* Diski Dance Your Way To South Africa*

09-25-2009

SOUTH AFRICAN TOURISM ANNOUNCES THE DISKI DANCE VIDEO CONTEST

South Africa is inviting the world to celebrate earth’s biggest party - the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup™, the first World Cup to be held on the African continent. The month-long spectacular promises to be the biggest event on the planet next year, with an estimated 26 billion viewers expected to tune in from around the globe.

South African Tourism has created a special marketing campaign designed to showcase the warm, vibrant and fun loving spirit of the South African people, whose generous hospitality will be on display for all visitors to the event. 

“In South Africa, we have a unique way of playing soccer, which we have turned into a fun and spirited dance called Diski,” said Sthu Zungu, president of South African Tourism, North America. “It's rhythmic. It's showy. It’s energetic. And by the time 2010 rolls around we want everyone to be Diski dancing their way to South Africa,” she continued.

With this in mind, South African Tourism has partnered with World Cup sponsor Coca-Cola as well as U.S. Youth Soccer, the largest youth sports organization in the United States, to launch a viral Web video contest. This will be a nationwide “dance call” that will encourage youth soccer teams to feel the rhythm of South Africa by performing the soccer-inspired Diski Dance.

Competing teams may visit www.southafrica.net/dance, view tutorials, and submit their creative video interpretation of the dance for a chance to win the grand prize of a trip to South Africa for the entire team.  South African Tourism will transport all 12 players, plus  the coach, and one parent for each player, to South Africa during the months leading up to the World Cup, where they will play an exhibition game against a group of South African youths of similar age.  The winning youth soccer team will be announced in mid-January 2010.

The contest will be launched in grand style in Chicago on September 26, 2009 with a spectacular performance of the Diski Dance at a Major League Soccer match of the Chicago Fire versus Toronto FC.  The half-time break will feature a showcase in which a troupe of 150 talented performers from The Joffrey Ballet’s Community Engagement Program will take center field, led by Zakumi -- the mascot of the 2010 FIFA World Cup -- and accompanied by Sparky, the Chicago Fire’s mascot. World-renowned soccer superstar Lucas Radebe - FIFA 2010 Goodwill Ambassador and South African Tourism’s Global Tourism Ambassador for the 2010 FIFA World Cup -- will make a special appearance.

The Diski Dance consists of five moves, and each takes its inspiration from a different area of the country, with names drawn from different languages.  Some are in Tswana, others Zulu, Sotho and even English.  They have names like "Tsamaya", "Heel Extention Mkhari" and "Chester" to mention a few.  The five moves are: (1) Trepa, (2) The Juggle, (3) Header, (4) The Bridge, and (5) Table Mountain.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup™ will be played in South Africa from June 11 to July 11, 2010 in nine host cities and 10 stadiums across the country. The opening and closing games will be held in Johannesburg, the country’s famous “City of Gold,” the semi-finals in Durban and Cape Town. The other host cities are Tshwane/Pretoria, Rustenberg, Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth, Nelspruit and Polokwane.

About South African Tourism

For more information on South Africa, a world-class destination, the ideal place for both business and leisure, contact South African Tourism at 500 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2040, New York, N.Y., 10110; Tel: (212) 730-2929; Fax: (212) 764-1980; Email: info@us.southafrica.net or visit www.southafrica.net.  For everything you need to know about planning your trip to the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, visit www.southafrica.net/2010. For information and brochures call 800-593-1318.

About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer)

US Youth Soccer - "The Game for ALL Kids!^®" is the largest youth sports organization in the country and largest member of the United States Soccer Federation, the governing body of soccer in the United States. US Youth Soccer registers more than 3 million players annually, ages 5 to 19, and over 900,000 administrators, coaches and volunteers in 55 member State Associations. US Youth Soccer programs provide a fun, safe and healthy environment for players at every level of the game. For more information, visit www.USYouthSoccer.org.

 

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