Hundreds watch World Cup 2010 Final Draw in Rome

4th January 2010: South African Embassy in Rome organised a special event to celebrate with the world the official draw of the World Cup 2010.

A carnival atmosphere engulfed the McDonald’s restaurant in Piazza della Repubblica as Italian soccer dignitaries and politicians, diplomats, Africans living in Rome and many soccer fans came together to watch the draw live on a big screen.

The 90 minute event was beamed live across the world to more than 200 million people in 200 countries from South Africa's Cape Town International Convention Centre. It was opened by President Jacob Zuma and FIFA President Sepp Blatter.

Academy Award winner Charlize Theron was one of the guest presenters assisting FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke during the 2010 Final Draw event in Cape Town. Football star David Beckham and Ethiopian two-time Olympic gold medallist, Haile Gebrselassie as well as South Africa's own cricket star Makhaya Ntini, Springbok captain John Smit and Bafana Bafana defender Matthew Booth, also attended the event.

The event in Cape Town started with the speech of former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela. "We must strive for excellence in our hosting of the World Cup, while at the same time ensuring the event leaves a lasting benefit to all our people,” he said.

In Rome, Italian students from a local school, dressed in tracksuits, filled the hall playing Vuvuzella (a plastic moulded trumpet) and rejoicing as the teams were drawn.

Ms. Samantha Ndlovu, a Zimbabwean living in Rome, was excited about the FIFA World Cup finals taking place in South Africa. “It’s fantastic, it’s a very good idea, it gives South Africa and Africa in general a very good image. Many who have never visited an African country before will take this opportunity to go to South Africa,” she said.

By Stephen Ogongo

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