Kimberley - The South African government in partnership with the 2010 FIFA World Cup Local Organising Committee have launched the 2010 Mass Mobilisation Programme at Galeshewe Stadium in the Northern Cape.
Some 300 school children and community members gathered in Kimberley on Tuesday to learn how they can make the most of South Africa's hosting of the world's foremost sporting event and use the 2010 FIFA World Cup to leave a lasting legacy for the province.
The mass participation programme aims to ensure that all South Africans are part of the world cup excitement by encouraging and supporting sport in communities throughout South Africa.
Deputy Minister of Sport and Recreation Gert Oosthuizen said South Africa will reap the reward of hosting the world cup long after the event has come and gone.
"The real success of all our efforts is not going to be measured in 2010 only, but will be measured in five years or ten years that will follow 2010 and we need to make sure that this event leaves a lasting legacy in our communities and most importantly in our schools," he said.
The government aims to use the 2010 Mass Mobilisation Programme to speed up sports development in South Africa through targeted training programmes facilitated by soccer legends such as Phil Masinga, Mark Fish, Lucas Radebe and Desiree Ellis who have been chosen as the 2010 FIFA World Cup Ambassadors.
The 2010 Mass Mobilisation Programme roadshow will be used as a catalyst to initiate and to advance sport development, to deepen and broaden participation and inculcate the culture of sports in our communities," said Deputy Minister Oosthuizen.
Northern Cape Premier Dipuo Peters echoed Deputy Minister Oosthuizen's sentiments, urging communities to use the occasion of the 2010 FIFA World Cup to embrace extramural activities.
"The world cup will come and go, but we must use it to accelerate mass participation and embrace sporting activities in our schools and communities," she said.
Local Organising Committee Director of Communications Rich Mkhondo told residents to rally behind the event despite the fact that Northern Cape was not chosen as one of the host provinces.
"You are not one of the host provinces, but you are not left behind because this is the province we have chosen to launch the mass participation programme, this is the way of saying to you go out there and support Bafana Bafana and South Africa as hosts of this prestigious event," he said.
Mr Mkhondo also urged residents to purchase their tickets early as tickets will not be sold during the event.
Former South African soccer ace Mark Fish encouraged the youth gathered at Galeshewe Stadium to hold on to their dreams.
"It does not matter where you come from; if you have a dream make sure that you follow it through and succeed in all your endeavours," he said.
Deputy Minister Oosthuizen handed sport equipment such as soccer balls and other training material to South African Football Association representatives to be used at Coaching Clinics.
The programme will be rolled out in other provinces and culminate at the commencement of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.
The initiative will target youth in all nine provinces, with 40 percent of the estimated participants being women. The second key target is communities in general with the intention of galvanising them to get involved in the excitement of both the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The planned activities will take the form of life and Coaching Clinics of at least 290 coaches through football coaching courses.
Dignitaries planted trees as part of the 2010 Green Goal commitment.
Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Mascot Zakumi, DJ Cleo and various local cultural groups entertained the crowds.
