One message, many voices. That is what the 2010 National Communication Partnership Conference in Johannesburg on branding South Africa hopes to achieve in the lead up to the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup in South Africa .

The Conference is being hosted by the International Marketing Council of South Africa (IMC) on behalf of the 2010 National Communication Partnership Task Team (which includes representatives from government, business and the 2010 Local Organising Committee).

The one-day indaba, which takes place on Tuesday 15 August, includes inputs from leading local and international speakers in the morning, outcomes-based workshops in the afternoon and a glittering gala dinner to end proceedings.

The purpose of the conference is to ensure that South Africa communicates with one voice both domestically and internationally leading up to and beyond 2010.

"We are already looking beyond 2010 to where we want to position South Africa in the next decade," says Yvonne Johnston, the CEO of the IMC. "A major event such as the soccer World Cup attracts global attention but it has to be supported by strategies and structures to ensure a lasting legacy."

"Our objective is to establish Brand South Africa as one of the most prominent and desirable global brands," says Johnston.

Germany 2006 has shown that making the best of the opportunities offered by such an enormous event entails more than hosting soccer games successfully.

Therefore one of the key-note speakers at the conference will be the man who did just that for Germany, Mike de Vries. He is the CEO of the branding company FC Deutschland GmbH.

Another speaker is internationally renowned Raul Parelba from Spain, who will focus on the branding and marketing opportunities provided by a major event. He is Director Partner of Trout & Partners, the global positioning specialists.

Other speakers and their topics include:
Minister in the Presidency, Essop Pahad, who will look at opportunities for the continent brought about by the World Cup.

The CEO of the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), Themba Maseko, who will spell out the government's commitment to and expectations for 2010.

Danny Jordaan, CEO of the Local Organising Committee, who will highlight marketing opportunities for local corporates.

Thaninga Shope-Linney, NEPAD's general manager for communications and outreach, who will add to Minister Pahad's continental perspective on the 2010 World Cup.

Wolfgang Grulke, CEO of FutureWorld will look at Africa and South Africa in the 21st century.

Yvonne Johnston, CEO of the IMC, has very high expectations of the Conference, describing it as "a tremendous opportunity for the world view South Africa even more positively and Alive with Possibility than it does now."

(Source: IMC Johannesburg, 13 August 2006)

The German state of Bavaria is encouraging South African companies to attend a real estate trade fair in October 2006, saying it will attract investors in the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

Hans Spitzner, Bavaria's deputy minister for economic affairs said that SA could benefit from experience Germany was gaining in staging the 2006 Football World Cup.

Specific areas of opportunity that could be triggered by the event included the development of shopping malls, entertainment venues and residential developments, he said. The 2010 Football World Cup is expected to generate billions of rands.

Australia is keen as well to share the experience gained in hosting the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

(source: Business Day / Chris Van Gass / 17 February 2005)

 

MEDIA FRIENDLY WEB URL:
For press we have created, URL’s to use in print publications and web logs on the 2010 Soccer World Cup to publish, for example:
www.CapeTownMagazine.com/google-earth-south-africa www.capetownmagazine.com/2010-google-earth www.CapeTownMagazine.com/wc2010 (2010 News Section)

MEDIA DOWNLOAD: The automatically updating 2010 Google Earth Map

MORE INFORMATION on the Vuvuzela , Soccer Stadiums , Fan Parks ,