Andrew Boraine on 2010 (September/October 2006)

Well done the Russians! Their team won the Homeless Soccer World Cup in the final against Kazakhstan, played in front of a packed crowd on the Grand Parade. Last week’s Homeless World Cup was a fantastic occasion for soccer, for homeless people and for Cape Town. Congratulations to the Big Issue for pulling off such a successful event.

As Capetonians and visitors mixed together on the Grand Parade throughout the week, trading their country’s flags and friendly banter, we also caught a glimpse of what the 2010 World Cup could be like in Cape Town. The City and the Province are working on ways in which Capetonians will be able to actively participate in 2010, though public viewing points or ‘fanfests’, a concept which German cities organised so successfully earlier this year.

There are likely to be a range of public viewing places set up for 2010. The Partnership has proposed that a Central City ‘fan-mile’ is planned from the slopes of District Six to the Grand Parade and through town to Green Point, following the traditional routes of the Minstrel Carnival, the Malay Choirs and the Christmas Choirs. Capetonians know how to celebrate in style – every year for over 100 years, people have taken over the streets of the Central City to participate in the month-long New Year Carnival, and this is the heritage that can be used to welcome the world in 2010. The design of the Central City fan-mile can also build on more recent popular events such as the annual switch-on of the Festive Season lights and the Adderley Street Night Market.

Of course, this assumes that we can also get all the other things for 2010 in place in time – not just the Stadium Precinct, but also transport, telecommunications, training and practice venues, sport development, tourism infrastructure, accommodation, disaster management and security, to name a few. There is a serious commitment from both the City and Province to address these issues, with teams of officials and consultants now in place. The 2010 World Cup is not a ‘holy grail’ that can address all the challenges facing our city. However, the event represents a ‘moment’ in the development trajectory of Cape Town which, if used correctly, will show that we can rise above those things that hold us back from believing in ourselves and our city. In other words, if we can pull off a complex project like 2010, what is limiting us from tackling our other development challenges?

Here’s to Cape Town – the party capital for 2010! But also, here’s to Cape Town, the caring city, the city of culture and innovation, the city that is a home for all.

ANDREW BORAINE
Chief Executive
chiefexec@capetownpartnership.co.za