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The 2010 FIFA World Cup matches will be played in stadiums all over South Africa, some of which are being specially built for the tournament. Here is an informational breakdown about the spectacular venues that will host some of the most exciting and talented soccer players from every corner of the globe in June and July of 2010.
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
On the beautiful shores of the North End Lake in Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth lies the newly constructed Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. The construction crews working on the venue knew it had to be completed in time for the World Cup but they actually finished almost a year ahead of schedule and the stadium is already in use. The playing field of this multipurpose center has a central natural grass pitch surrounded by areas of artificial turf. Its unique domed roof only adds to the beautiful view of the lake as seen from the shore. Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium will host a total of eight World Cup matches including one of the quarter finals and the third place playoff game.
Green Point Stadium
The architectural splendor of the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town is nothing short of breathtaking. This is another of the stadiums that are being especially built for the FIFA 2010 World Cup, but long after the soccer stars leave town city officials intend for it to become the new Mecca for all kinds of Cape Town entertainment events; everything from soccer to opera. The outside of the stadium has been constructed using noise reducing cladding and can sit up to 70,000 spectators at any given time. Green Point Stadium will be the venue for one of the two World Cup semi finals that will be played in July of 2010.
Moses Mabhida Stadium
The other semi final will be held at the spectacular Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. This stadium, which is scheduled to be completed by December of 2009, is a testament to the sheer ingenuity of South African architecture. Its shape is inspired by the South African flag itself and when complete it will even feature a cable car that will ascend to the top of the expansive 1148 foot high arch, allowing visitors a spectacular view of the lively city down below. The stadium's namesake was a poor farm boy who went on to engineer and develop the armed wing of the ANC, which was known as the Umkhonto we Sizwe, and played a key role in the end of apartheid in his homeland.
Ellis Park Stadium
Ellis Park Stadium, located in the heart of Johannesburg, is not a new facility, although it is underwent a significant renovation before playing host to the 2009 Confederations Cup Final showdown between Brazil and the USA. The largest piece of new construction was the addition of a new tier of seating at the north end which increased the seating capacity to 62,000. A brand new natural grass pitch has also been installed and a state of the art audio visual system installed to ensure every fan gets the best possible match experience.
Soccer City Stadium
Both the first and the most anticipated game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the final, will be played at the iconic Soccer City Stadium, also located in Johannesburg. Although newly renovated, the Soccer City Stadium has already been the site of numerous historic moments in time. It was there that Nelson Mandela held his first public rally after being freed from prison in 1990 and thousands gathered again in 1993 to mourn the assassination of Chris Hani, the charismatic man who followed in Nelson Mandela's footsteps as leader of the ANC. The venue can accommodate an astonishing 94,700 spectators and its overall design is fashioned after a traditional South African pot called the calabash. When lit at night, the stadium is a jewel in the Johannesburg skyline.
Free State Stadium.
Free State Stadium is home to the Bloemfontein Celtic soccer team, whose fans are renowned the world over for being some of the most loyal a team could desire. Located in Mangaung / Bloemfontein, a quiet open city, the stadium has already been the venue for a huge recent soccer upset when it hosted the semi final game of the Confederations Cup in 2009 that saw the USA send European champions Spain packing in front of a capacity crowd. The Free State Stadium underwent a full renovation before the Confederations Cup that added 7,000 seats to bring its seating capacity up to 45,000.
Mbombela Stadium
Mbombela Staduim, located in Nelspruit, a city which is a part of the famous Kruger National Park, is another new construction that was commissioned especially to host World Cup 2010 games. Mbombela is the name of the municipality of which Nelspruit is a part and translated from SiSawti, one the 11 languages officially spoken in South Africa,it means "many people together in a small space." The construction of the stadium was especially welcomed by the citizens of this beautiful area, as prior to its existence there was no real top class venue available to host international events of any kind.
Peter Mokaba Stadium
Named after its most famous son Peter Mokaba, who was a force to be reckoned with during the struggle to end apartheid, the city of Polokwane's brand new stadium is built next to the site of the old Peter Mokaba Staduim where former African player of the year and current Chelsea soccer superstar Didier Drogba made his debut for the Côte d'Ivoire national team. The new stadium was envisioned by its architects to resemble the local natural icon the Baobab tree, as its steel structures will form "trunks" to support the jutting roof planes.
Royal Bafokeng Stadium
The Royal Bafokeng Stadium was first built in 1999, but is undergoing a considerable facelift prior to its hosting duties for the 2010 World Cup matches. Seating 42,000 it is named for the people of the area, the Bafokeng. Although the town of Rustenberg, where it is located, has no soccer team to call its own at this time it has been the site of numerous Premier Soccer league games and was the stadium where the then fledgling South African soccer team beat Bakino Faso 2-1 in a World Cup qualifying game in 2001.
Loftus Versfeld Stadium
The Loftus Versfeld Stadium is one of the oldest sports facilitates in South Africa. Originally constructed in 1903 it has undergone a great many renovations over the decades. It is located in the beautiful Tshwane/Pretoria area, which is a spectacular blend of old and new architecture that reflects the areas diverse heritage. When it was first built as a wooden structure the Loftus Versfeld Stadium could accommodate a mere 2,000 spectators. Its capacity for the 2010 World Cup will be 50,000.
The people of South Africa are hoping that by hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2010 they can showcase their beautiful country to peoples of the world who know very little about it, as well as prove that the country truly desires to become a world soccer force to be reckoned with. To that end thousands of construction workers have been working night and day to ensure that all the stadiums die to host World Cup matches will be in perfect condition to do so.
To recognize this effort FIFA announced a few months ago that they will be giving away 20,000 free tickets to the men and women who are working so hard to make sure that the FIFA 2010 World Cup is a resounding success.
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