The biggest sporting event in the world!  I have been so fortunate to be involved with some of the very best architects, designers, project managers, civil engineers, builders, transportation engineers, etc. over the last 4 years.

I have been lucky to be able to see behind the screen, so to speak, and all the incredible work that has gone into preparing for the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa.  It has been some of the most exciting, thrilling, exhausting, frustrating, few years of my life.  The work that has gone into this event is amazing.  We started in a situation where many people in South Africa, and elsewhere in the World were telling us that we could not complete this in time.  Everything would go wrong.  FIFA would remove the games from us.  Basically it CANNOT BE DONE!  Well, it has been done!  In Port Elizabeth & Cape Town we pulled off the impossible, and delivered 2 stadia which are some of the very best in the world.  During the period we had everything thrown at us (and still are from certain quarters!)

I have been concluding my final visits prior to the event, and I have been really impressed with how they look.  Cape Town Stadium is beautiful, and is able to fit in to its amazing backdrop (which is no mean feat!).  Nelson Mandela Stadium is prettier; looking like a sunflower, the amazing roof can be seen from all around PE.  The park, and lake next to it looks fantastic.  They are perfoming the final cleaning up.

There are still some small issues with both stadia, but that is to be expected.  It will take probably a few years of tinkering to get them 100% (if indeed 100% is possible).  But both stadia provide fantastic, safe, access for people with disabilities (which was our role).  The road network has been improved, both cities providing accessible transportation for people with special needs (in completely different ways).

I am proud of our involvment, and I am proud to be associated with these two unique stadia, which will serve the local communities for many years to come.

I just wish we were not still battling with the nay-sayers at this stage.  I always thought that the Brits would take the title in any World Whinging Championship (most Australians would agree with that!!), but I have decided that middle class South Africans will easily beat them, on any day! 

Been a funny old week.  Yesterday I was called to give evidence to a Portfolio Committee meeting in Parliament...which was different, but at least we were able to set the record straight on accessibility at both Cape Town & Nelson Mandela Bay Stadia.

Then today!  The City of Cape Town, and the stadium operators (SAIL Stade de France) hosted the concert by Filia School.  As mentioned in an earlier posting, this was perhaps the only facility which could provide the accessibility needed on this scale.  There were close to 200 children, many with quite severe disabilities performing, and many people with disabilities in the audience, along with several schools, from as far away as Franschhoek.  People had travelled in fromWellington to be there.

What a great event!!!  It is a pity that the press did not turn out in the numbers that this concert deserved, but as you can see from the photos below, we had a good crowd.

The concert was amazing, very moving, and inspirational.  The audience joined in, and the final rendition of the National Anthem was the most emotionally charged that I have ever witnessed!!  I was in a position where I could see the crowd, and there were very few dry eyes.  It was a fantastic celebration of diversity. 
Even the weather was on our side; after several days of torrential rain, & several more forecast, the concert happened in the dry!!! 
This event proved the accessibility of the stadium, beyond any doubt, and was a truly amazing experience.  We hope it will become an annual event.

Press Release

Police in body armour.  Batton charging.  Riot shields.  Water Cannon.  Rioters with sticks, pick axe handles.  Stone throwing.  Hurling rubbish bins.

No, you are not dreaming!  And no, unlike some other authors, I am not making up facts to suit my story!!

At Newlands, on Thursday, the South African National Under 20 side beat Brazil Under 20's.  That is great news, and good for the future of Bafana Bafana, and hopefully it will give the National side some hope for the World Cup.  Ghana, the current under 20 World Champions, and Nigeria also played in this Football Fesitval 

Today, Saturday, the action switches to Cape Town Stadium.  South Africa play Nigeria, and Brazil try to retain some dignity by seeking revenge from the team that beat them in the Under 20 final.

This is (possibly...) the final test event for Cape Town stadium prior to the FIFA event.  It is being run like a FIFA event, with the same security, and also, critically it is the first event to be played at night and using all the levels.  The previous events only used the lower tiers, but tonight, the hope is that the R20 tickets will mean something like 65,000 people will attend to give the stadium a realistic test.  R20 to see 2 international football matches, including the reigning world champions, Brazil, Nigeria, and, of course, the home side.  Bargain!

It also allows some intersting features to be tested; few people know this, but both the changing rooms can be divided down the middle with a concertina wall, to give 4 changing rooms.  Nothing too special about that...apart from the wall is completely soundproofed.  It is amazing, you can shout and scream in one half, and nothing heard at all on the other side.  Which is quite impressive for a light, moveable wall.  Of course, all the showers, treatment rooms, etc., are also doubled up.

I shall be at the event (as I hope all Cape Town based MyDL'ers will be!).  I will take some more photos, and stick them up here, after the event, & through Twitter (@AccessAfrica) as the event goes on.  Thankfully, the autumn rain from yesterday has gone, and the sun is shining in the Fairest Cape...

Well, it seems that Cape Town Stadium ticked most of the boxes after our second event.  There are a few operational issues, behind the scenes, that still have to be properly worked on, but there is nothing major.

People seemed to enjoy watching Western Province beat Boland, and there was a huge cheer from the local side as a certain Mr. B Habana came on in the second half!  But mostly it seemed to be a second string team...  The politicians were there (after all there were some TV cameras, and media there too...).

But the stadium seems to have a good 'vibe' when it has such a large audience...which is something that the designers wanted to achieve, but one never knows if it is possible until it is actually used.

