| The most obvious location to host World Cup | | | | The government of South Africa are taking this |
| fixtures is, without a doubt, Johannesburg. | | | | problem seriously, and the civic authorities of |
| Although not one of South Africa's three official | | | | Johannesburg have enlisted the help of former |
| capital cities, it is the premier financial centre in the | | | | New York mayor Rudolf Giuliani, who dealt with a |
| country and, in addition, is home to three of the | | | | similarly high crime rate in his city using |
| country's premier football teams, including arguably | | | | no-nonsense measures. Nonetheless, the fact is |
| the two most notable, the Orlando Pirates and | | | | that for any tourist it is wise to be |
| the legendary Kaizer Chiefs. Furthermore, it is | | | | safety-conscious whenever they are in a new |
| home to South Africa's most prominent sports | | | | country, and on a holiday to South Africa this will |
| stadium, the massive and atmospheric Ellis Park. | | | | naturally apply. Straying too far from the city |
| While the name will resonate more with rugby | | | | center is not advised simply because the outskirts |
| fans at present, due to its history, there is no | | | | of the city are more isolated. |
| doubt that this summer will see new memories | | | | As long as you are safety-conscious, a trip to |
| being made there. | | | | "Joburg" - as it is known locally - can be perfectly |
| Johannesburg is a sports-mad city, and the | | | | peaceful and enjoyable. The city has undergone a |
| assiduous fan will seek out World Cup tickets for | | | | cultural revolution of sorts in the post-apartheid |
| games in this area because of that and because | | | | years and is now at a stage where the most |
| of its tourist-friendly nature. Quite apart from the | | | | popular music and fashions are neither "black" nor |
| World Cup in 2010, most holidays to South Africa | | | | "white" and the most popular youth music is a |
| taken by tourists from Europe will take them to | | | | dance-trad hybrid known as "Kwaito". The driving |
| Johannesburg for at least a spell. There is | | | | beat of the music is felt by many to represent |
| excellent shopping to be had here, with a number | | | | the pulse of this thoroughly modern city. As far |
| of dedicated shopping districts that reflect its | | | | as nightlife goes, there is a wide range of options |
| place as one of the commercial centres of the | | | | for all ages, but naturally a youthful democracy |
| African continent. In the aftermath of apartheid, | | | | will feel more attuned to a youthful crowd. |
| Johannesburg is leading the way as an example of | | | | So if you are planning a South Africa trip, for the |
| how diversity can work - and the soon-to-open | | | | World Cup or for any other reason, there is no |
| Zonk'Izizwe shopping centre, whose name loosely | | | | doubt that Johannesburg should be on your |
| translates as "One World", is intended to reflect | | | | itinerary. As the world descends on South Africa |
| this. | | | | for the first major sporting event to be held |
| Tourists to Johannesburg will be warned | | | | there since 1995 - and that was competed for by |
| repeatedly by friends about the problems with | | | | 20 countries, of which many were less infatuated |
| law and order that have been all over the media, | | | | with rugby than with football - it is a chance to be |
| and indisputably this will play on people's minds. | | | | part of something special. |