With the 2010 World Cup a mere 43 days away, Hong Kong has really come to the party insofar as getting the locals in the mood for Africa and the world’s biggest sports event.

Olympian City2, a mall in the West-Kowloon area will be hosting the biggest local event in the run-up to June 11 when they present the South African Festival between April 30 and May 9.

The South African Bazaar

(30 April – 9 May, 12noon-8pm, Central Atrium, Olympian City2)

For the whole 10-day period, you can enjoy a wide range of South African products like Rooibos Tea, wine, Appletiser, skin care products, to name but a few.  There will also be some typical Saffa delicacies for you to sample, while South African handicrafts will also be on display.

African Vibes

(30 April – 2 May and 7-9 May, 3pm-5pm)

Enjoy the African drum beat, complete with African dancers.

Diski Fever

(30 April – 2 May and 7 May, 2pm/4pm)

Come and dance with the mastermind behind the Diski Dance, Wendy Ramokgadi and his team, who will be flying in especially for this event.

Diski Dance world record attempt

(8 May at 2pm)

A competition to find the Diski Champion will be staged with prizes worth over HK$10,000 on offer. Lastly, Olympian City will attempt to set a world record when they try and get 1,000 people to dance the Diski Dance.  Special guest at this event will be Hong Kong’s own William Chan.

(To get to Olympian City2, take the MTR Tung Chung line, get off at Olympic City MTR and exit at Exit D)

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This advert appeared in The Standard this morning:

The 2010 FIFA World Cup is but mere days away but alas, Howzit-HongKong.com can confirm that we will miss out on Afrika’s grandest gathering. 

That said, we will continue to do what we do best, get YOU to go and experience the warmth and love that only our homeland can give. 

HongKongers LOVE football, however you have to experience the heart and soul of the sport; that there is more to the game than just to win or lose a fistfull of dollars at your nearest HK Jockey Club outlet.

Go to Afrika in June 2010.  You will find it there.

Every great event needs a good soundtrack. Come June 2010, when we sit in front of our tv screen here in Hong Kong, sipping our Nederburg Twenty10 Cabernet Sauvignon to balance out the sweetness of our favourite char siu bao, all the time watching the world visiting South Africa, this will be our soundtrack to the 2010 FIFA World Cup!

Welcome to my home and…

Feel Afrika.

Mike Jansen

“We came, We saw, We tried!” Cheers Akon for the Video: Oh Africa

Nederburg’s Twenty10 range is available at your nearest Park ‘n Shop.

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The national tourism agency responsible for the marketing of South Africa as a preferred tourist destination, South African Tourism today announced the appointment of  Bradley Brouwer as the new Regional Manager Asia Pacific effective 1 December 2009.

Brouwer’s appointment comes at a crucial time as South Africa gets ready to host the world’s biggest sporting event, the FIFA World Cup in 2010. 

Brouwer’s role will see him take responsibility for Japan, China, South Korea and Hong Kong where his twenty seven years experience in the tourism industry along with his passion for serving South Africa and developing our communities will stand him in good stead. He will be based in Beijing. 

Prior to this appointment Brouwer was South African Tourism’s Country Manager for Japan and South Korea from March 2007. In this role Brouwer successfully strengthened the relationship between South African Tourism and the highly influential Japanese Association of Travel Agents (JATA). In recognition of this special relationship JATA extended the relationship for a second term (never done before) with South Africa. South African Tourism’s relationship with JATA has helped increase awareness of South Africa in Japan. The special relationship has also built travel industry contacts and developed new itineraries to the country, establishing South Africa as an officially recognised destination within the Japanese travel industry. 

“Bradley’s unfailing energy in Japan has helped place South Africa on the map in a country in which, just a few years ago, South Africa barely existed. While we still face the challenges of distance and no direct flights, thanks to Bradley and his wonderful team we are slowly winning the battle in this highly lucrative market” said Evelyn Mahlaba, South African Tourism’s Regional Director for Asia & Australasia.