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This is just such a phenomenal event, the fact that Port Elizabeth’s stadium is the first one to be completed and ranks up there with the best in the world. It is indeed newsworthy. It is the most amazing and interesting phase that we are entering into with teams qualifying for the tournament. All South Africans should be swept up into the FIFA World Cup “Fever”.

With just over one year to the kickoff of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, this past weekend saw four major teams qualifying for the tournament, as well as the opening of South Africa’s first newly-built stadium for the event.

From the Asian zone Japan, Korea Republic and Australia became the first teams to qualify for Africa’s first World Cup next year, while the Netherlands became the first European team to qualify.

The Organising Committee’s CEO Dr Danny Jordaan was delighted at the calibre of the teams that qualified for the tournament this weekend.

The Netherlands, Japan, Korea Republic and Australia are big teams  on and off the field. Their qualification will begin to shape the great atmosphere we envisage for the event. The Dutch, clearly from a football point of view, have some of the most exciting players in the world. And off the field, Dutch fans “ dressed in their sea of orange ” are synonymous with bringing their special energy to any major event in the world. We’re looking forward to welcoming these exciting teams and their supporters, said Jordaan.

To cap a landmark weekend for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa, the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in the country’s Eastern Cape Province became the first newly-built stadium to be officially opened for the tournament -  a year ahead of the tournament.

For us the newly-built 2010 FIFA World Cup stadium is a huge boost. With the four stadiums about to host the FIFA Confederations Cup ready, this brings to five the number of 2010 FIFA World Cup stadiums now complete a year to go to the event. And all the other five new arenas are also shaping up nicely to be ready well ahead of  the event”, said Dr Jordaan, who attended the stadium’s opening which was  attended by 25 000 residents of the city.

Sunday 7 June 2009

History is made in Port Elizabeth. Local and national visitors celebrated our local landmark…when the Port Elizabeth 2010 Stadium was introduced to the world.

South Africa’s first newly-built 2010 World Cup stadium officially opened on Sunday in Port Elizabeth a year before kick-off next June.

“For us today’s first opening of a newly-built 2010 World Cup stadium is a huge boost,” said local organising committee chief Danny Jordaan.

Eight 2010 games will be played at 48,000 seat Nelson Mandela Bay stadium.

But the first game in the stadium will be a rugby match between the British and Irish Lions and the Southern Kings.

“It demonstrates the capacity of South Africa’s construction industry and our commitment to deliver on all our 2010 Fifa World Cup promises,” Jordaan added.

The Confederations Cup, seen as a test event for the World Cup, starts on Sunday at four refurbished stadiums in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Bloemfontein and Rustenburg.

The five additional new stadiums that will also be used in Africa’s first World Cup were “shaping up nicely” to be ready ahead of 2010, Jordaan said.

A night view of the Port Elizabeth 2010 FIFA World Cup Stadium

Every year, between the months of May and July, many millions of silvery sardines travel north from the cold southern oceans off South Africa’s Cape Point, hugging the shore as they make their way up along the coastlines of the former Transkei (northern Eastern Cape) and KwaZulu-Natal in what is commonly known as the annual Sardine Run.
After experiencing the incredible Sardine Run, extend your stay and enjoy an african safari in a malaria free environment. The Eastern Cape boasts the most concentrated elephant reserve in Africa. Home to a herd of 300 elephants, the ‘Addo Elephant National Park’ allows close quarter viewing. There are also black rhino, buffalo, eland, Kudu and other antelope species. More than 170 species of birds have been identified. Shamwari, a privately owned, luxury game reserve boasts the “big five”. Whether at the exclusive Shamwari Game Reserve, the large Addo Elephant Park or the Mountain Zebra National Parks, the East Cape offers unequalled game viewing in conditions suited to the traveler.

The 6th International Coastal & Marine Tourism Congress (CMT) is to be held in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa from 23 to  26 June, 2009.

International divers report viewing more marine species per dive in Algoa Bay than a weeks diving in some of the world’s most popular dive spots.

It was the legend of Prester John that brought Bartholomeu Dias to Algoa Bay more than 500 years ago. Prester John, so the legend said, founded a prosperous kingdom of great beauty and wealth in an unknown location where peace reigned and man lived in harmony with strange creatures alongside the fountain of youth.

We believe that this great beauty and wealth is not gold bullion or sunken treasure but rather a marine environment second to none just waiting to be discovered by every visitor with a desire to explore our silent world.

MyPE is Port Elizabeth’s Community Web Site. MyPE lists Port Elizabeth business in a searchable directory. See the Homeleigh Halt listing on MyPE.