National Press Club 'NEWSMAKER' Media Briefing: South Africa Launches 2010 FIFA World Cup; Officials To Discuss 15th Anniversary of Democracy

National Press Club 'NEWSMAKER' Media Briefing: South Africa Launches 2010 FIFA World Cup; Officials To Discuss 15th Anniversary of Democracy

WASHINGTON, April 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Welile Nhlapo, South African ambassador to the United States, Lucas Radebe, 2010 FIFA World Cup ambassador, and Sthu Zungu, president of South African Tourism-North America, will announce the arrangements for hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and address the tournament's economic and social impact on the nation at a National Press Club Newsmaker press conference and lunch at noon on Monday, April 27, in the First Amendment Lounge, 529 14th St., N.W., 13th floor.

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For the first time since its inaugural in 1930, the FIFA World Cup is being held on the African continent. South Africa views hosting the event as a crowning achievement, coming 15 years after the end of

apartheid and the country's first multi-racial democratic elections.

South Africa's general elections will be held on April 22. Ambassador Nhlapo will address the new administration's commitment to hosting both the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in June and the 2010 World Cup.

Lucas Radebe will speak to the issues of readiness and what the event means for the country's development. Sthu Zungu will focus on tourism, the industry set to benefit most from the World Cup. Tourism has surpassed gold as a leading foreign exchange earner.

Lucas Radebe grew up as one of 11 children in one of the toughest areas of Soweto during one of the most violent times in South Africa under apartheid. He went on to become one of the English Premier League's most respected players -- and South Africa's most-capped footballer. Popularly known as "The Chief" by his Leeds United teammates, Radebe's international success has paved the way for a host of up and coming African soccer players. In 2000, he was honored with the FIFA Fair Play Award for his efforts to rid the sport of racism, as well as for his work with young children in South Africa as a FIFA Ambassador for SOS Children's Villages.



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Source: National Press Club


CONTACT: Mark Schoeff Jr., +1-202-662-7218, mschoeff@workforce.com, for National Press Club