Congratulations Western Cape on a World Cup triumph

In the years preceding the 2010 World Cup, South Africans across the country committed themselves to hosting not just a great World Cup, but the best World Cup ever. Today I believe we can say that we have met that objective and that South Africa now stands tall among that small group of countries ever to have hosted an event of this magnitude.

On behalf of the Provincial Government of the Western Cape, I wish to congratulate, the LOC, local and provincial officials and all the people of the Western Cape for hosting a first-rate 2010 FIFA World Cup in our province. The Western Cape has played its part in ensuring that South Africa met all its obligations and, in many instances, exceeded them.

We have also done our bit for nation-building and sustaining the vision of what we, as a country, can be, if we give our best.

One of the main reasons for this success is because of the way the people of the Western Cape embraced the tournament and have been fantastic hosts to both foreign and South African visitors over the last month.

What follows below is a series of key indicators which illustrate the extent to which this World Cup was embraced by foreigners and South Africans alike:

·         Overall (after the Cape Town semi-final): 1.7 million local and foreign fans visited the Cape Town Stadium, the FIFA Fan Fest at the Grand Parade, the fan walk and the city's four fan jols;

·         507 332 spectators watched the six games held at the Cape Town stadium;

·         580 900 fans walked the fan walk, the record being 159 000 fans for the quarterfinal (to put that record into perspective: prior to the World Cup it was estimated that 18 000 people visiting the fan walk for a match would constitute an outstanding achievement);

·         477 000 people visited the FIFA Fan Fest at the Grand Parade and 140 545 watched games at the city's four fan jols;

·         68 901 spectators also visited the fan jols in George, Worcester, Bredasdorp, Beaufort West and Vredenburg; and

·         135 878 people caught the MyCiti shuttle service.

We have all been lucky enough to experience a World Cup in our lifetime and the memories of it will stay with all of us long into the future; but the ultimate benefit is the tournament's legacy.  The money invested
in our infrastructure and public amenities, the boost to our economy and the new standards of excellence set with regard to service delivery, will remain with us.

Just as each one of us shared the responsibility of making the World Cup a success, so each of us has a responsibility to ensure that we build on its legacy, and apply the lessons to the many challenges we still face.

I have every confidence we can succeed.

Statement issued by Western Cape Premier, Helen Zille, July 11 2010

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