Denmark, Japan keep the fans happy
Denmark, Japan keep the fans happy
Posted: 2010-06-09 10:54
While the soccer-loving fans of East London and Port Elizabeth are missing out, this is not the case lower down the Garden Route where all the hype surrounding the World Cup has finally become reality for fans in Knysna and George.
The excitement generated by the French, Danish and Japanese teams choosing base camps in the area has been given a further boost with Japan hosting Mozambique at the Outenigua Stadium tomorrow.
While problems within the French camp have been well documented, the Danes and Japanese have been accommodating in interacting with the public.
Both teams opened their first training sessions to fans, drawing hundreds of locals to Loerie Park in Knysna to see Denmark, and thousands to Outeniqua Park in George where the Japanese are training.
Only reporters were allowed to attend part of the French team's session at Pezula Resort on the "Field of Dreams", purpose- built for their stay in Knysna.
Access to the luxury golf resorts of Fancourt, Simola and Pezula, where the Japanese, Danish and French are camped, respectively, was tightly controlled by scores of police officers manning a series of roadblocks leading to the three premises.
The team buses were also escorted by a convoy of police vehicles whenever the international football stars moved between training grounds and hotels.
Large media contingents from Japan, France and Denmark have settled in the two towns to follow the fortunes of their teams in the biggest sporting event on the planet.
Fully equipped media centres were opened for the Danish and French teams at the Knysna Premiere Hotel adjoining Loerie Park on Sunday, but construction of the Japanese media centre at Outeniqua Park has been delayed by the national transport workers strike, which caused a hold-up in the delivery of materials.
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