The FIFA Confederations Cup may not be taking place in Cape Town but the picturesque coastal city - known to many as the Mother City - will still have a crucial part to play in the event's success.

With visitors from around the world descending on South Africa for first this June's FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 and then next year's 2010 FIFA World Cup, the international airports in Cape Town and Durban will be utilised for many international arrivals - to complement the country's main air transport hub, Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport.

A number of visitors from the Americas will enter the country through Cape Town International Airport, with visitors expected from Brazil for the FIFA Confederations Cup arriving through the city before making their way to the FIFA Confederations Cup host cities Mangaung/Bloemfontein, Johannesburg, Rustenburg and Tshwane/Pretoria.

In preperation for the expected influx, training was this week conducted for 37 volunteers who will be stationed at Cape Town International Airport to welcome visitors and provide them with any information they may need.

The OC's Chief Executive Officer, Dr Danny Jordaan, attended the volunteer training in Cape Town to personally thank the volunteers for their selfless service and to emphasise the importance of their role.

"You (the volunteers) will be the first point of contact for the tourists landing in Cape Town and it will be that first contact with you that they will remember. You will be representing your country to all the visitors that land here. You will be the face of South Africa," said Jordaan.

Nearly 40 000 volunteers applied for the 4 000 available volunteer positions for the FIFA Confederations Cup and at present training is taking place around the country in preparation for the start of the tournament on 14 June 2009, when hosts South Africa faces Asian champions Iraq at Johannesburg's Ellis Park.