PRESS RELEASE “FLY THE FLAG FOR FOOTBALL”

Johannesburg, 6 April 2009 - The 2010 National Communication Partnership, a joint effort comprising organizations involved in communicating about the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup, today announced the launch of a national campaign aimed at building public excitement, awareness and support leading up to the two events in .

Under the banner, “Fly the Flag for Football!”, thousands of South African flags, together with information leaflets, will be distributed to travellers and holiday makers over the Easter Weekend, from Thursday 9th March to Monday 13th March. The Easter Weekend was chosen to launch the campaign as it is traditionally one of the busiest holiday periods in South Africa, with thousands of South Africans travelling across the country.

The 2010 National Communication Partnership (NCP) was formed to co-ordinate and drive relevant marketing and communications messages for the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 and 2010 FIFA World Cup. The role of the NCP is to inform the public about the events, to market South Africa and to inspire a sense of pride and unity in the South African public. Members include custodians of Brand South Africa, the International Marketing Council (IMC), South African Tourism, the FIFA Local Organising Committee, the Department of Arts and Culture, South African Airways, Proudly South African, and several other private sector and civil society groups.

The NCP hopes to distribute over 47 million South African flags through various campaigns leading up to the start of the 2010 FIFA World CupTM in June 2010.

“Our national flag is a powerful symbol of unity and pride, and we would like to play our part by encouraging South Africans to proudly fly the flag as the eyes of the world are upon us,” says Margaret Dingalo, Stakeholder Relations Manager for the IMC. ‘The FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 is starting in less than 100 days and excitement is building. We need to help drive enthusiasm and patriotism, garnering support amongst South Africans for Bafana Bafana and the event as a whole.”

South African football legend Mark Fish is the official spokesperson and will garner support and spread the message to the public for the duration of the campaign. He says, “the South Africa national flag is a proud symbol of unity. The eyes of the world will soon be upon us as we fly our flag and fill the land with the vibrancy, spirit and colour of South Africa. These events are more about football – it’s the opportunity of a lifetime, for South Africa and Africa as a whole. Let us raise our flags in unity, joining together to make the Fifa Confederations Cup 2009 and 2010 Fifa World Cup joyful, unforgettable events. Fly your flag and show the world the warmth and spirit of South Africa.” Zakumi, the 2010 FIFA World Cup mascot, is also participating and will be spotted throughout the country interacting with the public and encouraging support.

Colourful face-painted figures wearing South African flag t-shirts and Makarapas, the traditional football fan hat that is unique to South Africa, will be handing out free flags at various tollgates, garages and airports across the country. State of the art digital shoot-outs will also feature at various locations where members of the public will have a chance to win prizes after taking shots at a virtual goal.

The “Fly the Flag for Football” campaign will include an interactive mobile website where members of the public can find further information and enter a competition to win sets of tickets to various FIFA Confederation Cup 2009 matches.

Played in the host country a year before the FIFA World Cup, the Confederations Cup is traditionally seen as an appetizer for what has become the world’s biggest football event. The teams taking part comprise of the current World Cup champion, and the winners of each of the six FIFA Confederation championships. This year the teams are South American winners Brazil, Africa winners Egypt, Concacaf winners USA, Asian winners Iraq, European winners Spain, Oceania winners New Zealand, the World Cup 2006 winners Italy, and as host of 2010, South Africa.

Confederations Cup matches will be played in , , Bloemfontein and Rustenburg from 14 to 28 June 2009. A critical success factor will be the attendance of South Africans. Tickets cost just R70 for the Confederations Cup matches.

“We hope to play a role in inspiring South Africans to fly the flag high and to actively contribute to the success of the Confederations Cup through this campaign,” says Dingalo. “It is important to unify as a nation in support of these events as we make world history once again.”

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Issued on behalf of the 2010 National Communications Partnership by Kaelo PR

Notes to the editor:  Please note Mark Fish is the official spokesperson of the campaign and as such is available for comment, interviews and photos.  Please find below the summery schedule of activations happening for the duration of the “Fly the flag for football” campaign as detailed above taking place over the Easter weekend.

SUMMARY SCHEDULE: FLAG ACTIVATIONS Tollgate handouts and in some cases digital shoot-outs at nearby garages will take place during the Easter Week-end (9th to 13th April) in the following places: Carousel Plaza Middelberg Plaza Mooi Plaza Nkomzai Plaza Tongaat Plaza Brits Plaza Vaal Plaza

Airport flag hand-outs: O R Tambo International Airport Durban International Airport Port Elizabeth Airport Bloemfontein Airport International Airport

Digital Shoot-out activations: 9 April Carousel Plaza garage, Middelberg Plaza garage 10 April OR Tambo International 11 April OR Tambo International, Tongaat Plaza garage 12 April Tongaat Plaza garage 13 April Vaal Plaza garage, Durban International Airport

Digital shoot-out activations will also be active at the Department of Sports and Recreation stand at the Rand Easter Show for the entire period.

For more information, please contact:

Jane Lewis Kaelo PR Brand and Cause Communications Tel: +27 (0) 11 536 4900 Cell: + 27 (0) 76 538 3243 [email protected]