World Cup party at Millennium Hall

By Solomon Bekele

The Addis Park Development and Management Group PLC (APDMG) is to create a mini-stadium at the Millennium Hall to show all of the 19th 2010 South African World Cup matches to the public.

The event organisers announced on Thursday, May 20, at the Sheraton Addis that the Public Viewing Party will take place from June 11 up to July 11 in a specially designed stadium intended to imitate the atmosphere in South Africa,

The group said public showings are customary in other major cities, but this is the first time they have been organised in Ethiopia.

“We just want to create a smaller South Africa at the Millennium Hall to entertain the football loving people of Ethiopia,” Theodros Wondirad, Deputy General Manager of APDMG said.

The organisers said they hoped the venue, which is yet to be constructed, will provide a space for Africans to congregate to watch the first ever World Cup on the continent in the unofficial capital of the continent. Theodros’ team is in consultation with the Embassy of South Africa to construct the mini-stadium with a capacity of 5,000-6,000. There will be an entrance fee for the day of 25 birr for second class and 100 birr for first class. A ticket allows people to watch all the day’s matches. Cafés and small restaurants will be open and strips of the participants will be on sale.

The group also promises to have Ethiopia’s best musicians and comedians entertain before the start of the games and during half time.

The entrance tickets will also enter purchasers into a lottery to win a first prize of an Abay car.