2010 Fifa World Cup inspires city towards greater “greening” initiatives and legacy

Tshwane Events Centre has established a goal lane of champions – trees – specially planted to commemorate the 19 goals scored in Tshwane during the six games of the 2010 Fifa World Cup that took place at Loftus Versfeld.

CEO of the Tshwane Business and Agricultural Corporation, Wim du Toit, says the lane of champions immortalises the nine teams that scored goals in the city during the tournament, namely Ghana, Uruguay, Denmark, Cameroon, the USA, Chile, Spain, Paraguay and Japan. The other participating teams were Serbia, South Africa and Algeria.

He says: “South Africa has maximised this wonderful opportunity – the World Cup – to the fullest. More than one million people came to our country in the last month and more than 32-billion people over the globe saw what we had to offer on television. The mouths of the critics – here and abroad – have certainly been silenced. This has indeed been an African World Cup of note.”

Officially opening the goal lane of champions in Pretoria on 8 July, du Toit says as an integral part of the economic and social development of the City of Tshwane, the centre is committed to leaving a living legacy of the history that was made in the capital city.

He adds: “We felt it fit to honour those countries and players by immortalising their names in this permanent goal lane of champions. For generations to come, visitors to the Tshwane Events Centre will be able to rekindle the memories of one of the greatest experiences in South Africa and in Tshwane.

“However, the lane of champions goes beyond an ordinary monument. It contributes towards a sustainable environment – hence the planting of 19 indigenous trees. Apart from immortalising the winning goals in mortar and metal, the trees will assist in reducing the carbon footprint that events like the World Cup generate.”

Du Toit adds that the centre’s commitment to a sustainable environment is not new. “When the greening of events centres became the norm, we took the lead and today we recycle more than 20-tonnes of waste every year via a four-recycle system – cans, glass, paper and plastic.

“Besides the centre’s grass cuttings, the nine tons of hay and animal waste generated during one of the centre’s largest events – the Tshwane International Show – are used as food for the 45 000-earthworms at the centre’s new earthworm farm. The farm generates much-needed vermi-compost to nurture the extensive grass areas and more than 600 indigenous trees on the 39-hectare property.

“The construction of a biodiesel and gas plant is in the offing, while a nursery is being built to grow seeds from the vast array of plants and trees.

“Experiments on new products such as LED fluorescent lighting aimed at bringing down electricity consumption are also part of the greening exercise.

“In 2010 we are operating green offices with less paper and electrical consumption, using battery and electric vehicles on site, building a grey water catchment dam, buying green where possible and will measure and report on our sustainable green progress.

“Today is thus also reaffirming our commitment to go even greener. We are finalising our environmental management strategy and will announce this in the near future. And you will be our judges, so watch this space,” du Toit concludes.