A select few have been invited to pay R500000 to rub shoulders with the international stars
When a galaxy of stars glides into the Mother City this week to witness the Fifa World Cup final draw, expect a spectacle like never before.
On Friday, organisers will roll out a 65m red carpet - adorned with 15 truckloads of proteas and fynbos and flanked by minstrels and drummers - for international celebrities including David Beckham and Charlize Theron.
Inside the Cape Town International Convention Centre, where the draw will take place, a 4m bronze statue by Cape sculptor Keith Calder will welcome the well-heeled guests. The piece forms part of the 2010 Fine Art Collection, featuring works from each of the 32 participating countries.
The draw, which will determine the match schedule for the 32 participating soccer teams in next year's tournament, will be broadcast live to an estimated 150 million viewers around the world.
Soccer coaches expected to attend include England's Fabio Capello, Brazil's Dunga Robinho, Spain's Vicente del Bosque, Portugal's Carlos Queiroz and Italy's Marcello Lippi.
Argentina's controversial coach, Diego Maradona - considered by many as the greatest footballer of all time - is not invited as he in under a ban following a foul-mouthed harangue, but is reportedly planning to attend anyway.
Springbok rugby captain John Smit, Ethiopian champion marathon runner Haile Gebrselassie, France striker Thierry Henry, retired player Zinedine Zidane, Argentina great Lionel Messi and Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo are also rumoured to grace the bash organised by the world's football mother body, Fifa.
"Along the red carpet entrance to the final draw venue, guests will walk through a Table Mountain gateway with traditional music, crafts and Cape images, minstrels, Pan-African drummers, a string quartet and 20 hostesses in African attire," said City of Cape Town spokesman Pieter Cronje.
Fifa's top brass, led by president Sepp Blatter, will stay in the five-star Westin Grand hotel alongside the convention centre.
South Africans can share in the glamour, but at a price. A select few locals - who paid R500000 each to become members of Club 2010 - were invited to rub shoulders with the international stars.
The club promises affiliates "the most exclusive experience" of the World Cup - for $65000.
Jordaan described Club 2010 as a business club, the likes of which are frequently associated with big sporting events.
"The idea is to provide a platform for people to engage in business beyond the 90 minutes of soccer," he said yesterday.
As well as an invitation to watch the draw, Club 2010 members, the invitation says, will enjoy "access to the best hospitality at five specially selected Fifa World Cup 2010 matches which will include the exhilarating opening and spectacular final, the two semifinals and one quarterfinal match, together with peers who will make the networking opportunity a most worthwhile experience."
The club consists of "100 invited . .. members and promises each member and his or her invited guest the most exclusive experience of the 2010 Fifa World Cup through VIP African events and hospitality services".
The club lists Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former president FW De Klerk as honorary members.
Members could even get the chance to sip bubbly with paparazzi magnet Beckham. The English soccer star will be in the city to back England's 2018 World Cup bid.
"Next up for me is a bit of rest, as I'm carrying a few minor niggles," he wrote on his website.
"I'm travelling to South Africa on behalf of the 2018 World Cup bid team and then onto the World Cup draw."
But ordinary folk need not despair, they may join in festivities - albeit from a distance.
About 15000 revellers are expected to watch proceedings on big screens in Long Street, where musicians Freshlyground and Jimmy Dludlu will entertain them.
The draw will be screened live at venues around Johannesburg, including free screenings in Orlando West, Diepsloot, Diepkloof, Lenasia, Orange Farm and Ivory Park.
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