As the camera pans through the main auditorium of the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), participants and producers of the Final Draw pace up and down as the South African media is taken through the process involved in putting this show together.
The CTICC, which is situated at the prime spot in the Mother City, will host the Final Draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, to take place on 4 December – a show that will attract millions of viewers across the globe.
Journalists from the Host Country and from all over the world were taken for an exclusive first-hand behind the scenes experience on the procedure of this prestigious and glamorous event as the world waits with baited breath for the event which will pit the 32 teams against each other at next year’s tournament.
As they marvelled at the venue and the set-up, producers were busy putting final touches to the show, ensuring that everything is in place. This was no ordinary tour for the media, who will otherwise not be allowed to get inside the venue on the day of the event. It was an opportunity that enabled them to gain insight on the scope of work involved in pulling the show together.
“In Africa, football is about passion and enthusiasm and Africans know how to celebrate,” said draw producer, George Mazerakis. “This draw is a celebration of the World Cup coming to Africa; we want it to have an African feel to it. History is an important aspect of this draw. We will make sure we deliver a production that accurately tells Africa’s story and harmonises people. We have assembled a team of very talented personnel from different aspects to work on this production. While it might look like a lot of work, when you have the best people around, the job becomes easier.”
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) will produce the Final Draw show, while HBS (Host Broadcasting Services) will deliver broadcast signals worldwide in its capacity as overall Host Broadcaster. Peter Kwele, from SABC, said the meticulous planning of this event has taken a long time. “It has been a painstaking process for us,” he admitted. “We have been involved in this project for a couple of years. For us, this draw is a realisation of a dream not only for South Africa, but for the African continent.
The Grammy award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir, Benin’s singer-songwriter Angelique Kidjo and one of South Africa’s greatest music exports Johnny Clegg will provide a star-studded line-up. The Final Draw will be broadcast to no fewer than 200 territories around the world, which will mark another unprecedented milestone in the history of the FIFA World Cup.
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