The shuttle service into the stadium worked, although in future this would be replaced by the IRT system, which should be up and running to the stadium by the time the FIFA event happens.  It was so enjoyable, as a wheelchair user, to be able to use the same approach routes, the same shuttle service (OK, I had to wait for the one bus with the low floor and ramp) the same entrances as everyone else.  I must say that the area under the raised circle is very elegant, but there is not much headroom for the mounted police!

One spectator suffered a heart attack on the podium prior to the event, but all the emergency services could easily attend to him, and the ambulance was able to pull up alongside with hardly any delay.

I felt the strange clouds over Table Mountain were trying to mimic the stadium at times...very odd.

For this second event, the higher areas were used (up to level 4) which included the VIP lounge (which has to be the best place to be in the whole stadium).

The shuttle service worked well leaving the stadium too, although no one should expect to be able to get out of Greenpoint, or indeed Cape Town quickly at the end of the match...

Full batteries today! So should be able to make the most of my digital connections:

 I came into the stadium using the accessible park and ride (on an accessible bus).  Seems to work really well.

Here is Cape Town Stadium getting ready for the rugby match between W. Cape and Boland.  This is still a restricted event (40,000) and sold out.  The next event will be 50,000 +.

There is still much work to be completed.  But it is all coming together.

 I'll try to make sure all batteries are charged to blog from the event on Saturday again.  Maybe I'll try to use the new mobile blogging system that the Source mentioned in an earlier post.  This is done by linking phone (which also took the pictures) via bluetooth to the Tablet and scribbling on my lap.

 I have also been requested to tweet my experiences (user name @ AccessAfrica), so you may be able to follow via there (if I can get the photo tweet application working this time).  Anyone any ideas on that?

 Any MyDLers going on Saturday, who happen to see an idiot rolling around, taking photos of anything but the rugby match, come and say hello.  I am not as unpleasant in real life as you may think I am here!

As promised, some more photos from the opening event at Cape Town Stadium.  I did take something in excess of 300 photos, but the vast majority are extremely boring.  Well...maybe these will fall into that category too for some people!!!

This one is the usual indemnity sign that you may see at any public facility.  What is interesting to me is that camera's with flashes are actually prohibited...but I doubt there are many cameras which come without flashes these days.  Apparently it is standard (as it is thought it may put off the players), but never enforced...  Another thing that is forbidden is the old South African flag.  Which is on one level odd...but understandable at another level...  But what really horrified me was listening to a family reading the sign, (I guess family; elderly parents, and middle aged son), he read that and announced that it was 'pathetic' to ban the old flag, as he found the new flag offensive.  Some people....
This is the main entrance soon after the gates were opened.  Although restricted to only 20,000 spectators, you can see that there is plenty of space.  The queues were dealt with quickly, and no one had to stand waiting for any lengthy period of time.  The backdrop is pretty impressive too!

This photo shows some of the structure of how the external cladding is held to the frame.  Maybe it is just me, but I like this modern trend of being able to see how the building works.
This is what I mean by a backdrop!  I am certain that this stadium has no peers when it comes to setting; blue Altantic to one side, and Table Mountain to the other...

It is impossible to really do the scale of the stadium justice.  It does tower over you on the podium (remembering that the level of the pitch is quite some metres below this level.  There is almost a cathedral like quality to it.

For me, and our involvement, this is what it is all about, kids in wheelchairs watching the game alongside non-disabled spectators.  These children were from FILIA school, a special needs school, aiming at children with Cerebral palsy.  I am meeting with the children, and their teachers today, to listen to their experiences and see if there is anything we can do to improve the facility.

I love the silver sheen that the stadium takes on.  It is almost pearl-like in certain a certain light.  I do think it is a very beautiful stadium, and without a doubt, it is a World class venue.

11h30 from the car park adjacent to Cape Town stadium.

 I'll add my photos when I get home, as I forgot a cable to connect my card to my tablet.

There is a huge Police presence here (as you would expect for a dry run for the FIFA event).  I am within the security curtain, so I, and my car, has been checked for explosives.  Good to see some of the very latest electronic sniffing techniques being used.

 Now this is a "Lifestyle Blog", clearly...  Or is it?

I am writing this on my Tablet PC, connecting to the internet through my cell phone (and blue tooth).  Windows 7 and a tablet PC make this such a pleasure (and easy to do).  It is the everyday application of digital technology which makes all this possible.  It makes a massive impact on my lifestyle.

But MyDL is a technology site first and foremost, rather than a social networking site.  So the owners, managers, of the site have every right to do with it as they will.  We, as users, have only one basic right; are can use the site, or not...  We cannot dictate our own terms.  We can suggest and cajole, but MyDL do not have to listen.  Of course any organisation that does not listen to its customers is not going to last long!  But MyDL's biggest customers (and therefore much more important than us) are the sponsors and advertisers.  They want more digital blogs. 
Personally, I think that the recent suggested changes will be counter-productive.  too many of the digital blogs are too dry for my tastes, and if they are the only ones being supported then I would imagine that I would slowly drift away, and look for alternative social networking possibilities.  However, if we can work with the system, and perhaps make more of our lifestyle blogs more digitally focussed, then we may find a solution that makes everyone happy.

As an example of what I mean I have a look at Jeremy Clarkson's Column in the Sunday Times.  It is in the "motoring" section, and does cover motoring issues.  But over 90% of each blog is lifestyle, and therefore much more enjoyable to read...  Take a look at my tags for this post and tell me which ones do not apply.?

 This is Dissol, live from Cape Town stadium, signing off!