Cape Town – With tangible excitement building as the 2010 FIFA World Cup is only 786 days away, the City of Cape Town on Tuesday launched its word cup poster design competition.

According to the city’s communications unit: “Each of the nine South African host cities are given the opportunity to produce a poster to promote and position themselves.

“Once the local adjudication panels have selected the winning poster, it will be referred to FIFA who will announce the winner in September [2008].”

Prizes for the poster competition total R30 000.

South Africa launched its official 2010 FIFA World Cup poster in November 2007 already, which depicted the African continent forming a man's profile kicking a ball.

The winning poster was designed by the South African creative agency Switch, which also created the official world cup emblem.

Other host cities such as Johannesburg also recently began its world cup activities through the launch of its One Million Fans Campaign, which is aimed at making it the best host city for soccer fans.

The campaign was launched at the municipality's 2010 Summit on 6 April 2008, where delegates received limited edition football jerseys.

The jerseys were numbered from 1 to 500 to represent the first 500 members of Joburg United, a new fan club which encourages people to become card carrying members in support the city.

Another aspect of the world cup besides the sport event itself is the positive spin-offs for other sectors of the economy such as social development, arts and culture, labour and tourism.

In this regard, the city has invited public comment on a draft land use management policy on the establishment of tourist accommodation.

The city said in a statement that an increasing number of applications for tourist accommodation establishments such as Bed and Breakfasts and guest houses are being received and processed by the city.

The draft policy will then serve to guide the formulation of private sector development proposals, as well as the city’s assessment and determination of such applications.

Chairperson of the steering committee dealing with the draft policy, Councillor Taki Amira said the draft is aimed at balancing local economic development opportunities with the need to protect the character and amenity of surrounding communities and neighbourhoods.

In addition to serving as a guide to home owners and prospective applicants and operators, it will provide city officials and decision-makers with a common reference framework in assessing and determining applications involving such establishments.

“It is important to clearly set out the guidelines and rules for all stakeholders and have it applied consistently across the city,” said Mr Amira.

Accommodation operators, communities and the public at large are invited to comment on the draft policy and have until 19 May 2008 to do so, highlighted Mr Amira.

A public hearing will be held in Cape Town on 23 May 2008 to discuss the matter further.

Written comments must reach council on or before the closing date of 19 May 2008 and may be submitted by post to the Director: Planning and building Development Management (Attention: Gideon Brand), P O Box 298, Cape Town, 8000.

Comments can also be delivered by hand to sub-council or district planning offices (Attention: Gideon Brand), e-mailed to Gideon.Brand@capetown.gov.za or lums@capetown.gov.za, as well as faxed to (021) 425-6495. - BuaNews