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Stadium On The Money02 July, 2009
ABOVE: 2010 Fifa World Cup mascot Zakumi, Mayor Obed Mlaba and South African Mint Company Managing Director Andile Mvinjelwa at the launch of the new coins to mark the international football showpiece By Mack Makhathini Durban's iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium was the venue for the launch of the South African Mint Company’s latest gold and silver coins to commemorate the 2010 World Cup. Mayor Obed Mlaba thanked the mint for choosing eThekwini for the launch. “It’s good that our stadium will be featured on the coins. The Moses Mabhida Stadium is a tourist destination that will work even after the World Cup,” Mlaba said. South African Mint Company Managing Director Andile Mvinjelwa said the company had developed a special coin series to celebrate the first World Cup to be held on African soil. The series kicked off in 2006 with a gold 1/4 oz and a R2 silver crown as part of a worldwide coin programme for the World Cup in Germany that year. In 2007, the mint added another coin to the series to celebrate the 2010 World Cup by adding a 1/10th oz coin. The 2008 collection comprised these three coins. In addition to these coins, the 2009 set includes a new “playful” silver crown. The coin’s design has four recesses and four small steel balls are included so that the coin owner can score “goals” by rotating the coin. Dignitaries and guests at the launch witnessed the striking of a distinguishing “privy mark” depicting the new stadium, on the 1/4 oz gold coin. A historic Boer war era coin flypress was brought to Durban especially for the job. “This is our way of contributing to this significant event. We thank the people of Durban for allowing us to launch these coins here and wish the City everything of the best for the World Cup and beyond,” Mvinjelwa said. City Manager Michael Sutcliffe said the stadium was being built especially for the World Cup, but with the future in mind would include an adjoining indoor arena, a sporting museum and a sports institute. It will seat 70 000 spectators for the World Cup, with removable seating allowing it to be downgraded to a 54 000- seater after 2010. “The spectacular stadium boasts a grand centre arch 350m long and 106m high and will become a world-first tourist attraction, thanks to a cable car designed to take visitors up to its highest point, where they can disembark and take in panoramic views of the city,” said Sutcliffe. Visitors’ Centre Manager Florina “Mama 2010” Maphalala said the stadium would have shops, bungee jumping and a pedestrian tunnel to the beach. makhathinim@durban.gov.za |
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