To minimise the risk of blackouts during the World Cup, BP South Africa has announced a multimillion-litre fuel sponsorship to keep generators running at stadiums across the country in 2010.
BP will also keep the lights burning for the Confederations Cup, being held in Johannesburg, Rustenberg, Pretoria and Bloemfontein.
This is the largest sponsorship deal that BP has undertaken in its 100-year history, said BP Africa chief executive Sipho Maseko.
Along with BP South Africa, Fifa has also announced Metrorail's parent company, Prasa (Passenger Rail Agency of SA), and Neo Africa, an entrepreneurial and recruitment company, as official World Cup supporters.
Nicolas Maingot, Fifa's media head, said the organisation was proud to have the three companies on board and was looking forward to working with them.
BP, Prasa and Neo Africa signed the agreement with Fifa in Joburg at the weekend.
The National Supporter Agreement will also place Prasa at the centre of public transport arrangements for the tournament across the country, said Maingot.
Prasa chief executive Tshepo Lucky Montana said: "This agreement allows us to put into action an aggressive five-year investment plan to improve the reliability and comfort of our rolling stock, technology and other infrastructure, such as the railway tracks," he said.
"Passengers are also benefiting from over 36 months of concerted infrastructure in-vestment work at stations across the country," said Montana.
Neo Africa, the company which had previously supported the A1 Grand Prix, said being signed as a supporter of the World Cup was a milestone for the company.
Neo Africa chief executive Vivien Natasen said the agreement would highlight and promote South Africa as a major global player in the event, sport and tourism sectors.
Neo Africa focuses on IT and communications for big events, consulting, travel, hotels and leisure, and media conferencing.
Meanwhile, in an attempt to reduce road deaths and injuries among international tourists during the World Cup, the national Department of Transport announced recently that it is to release a road regulation and information guide for travellers later this year.
The guide, being developed by the transport department and the Road Accident Fund (RAF), will give tourists a clear indication of the expectations of drivers, and explaining details of the RAF regulations. The provincial transport department is in the process of developing a local provincial transport information guide.
Last Thursday marked the one year countdown to the kick-off to the World Cup.
(Source: IOL.co.za)
