Our rates for the period of the World Cup tournament will be R365 per person sharing a room and R515 per person occupying a room alone. This includes breakfast.

Following is a useful link for Cape Town / Western Cape info for the world cup:

Chris has done most of the world’s great long distance swims. He was the first Britton to swim around Manhattan Island and has done thirteen times more since then. Lake Conniston’s 10km swim he has done none less than 67 times. It was on this lake that Donald Cambell died while attempting to set a new world record on water. His longest swim was the well known 55km stretch at Florida. The 23km of the Sea of Galilee, or Tibereas as it better known nowadays, he swam from the inflow of the river Jordan to its outflow. He ”escaped” from Alcatraz island prison via Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay. These are but some of this remarkable Englishman’s achievements as a swimmer.

He runs an old age home for a living. Having established a number of these institutions, he commended this guesthouse’s functionality and stylefulness.

Seven-time Tour de France winner and all-time cycling great, Lance Armstrong, will participate in this year’s Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour. This marks the first time Armstrong, the world’s most iconic cyclist, will take part in the world’s largest timed cycling race.

“Last year it was Matt Damon and this year it’s Lance. With such high profile individuals taking part, there can be no doubt about Cycle Tour’s iconic status. The fact that Lance will be riding the Argus alongside one of South Africa’s cycling superstars is just wonderful,” says South African cycling boss, Bellairs.

The 109km course follows some of the most scenic routes that Cape Town has to offer. It starts in the city centre, outside the Civic Centre. Cyclists then travel along the M3 to Muizenberg. From there the route takes the coastal road to Simonstown and then go past the entrance to the Cape Point Nature Reserve. It continues to Scarborough and on to Oceanview, missing the Kommetjie Hill. Then its Chapman’s Peak and up Suikerbossie and along the coast to Greenpoint.

Cape Town World Cup 2010 Stadium

Cape Town is building a new stadium for the 2010 World Cup in the suburb of Greenpoint, 500 metres from the Atlantic Ocean with Table Mountain as a backdrop.

Upon completion, the stadium should seat 70,000.

Group matches to be played in Cape Town

• 11th June - 8.30pm: Uruguay v France
• 14th June - 8.30pm: Italy v Paraguay
• 18th June - 8.30pm: England v Algeria
• 21st June - 1.30pm: Portugal v Korea DPR
• 24th June - 8.30pm: Cameroon v Netherlands

The ceremony, now in its 43rd year, included a star-studded concert featuring award-winning performers such as Ringo Madlingozi, Jozi, Emo Adams, The Boyz, The Rockets, Ready D, Die Broers, Soli Philander and Joe Barber. Soccer fans visited a ‘soccer zone’, near the Heerengracht circle to meet players from Cape Town clubs Ajax CT and Santos FC, and Bafana Bafana stars Matthew Booth and Lance Davids. Other entertainment included a diski dance competition, five-a-side soccer games and ‘foosball’ play-offs. The evening’s activities ended with the traditional carnival parade, which featured some exciting floats.

Table Mountain was also lit up between dusk and midnight, and will be lit until midnight on the Final Draw night. “As one of the world’s most famous landmarks, Table Mountain is bound to feature prominently in the newscasts that will be beamed from Cape Town to some 200 countries and an audience estimated at 150 million,” says Lesley de Reuck, Cape Town’s Director: 2010 Operations. Until 2 January, the mountain lights will be switched on just after the electricity peak and will stay on until 22:00. This year, the City has introduced several measures to make the festive lights as energy efficient as possible, says the City’s Director of Electricity Services, Dr Leslie Rencontre. By using energy efficient rope lighting. The City has cut the electricity consumption of its festive light displays by over 50%. About 10 km of rope lighting was used to create the displays. The City has bought ‘green’ energy to light the mountain during the season.

Cape Town Final Draw Festival in Long Street on Friday 4 December is going to be an event not to be missed. In addition to the great lineup of musicians, there will be all sorts of other entertainment, including carnival characters, stilt walkers and fire dancers. The programme involves the following:

• 12:00 – Cultural Performers

• 13:30 – Alistar Izobel and Band

• 13.55 – Alistar Izobel sings ‘Welcome to Cape Town’, joined by Zakumi to welcome FIFA representatives to launch the Fan Fest project.

