South Africa is gearing up to extend a warm welcome to the thousands of soccer fans who will be visiting to the country to attend the 2010 FIFA World Cup. An estimated 26 billion viewers from across the globe expected to tune in to TV to watch the 64 matches being played out in nine host cites, from June 11 to July 11, 2010. During the month-long tournament, South Africa will be showcasing its cultural and tourist attractions, its infrastructure, and its sports centers and stadiums. South Africa's tourism industry hopes to use the event as a springboard toward greater recognition in the future. South African Tourism has appointed the soccer superstar Lucas Radebe as 2010 Global Tourism Ambassador. Radebe is one of South Africa’s most prominent sports figures and is acknowledged to be one of the leading players of his generation.

Radebe is working with South African Tourism throughout the run-up to the tournament, to help deliver destination messages and grow interest in South Africa globally, not only as host of the FIFA spectacular, but also as a holiday destination. Radebe grew up in Soweto and went on to became one of the English Premier League's most respected players -- and South Africa's most-capped footballer, with 70 appearances for the national team, Bafana Bafana. His international success has paved the way for up-and-coming African soccer players. In 2000, he was honored with the FIFA Fair Play Award for his efforts to rid the sport of racism, as well as for his work with young children in South Africa as a FIFA Ambassador for SOS Children's Villages.

In addition, South African Tourism is inviting parents and coaches to show their young athletes a new way to get in on the spirit of the game by getting young soccer fans dancing the Diski. The Diski dance is a new dance based on soccer moves that has been specially created by South Africa for the 2010 World Cup to express the country’s unique way of playing soccer. It’s rhythmic, showy, energetic, and above all, great fun. South African Tourism has partnered with U.S. Youth Soccer (the largest youth sports organization in the United States) and World Cup sponsor Coca-Cola on a fun web video contest, to ultimately bring an American youth soccer team to South Africa.

The grand prize is a trip to South Africa for the entire team -- parents and coach included -- for eight days/seven nights, with visits to Johannesburg, Cape Town and a game park, and a match against a South African youth soccer team, possibly in one of the World Cup stadiums. The contest was launched in Chicago on Sept. 26 with a performance at the MLS Chicago Fire versus Toronto FC match. The half-time break featured Zakumi -- the mascot of the 2010 FIFA World Cup -- accompanied by Sparky, the Chicago Fire’s mascot, leading 150 dancers from The Joffrey Ballet’s Community Engagement Program in the Diski dance. All entrants need to do is learn the Diski dance moves, feel the rhythm of South Africa, make a video of it and upload it at www.southafrica.net/dance.  The contest runs through Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009; the winners will be announced in mid-January 2010.

South Africa and the 2010 World Cup were featured on the CBS “Early Show” when South African soccer fans took over the CBS Plaza with flags and vuvuzelas to welcome Lucas Radebe, who was in the city to promote the World Cup. Radebe presented CBS “Early Show” anchor Dave Price with a specially designed South Africa 2010 scarf. Immediately following the interview, South African Tourism introduced the Diski dance to millions of Americans, with a troupe from the Ailey School and Zakumi, mascot of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, who performed the lively and infectious soccer dance on the plaza. U.S. Tour Operators offering tickets for the 2010 FIFA World Cup of South Africa include Destination Southern Africa, 800-203-6724, www.destinationworldcup.com;  Great Atlantic Travel and Tour, 800-888-8233, www.greatatlantictravel.com ; and Cartan Tours, 310-546-9662, ext. 113, www.cartan.com . For more information on South Africa Tourism and the 2010 World Cup soccer tournament, visit www.southafrica.net/2010.

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