Eleven days into the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, the Durban Fan Fest™ at New Beach is leading South Africa and the world in consistently high spectator attendance figures with a total of 234 532 visitors to date, with Cape Town and Brazil's, Rio trailing in second and third place respectively.

From the official opening ceremony on 11 June, Durban residents and visitors have taken advantage of the city's balmy winter weather to support the matches televised live on the big screen as well as the host of ongoing entertainment provided at the FIFA Fan Fest™. The best attendance to date was on 16 June, Youth Day with 65 714 people passing through the Fan Fest™ gates.

Commenting on the success of the Durban Fan Fest™, Ms Julie-May Ellingson Head of Durban's Strategic Projects Unit and 2010 Programme said, "Months of planning and preparation by the city to ensure that Durban offers locals and visitors alike a unique 2010 World Cup™ experience has paid off and we're delighted to be topping the global Fan Fest spectator chart."

With an original line up of fantastic new and established talent set to rock Durban on FIFA Fan Fest™ big stage over the next weeks, you can look forward to Afritude at 18h50 on 26 June, Farryl Purkiss at 18h00 on 27th, Prime Circle 19h15 on 29th. Play your part in keeping Durban at the top of the global Fan Fest™ charts, ahead of the other nine South African and six international Fan Fests™ in Sydney, Rome, Rio, Paris, Berlin and Mexico.

Come on down to the Durban FIFA Fan Fest™ and be part of the biggest beach parties South African has ever seen in the warmest place to be for 2010!

Distributed on behalf of the Durban Strategic Projects Unit and 2010 Programme