Forward to an African Century!

The International Marketing Council of South Africa joins millions of South Africans, peoples of Africa and the world in congratulating and celebrating South Africa's winning the right to host the world most spectacular sporting event, the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

We would like to thank the FIFA Executive Committee, both singly and collectively, for the refreshed hope, upliftment and inspiration they have restored to the people of South Africa and the rest of Africa.

Our sincere gratitude to South African Football Association, Soccer World Cup Bid Committee and government for putting the most sterling and compelling case on behalf of South Africa.

More than 28 billion television viewers made the 2002 Soccer World Cup the most watched sporting event of all time. In 2010 these billions and more of television viewers will focus in our shores and hundreds of thousands will visit.

This (2010) provides us with a rare opportunity to showcase the unique combinations of who we are, what we have and how we do things which makes South Africa alive with possibility. Let us all play our part to ensure a successful soccer world cup event and to enhance the climate for favourable positioning of our country to boost investment, tourism and international relations.