World soccer governing body FIFA and the Organising Committee for the FIFA World Cup in South Africa (SAOC) are pleased to announce that another major step has been taken towards the implementation of the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa with the active search for a "face" to the event.

It is the first time that this prestigious football extravaganza will be staged on African soil and the official emblem will play a key role in raising awareness in every corner of the earth of both South Africa the country and Africa the continent.

Tender process

Fifa and SAOC have launched a tender process to invite the best professional graphic designers in South Africa to submit creative ideas that embody the dreams and ambitions of both the event and the host nation.

In cooperation with think, the industry council representing the South African design industry, Fifa and SAOC have now drawn up a short list of six design agencies from a pool of more than 20 think-affiliated and non-affiliated agencies.

The short list below was drawn up after all agencies presented their credentials to Fifa/SAOC in August in Johannesburg.

The short list is as follows:

# Grid V - Johannesburg
# Orange Juice - Durban
# Enterprise IG - Johannesburg
# Switch - Johannesburg
# Jupiter Drawing Room - Cape Town
# Two Tone - Johannesburg

These agencies, who all represent the contemporary and new South Africa, will present their creative work in October to an eminent Fifa/SAOC judging panel and the winning design will be selected in early 2006.

Fifa and SAOC will pay each of these six agencies a fee to cover the costs associated with the submission of proposals, in line with the new accord created by think.

Closing ceremony

The official emblem of the 2010 Fifa World Cup will be unveiled at the closing ceremony of the 2006 Fifa World Cup Germany upon completion of all trademark issues.

"The official emblem is critical in transporting the 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa across the globe and the task of choosing a suitable emblem therefore a weighty one.

"However, the South African Graphic Design industry is world class and we have been able to select a handful of agencies that will offer us a wide range of creative solutions to our brief.

"I am sure that we will be spoilt for choice come the time of presentations," said Fifa general secretary Urs Linsi.

"This is a major step forward in building the awareness of the event for South Africa and indeed the continent.

"The emblem will embody the modern South Africa and the aspirations of the whole nation," said Danny Jordaan, CEO of SAOC.

"I am convinced that the thorough and professional manner in which Fifa and the SAOC is handling the tender process, which is in line with think's code of conduct, will ensure that South Africa will land up with an official emblem of which we can all be proud," said think chairperson Gary Harwood.

Source: News24.com

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