Now that the Toronto Winter Olympic Games have drawn to a close, the world turns its focus to the year’s biggest sporting event, the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa.
Following the estimated $6 Billion spent on the Toronto games (including infrastructure improvements), it would seem that South Africa has a lot to live up to, but the wider geographical and socio-economic scope of the World Cup™ makes it an event not to be missed by any country, even by those football-loving nations that didn’t manage to qualify.
Every international sport even ensures tourism of gargantuan proportions, and no expense is spared on creating living space for the influx of players, their administration and their fans from across the globe.
One of the more interesting developments in South Africa’s approach sees the docking of ‘flotels,’ – luxury award-winning cruise liners – on the South African coast for the duration of the tournament. These flotels will bring an additional 4,600 beds to the tournament.
It’s going to be a 5-star affair, which offers Penthouse Suites, Veranda Cabins, Outside Cabins, Inside Cabins Deluxe Veranda Suites and Superior Veranda Suites. Each cruiser comprises 11 bars, 4 restaurants, 2 nightclubs, coffee shops, cinemas, theatres, fitness centers, hydro spas and libraries; the tickets ranging from R40 000 to R150 000 ($5,300 to $19,800USD) for the experience.
Furthermore, business facilities are available, along with sightseeing excursions that will be offered by local tourism operators.
To further entice the mad football fans towards the cruise deals, it has been reported that German soccer legend Franz Beckenbauer will be staying on board the MS Noordam for the first five days of the tournament.
Franz Beckenbauer will be part of an A-list of celebrities who have been invited to give the World Cup an apparently well-needed boost in marketing, the list rumored to include such names as President Obama, Lady Gaga, Charlize Theron and the Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.
The World Cup 2010 begins on June 11th.
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