Yesterday, organising committee CEO Danny Jordaan popped in on dancers, flag bearers, mascots, and choreographers practising just days before the big event at Soccer City in Soweto.
Jordaan told journalists the opening ceremony, on Friday, would be the culmination of "an incredible, long journey".
Turning to the performers, he said: "You'll be the first to [take] the pitch, even before Bafana Bafana, so the World Cup starts not with Bafana but with you.
"More than 500 million people throughout the world will be watching you.
"It has been very cold here at times, but you were dancing here, showing your commitment to the country," Jordaan said.
Nearby were rows and rows of tutus and outfits labelled "Tswana drummers" and "Tsonga, Ndebele, Zulu maidens". Sewing machines were still being worked overtime.
The hour-long opening ceremony will be broadcast live to more than 215 countries and performed before a capacity crowd of 85000 at Soccer City.
Arts and Culture Minister Lulu Xingwana has promised the ceremony will be "a super celebration of the very best of African arts, culture, song and dance".
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