From the desk of Gauteng Tourism Authority Destination Marketing: On SOCCEREX …

As the global sports sector continues to grow, the old certainties are disappearing. The industry is facing complex and fast-moving changes driven by globalization, new lifestyles choices and technological advancement. But unlike industries experiencing similar forces, sports organisations have moved forward in cooperation as well as the competition.

The imminent hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa has opened many doors for the country, one of them being Soccerex – the biggest global football focused exhibition in the world. Now in its 12th year, Soccerex is the only convention renowned for its unique platform giving exhibitors and delegates the opportunity to learn, network with suppliers, manufacturers and key buyers in international football under one roof. It attracts football legends, top football clubs and football playing nations.

The world’s largest soccer exhibition, Soccerex, will be staged in Gauteng, South Africa, for the next 3 years, after being held in Dubai for the past 5 years, and in London. Winning the right to host the event is a major coup for South Africa, as it will bring together global cross section of Rights Holders and suppliers, soccer associations, football clubs, businesses and the media, from all over the world, providing an unparalleled opportunity also for all industry decision makers, from 23-26 November 2008 at the Sandton Convention Centre, Gauteng Province, which will also host 2010 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony, final and many matches in-between. Soccerex will also boost the country’s build-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup as it coincides with the preliminary draw taking place in Durban.

The magnitude of this year’s 4-day Soccerex conference will attract over 5000 delegates and 300 exhibition stands from both local and some 95 countries have been sold out. This year’s event is sure to be the biggest and best yet in Gauteng.

Gauteng is South Africa’s powerhouse. Below the surface, there’s a king’s ransom of mineral wealth and above the wheels of commerce and industry, grind away at driving the economy. It is also home to the stock exchange,

the largest on the African continent, and the country’s administrative seat of power. When Gauteng locals aren’t working hard, they are playing hard. From the rhythm of the township shebeens to the electronic beat of sophisticated suburban night clubs; street chic to designer labels; haute cuisine to potjekos and morogo; game viewing or gaming at the blackjack tables, or if your taste in sports runs to hanging off cliffs, or the gentler art of bird watching – the cosmopolitan melting pot of Gauteng offers it all. And of course, if you do tire of it all, there’s always retail therapy.

One of the major infrastructural developments currently underway is the construction of the much awaited Gautrain. This multi-million rand fast rail system, not unlike the Docklands Light Rail in London, will form a circuitous link between the O R International Airport, Johannesburg, and Pretoria surroundings.

Provincial Economic Boost
Football is a multibillion Rand industry. Research supports that, of all the sports products in the world purchased, 75% of them are for football. This is massive business and the benefits to the Gauteng economy will be huge. It is projected that Soccerex will inject more than R700 million into Gauteng’s economy as well as give the province billions of Rands worth of media coverage.

As Small, Medium & Micro enterprises (SMMEs) play a major role in the development of Gauteng’s economy, the subsidized exhibition space and networking platform for such businesses has been doubled from last year’s Soccerex.

Whilst the economic impact assessment to quantify the return on investment for Gauteng province, besides offering numerous opportunities for local companies to partner with international counterparts, it is estimated that hosting of Soccerex over 3-years would indirectly inject more than R5 billion ($586 million) into Gauteng’s economy and would contribute massively to job creations.

Social Responsibility
Adding to Soccerex’s focus on social responsibility and community upliftment, partners of the exhibition have announced the establishment of a multi purpose sports facility in Soweto, which is scheduled for completion.

Conclusion
Football is bigger than any of us and the fans are waiting to stand on the terraces in the communities with their Vuvuzelas, drums, etc. as they have done so more for more than century, long after the politicians, owners, chairmen and players have moved on. For more than a decade, football has brought together people from all aspects of the game.

Soccerex has come a long way since its humble beginnings in London n 1996. Soccerex is a unique platform for the business and commercial side of football to work together; has always been a great success and will continue as both Soccerex and the game evolve. This year also marks the first of three years of Soccerex at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, Gauteng province.

With the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the main focus shifts to Africa and the development of football on the continent.