cup might sound impractical, but football fans can watch the games on two huge screens inside the South Africa Pavilion where fans can be part of the World Cup's live broadcast.
There will be an on-site correspondent in the pavilion and another in South Africa who will connect fans via satellite.
"We'll be broadcasting the games live," South African Consul General Vika Khumalo told the Global Times yesterday. But when asked whether the Expo organizers had okayed their live broadcast plans, Khumalo said, "I don't want to comment on that, but we will be showing the games."
Covering an area of 2,000 square meters, the South Africa Pavilion admitted 6,000 visitors on their first trial operation on May 3, open for only three hours. Khumalo expressed confidence that the pavilion could handle a daily flow of more than 10,000 visitors but said that they were still planning for a possible onslaught brought by throngs of soccer fans.
A week after the Shanghai Expo began, the South Africa Pavilion officially opened to the public yesterday evening with a ceremony, featuring the unique South African Diski dance. The South African International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane was even one of the dancers.
As the World Cup kicks off on June 11, the South Africa Pavilion at the Expo will hold activities themed around the event throughout May.
When asked why the pavilion opened one week later than most others, Mashabane said that they were showing respect for their host country. "Certainly, we would not open the pavilion earlier than the China Pavilion," said the minister, adding that her tight meeting schedule in Tanzania is also part of the reason.
