KUWAIT CITY, May 11: For many diehard football fans in Kuwait, the chance to see their favorite teams play up close in the coming Fifa World Cup in South Africa is an opportunity they will never miss. But those who could not go to South Africa can choose to watch the games on cable TV in the comforts of their own homes or in a cool, cozy venue complete with amenities, in the company of friends.
Movenpick Hotel & Resorts will be offering football fans in Kuwait the chance to watch the Fifa World Cup live on large-screen LED TVs daily for the entire duration of the month-long staging of the world’s most popular game, in the hotel’s spacious Maraha tent complete with food, drinks and shisha.

This was announced Tuesday by Movenpick Hotel & Resorts GM Gary Moran during a press conference held at the Sea Club graced by the presence of the South African Ambassador to Kuwait, Ashraf Suliman and corporate sponsors like Gulf Bank, Wataniya Airways and Al-Andalus Trading Co.
Moran said that they will show all the games for the entire duration of the games from the opening ceremony on June 11 until the finals and awarding ceremony a month later on July 11, 2010 on large-screen Samsung LED TVs provided Al-Andalus Trading Co. and customers will not only get to watch the games while enjoying the amenities; they can also win valuable prizes courtesy of the sponsors in special draws or answering quizzes about game trivia.
He also added that the hotel will donate 15 percent of whatever proceeds will be realized, to the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

The South African Ambassador expressed his appreciation to Movenpick Hotel for its initiative in organizing the daily showing in support of the Fifa World Cup games and for its planned donation to the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the charity founded by their nation’s beloved former leader closest to the heart of every South African.
On the question about measures undertaken by the World Cup organizers to ensure security and safety of all those who will attend the games, Ambassador Suliman said South Africa has the experience of hosting many international events such as the Rugby World Cup, for one and all of which were successful and held without a hitch. “Our country’s security forces are well prepared to deal with any eventuality,” he said, adding he does not foresee anything untoward happening during the games.

On concerns about unsold tickets, he admitted that there are still some 200,000 tickets left to be sold but expressed confidence this will be resolved through a plan worked out by organizers to ensure that said tickets will be sold and disposed off before and during the games.
Ambassador Suliman also said, in answer to a query about visas for those who want to attend the Fifa World Cup in South Africa, that the Embassy will be issuing what he called, ‘Special Event Visas’ to applicants who needs only to show an original ticket aside from whatever will be required of them like their passports.