Numbers down at fan parks

JOHANNESBURG – Cold weather and unpopular matches have been blamed for lower than expected attendance at some of the venues set up to allow fans without tickets in South Africa to watch the World Cup on big screens.More than three million fans worldwide have watched the World Cup so far at the 16 official FIFA fan parties – including six abroad in Rome, Paris, Berlin, Sydney, Mexico and Rio – but crowds at the colder inland venues in South Africa have dwindled.“There have been some games that we have seen a huge deterioration of numbers,” said Sibongile Mazibuko, Johannesburg’s World Cup project team spokesman.Mazibuko said cold weather and “not necessarily popular” teams had affected crowds.In 2006, the fan parks attracted eight million visitors.Durban has been the most popular South African venue so far, with more than 375 000 people watching matches, followed by Cape Town with just over 300 000.“The FIFA Fan Fests have been a huge success in South Africa, particularly in coastal towns where the weather is warmer,” Mazibuko said. “We are hoping the weather is warming up so the numbers can increase.”Matches involving Brazil and Argentina, plus remaining African hope Ghana, have proven to be the favourites, Mazibuko said.The most popular match at the venues so far has been the opener between hosts South Africa and Mexico. More than 300 000 fans were at ten South African fan parks to watch Bafana Bafana draw 1-1 with Mexico.Berlin is the most popular international venue with more than 385 000 watching matches.Numbers at Berlin’s big screen were boosted by its move to near the Brandenburg gate. That enormous street site attracted the greatest single-day crowd of 305 000 last Wednesday, when Germany beat Ghana 1-0.Previously, the Berlin venue was in a square outside the city’s Olympic Stadium, which limited attendance. (AP)