Ayoba! Cape Town's countdown to the kick-off

We believe Cape Town does it best and we're celebrating all the way

Even if you didn't see the helicopter banner announcing the countdown to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the voices of the children singing at Cape Town‘s official celebration of the World Cup countdown reached far and wide. Cape Town Magazine went along to learn the song.

When I arrive at the Greenpoint Stadium for the 100 Days Till Kick-Off event, it's late afternoon and I'm here, properly, for the first time.

The stadium is huge - a massive monument rising up to salute Table Mountain. The wind coming around a stadium with no corners is wild! We don't get to go inside though - the ceremony is outside on the terrace. Suddenly I see hundreds of happy children from all over the peninsula singing and dancing together to celebrate the coming World Cup.

Pure joy for all the improvements in our beloved city

There's an atmosphere of pure joy. An incredible energy is emanating from youngsters as little as 2 months up to thirteen years from Khayelitsha, Kayamandi and as far as Wellington.

Imagine 800 laughing, singing, shouting diski dancers with an enthusiastic (and effective) youth leader to guide them. Imagine the sound of strong, young voices reaching up into the sky. It's not a bad way to spend a sunny Tuesday afternoon looking at an overview of the changes in the city.

Earlier this week, the Executive Mayor, Alderman Dan Plato said: "We have spent massive amounts of money on making Cape Town an even more accessible and enjoyable destination. These improvements are taking shape as the World Cup approaches, and we look forward to them benefiting residents and visitors for decades to come."

The World Cup belongs to everyone who believes we can do it

At the ceremony itself, the Mayor addresses the children directly, praise their dance moves and energy. After announcing that he didn't think he could move like a limber little one, he was treated to a free dance lesson in front of hundreds, and learnt it very quickly.

He was naturally a big hit, and his words rang out with the conviction of a coach: "We must show the world what our youngsters can do. This world cup does not belong to me. It does not belong to the Premier. It belongs to everyone n South Africa. It is everybody's business."

Leaving the ceremony, I thought about what the youth leader asked the children in the hour long celebration - "what makes Cape Town different to all the other cities?" The answer is obvious - we do. We're loud. And proud. And we love our city.

The celebration was a wonderfully well coordinated example of how much joy and energy there is in this city. In the words of the deputy mayor, "Do you believe we can do it?"

Cape Town Magazine does.

By Jess Henson

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