• 14:00 – Fan Fest launch (with onstage photo opportunities)

• 14:20 – Cultural performers (four acts to perform for approximately 20 minutes each)

• 16:20 – Fancy Galada

• 16:45 – To be confirmed

• 17:02 – Flat Stanley

• 17:35 – TKZee

• 18:15 – K’Naan

• 19:00 – Live draw broadcast

• 20:45 – ‘Africa Unite’ Segment (song produced by Cedric Samson)

• 20:52 – Freshlyground

• 21:50 – Cassette

• 22:45 – Jimmy Dludlu

• 24:00 – Wind-down to end

BLUE skies will not be the only sign of an enjoyable time at Bloubergstrand for visitors having accommodation in Bellville this summer.

The recent granting of Blue Flag status to Big Bay beach has put this stretch of coastline on an exclusive list of international visitor-friendly beaches.

Blue Flag status is given to beaches that adhere to a set of international standards pertaining to environmental education, information and management, water quality and safety and services which include lifesaving facilities and safe parking.

Big Bay is one of 10 local beaches that were added to the existing list of 19 South African beaches already listed.

This eco-label aims to promote a beach as clean and safe to all visitors.

Commenting on the achievement, Cape Town Tourism’s chief executive officer, Mariette Du Toit Helmbold, says the Blue Flag endorsement was a thumbs-up for tourism.

“International travellers have confidence in the Blue Flag indicator. Having as many Blue Flag-graded beaches as we do, accurately suggests that the Cape coastline is not only beautiful but well-maintained and protected as one of our greatest resources.”

Big Bay is a particular favourite spot for watersport enthusiasts.

At a special celebration held at the Big Bay Lifesaving Club last Friday, club chairman Peter O’Hanlon announced the award.

He also complimented the club members who had worked tirelessly to ensure that in the category of Beach Safety and Services, the lifesaving club, as one of the responsible agencies, was able to meet the very high standards required.

“Members of this club have, over many years, been instrumental in getting the City of Cape Town to upgrade the public facilities in the area and to ensure that these are properly serviced and maintained,” O’Hanlon said.

“We had to work closely with the developers of Big Bay and to ensure that the design and construction of our new clubhouse was to internationally accepted standards.”

“Our club has also obtained sponsorship to raise the funds necessary for instructors to provide a level of training and qualification that allowed our lifeguards to work professionally all over the world,” O’Hanlon said adding that the Blue Flag award has given the BBSLC the opportunity to recruit youngsters from less priveleged backgrounds to be trained as lifeguards.

Experience shows that Blue Flag beaches experience an increase in visitors, improved behaviour on the part of beach-goers as well as property prices rising for homes situated near Blue Flag beaches.

In a press release Mr Mansoor Mohamed, the City’s executive director for Economic, Social Development and Tourism, says: “An estimated 26 000 direct and indirect jobs will be created by this development”.

The decision to award the tender was taken after a two-stage, public tender process.

At a council meeting last week Wednesday, approval was given that the City of Cape Town award a R3 billion tender to establish retail, business, residential, hotel and conference facilities in the Bellville Velodrome precinct.

The 11,5ha property is located on a portion of Erf 21750, Bellville, in Tygervalley abutting Carl Cronjé Drive. It includes the Velodrome, athletics stadium and the adjacent public parking area.

The tender was won by Devmet Property Developments, a consortium of Devmark Property Group (Pty) Limited and Mettle Property Group (Pty) Limited.

“The tender for the Velodrome was one of the biggest and most complex property transactions ever to be awarded on municipal land in Cape Town. This development will enhance Cape Town’s positioning as a globally competitive business and leisure destination. The City will continue to use its land resources to stimulate socio-economic development,” says Mohamed.

He says despite current global economic challenges, Cape Town has yet again proved to be an attractive investment destination.

Besides an estimated R2,2 billion development on the property, Mohamed says: “An additional R800 million is expected to accrue to the City of Cape Town in rates and service charges, proceeds on the disposal of land, enhancements to the Velodrome and athletics track – which will still remain council assets – infrastructure levies and revenue sharing in event management.”

Devmet Property Developments will take over the management of the Velodrome and athletics stadium.

In addition to the existing sporting facilities, a high performance sports centre will be incorporated into the sport and athletics facilities and will be used to provide specialised training for athletes.

Mr Gert Engelbrecht, chairperson of the Bellville Athletics Club, says three cycle clubs, the athletics club and an in-house flight club are currently involved.

“A clause determines that should the Velodrome change, these clubs still need to be accommodated.

“For that I am glad because I know we will be accommodated, and the Velodrome area definitely needs some attention and to be upgraded.”

He says the clubs, the media, the public and everyone involved will now need to keep a watchful eye “that the private firm involved doesn’t only seek its own interests”.

Ms Andrea Crous, a ward councillor, says she is not against development, but “we must assure the project will be beneficial to the City and brings money in.”