French support of Soccer World Cup, 2010 South Africa

South Africa is preparing to host the world’s most popular sportive contest. This first African World Cup will draw 450 000 fans from throughout the world. French organisations in South Africa have initiated several projects, developed in the context of this global football event, to support the event, but also to promote the French presence in South Africa.

Initiatives and projects of French institutions in South Africa Direct support for the event: The French Embassy’s Police Service for Technical and International Cooperation was approached to share its security skills in managing large sporting events, specifically crowd management control, with the South African Police Service. In response to a request from the National Commissioner of Police, French officers visited South Africa to train local police units. The Confederations Cup, a trial run for the South African authorities, proved to be a resounding success as far as security matters were concerned. Furthermore, 10 to 12 French officers will be in South Africa in June next year to support the South African authorities at matches involving the French team. In addition, a French officer is to be hired to the SAPS central command post for the duration of the event.

The Development Cooperation and Cultural Activities Department (the “SCAC”), and the Alliance Française, a French language teaching organisation with branches in most of South Africa’s major cities, will teach French to more than a hundred tourism guides. It will also provide a French phrase book and CD to FIFA volunteers as well as presenting French language learning activities on the internet.

Please contact Philippe Aldon, French Development Cooperation Assistant at 011 646 1115 for more info.

Supporting and promoting the event:The French Development Agency

General presentation of the AFD in South Africa

The French Development Agency (AFD) and its private sector support subsidiary Proparco have been based in Johannesburg since 1994. The AFD has a regional mandate.

The AFD is tasked with implementing the Franco-South-African partnership framework document that was signed in 2006. This document offers a framework for French development cooperation with South Africa to assist in the development of the country.

The AFD has three focus areas in South Africa: support to the economic and social transitions since 1994, support to economic growth and mainstreaming of issues linked to global public goods.

In this endeavour to support local and regional development, the AFD has currently a book of more than 30 projects and has multiplied the amount of its financial commitments by four between 2004 and 2008.

For more information visit : www.afd-afriquedusud.org

In line with its mandate, the AFD is funding three projects linked to the World Cup:

 the setting up of the Diambars Academy, which is a school for talented youngsters aspiring to be soccer players that will give them a full academic education as well as train them for high level soccer. This school is supported by French soccer greats, such as Patrick Vieira and Bernard Lama.

For more information please contact Djelloul Habchi, the head of Diambars South Africa on 011 783 8917

 a major loan to Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) for the renovation and extension of the OR Tambo International Airport. This loan will both improve access to South Africa for the World Cup but also strengthen ACSA’s competitiveness and attractiveness in the long term.

 a grant to the Central Energy Fund to finance the “retrofitting” of the lighting system of the Headquarters of FIFA in Johannesburg (SAFA House, South African Football Association): this will ensure that energy consumption in the building is very substantially reduced.

For more information on the activities of the AFD in South Africa, please contact Elisa de Chambost on +27 011 540 7116/7100; dechamboste@afd.fr; AFD – Ironwood House, Ballywoods office Park – 29 Ballyclare Drive – Bryanston 2021 (www.afd.afriquedusud.org).

The French Institute in South Africa( IFAS )and the Gauteng Provincial Government have been supporting the construction of giant marionettes since 2008. These marionettes have performed to great acclaim at many festivals and created a lot of media interest. From April to June 2010, in a shared training/building exercise between the French company “Les Grandes Personnes” and South African artists and craftsmen, some 30 giant marionettes will be constructed. During the World Cup a street parade will be held in the townships and at the Grahams town Arts Festival. The Local Organising Committee was very impressed by the project and will be organising parades and performances around the stadiums and “fan parks”. The giant marionettes will also be performing at the opening and closing ceremonies of the world cup.

In addition, IFAS is working closely with the Nirox foundation and the Goodman Gallery to host an exhibition with internationally renowned French and African artists (Philippe Parreno, Kader Attia, El Anatsui, Joel Adrianomearisoa, Bili Bidjocka, Yoni Shonibare). Similarly, IFAS is supporting the Johannesburg Art Gallery and the Cape Town National Gallery in hosting the 2009 Bamako Photography Biennale.

For more information, please contact Eleonore Godfroy, IFAS. (+27) 011.298.27.06 - Comm.culture@ifas.org.za

The Agency for the Teaching of French Abroad, will be hosting the first world football cup for seven-year olds at the JHB French High School. From June 21st to 27th 2010, teams made up of scholars from French schools throughout the world (Ottowa, Singapour, London…) will compete on the grounds and will attend teaching activities organised for this event. The opening ceremony is to be held in Soweto on June 21st.

For more information, please contact Patrice Bousquet, headmaster at the Jules Verne high school. (+27) 011 884 8936

Security

South Africa is experiencing a high incidence of criminal activity, particularly in the townships, but also in other areas, specifically tourism destinations. French nationals visiting South Africa for the world cup are advised to join an organised tourism group. Before their departure they are strongly advised to consult the South Africa tourism advisory webpage as well as the websites of the Cape Town and JHB consulates.

For more complete information kindly contact the consulates of Cape Town and JHB. The French Consulate in Cape Town (+27) 021 423 15 75 or visit www.consulfrance-lecap.org) and for the French Consulate in Johannesburg (+27) 011 778 56 00 or visit www.consulfrance-jhb.org).

The Media:

Permission to film FIFA organised activities must be obtained from the body itself, on its website at www.fifa.com under the link: “Medias”.

For filming in public places, permission to film must be obtained from the relevant local authorities.

For the Gauteng region ( Johannesburg and Pretoria )

Gauteng film Commission 9th floor, 56 Main Street, Johannesburg, 2108 South Africa Tel: (+27) 011 833 0409 Fax: (+27) 011 833 0282 Email: info@gautengfilm.org.za Web : www.gautengfilm.org.za

For Cape Town :

Cape Film Commission

Tel : (+27) 021 483 9070 Fax : (+27) 021 483 9071 Email : info@capefilmcommission.co.za Web : www.capefilmcommission.co.za

For Durban :

Durban Film Office

Tel : (+27) 031 311 4243 Fax : (+27) 031 311 4092 Email : filmdurban@durban.gov.za Web : www.durbanfilmoffice.com