All South Africans attending the Springbok-All Blacks Trinations clash at FNB Stadium in Soweto Johannesbsurg on 21 August are being urged to wave flags in an effort to break a Guinness World Record.
The attempt, which hopes to have 90 000 South African flags waving in one venue at one time, was initiated by Draftfcb South Africa (originators of the Keep Flying campaign), Vodacom, the International Marketing Council of South Africa, Lead SA and SuperSport.
The Vodacom Fan Cam, a high definition camera with 360° picture-taking and geo-tagging capabilities, will provide the photographs required by Guinness so that that organisation can audit the record setting attempt.
FNB Stadium formally Soccer City, host to the first and final matches of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in the country, has a capacity just short of 84 500, excluding its 99 suites, so record attempt organisers are urging everyone who attends the rugby match to bring along more than one flag.
Said Draftfcb South Africa Group CEO, John Dixon: “When we launched Keep Flying as a way of encouraging all South Africans to retain the sense of unity and achievement we’d felt during the Soccer World Cup, we knew we wanted the campaign to culminate with a memorable event. “Initially, we thought we’d organise a minute of noise for Africa – a crazy 60 seconds filled with vuvuzelas blaring, car hooters hooting, drums drumming, voices shouting – but that seemed so transient.
“Instead, we looked for something that could be documented, verified and carved in stone – a lasting memorial to our nation’s flag and what it symbolised for us all during the World Cup. Setting a world record just seemed the appropriate thing to do.
“We looked to Vodacom, SuperSport, the International Marketing Council of South Africa and Lead SA – Primedia’s awesome campaign that truly embraces the spirit behind Keep Flying – to help us plan and prepare for the attempt.
“And now we’re calling on all South Africans going to support the Springboks on Saturday at FNB Stadium to show as much “gees’ as they did during the World Cup. Two hands means two flags; what could be simpler!’
Added Vodacom Managing Executive: Marketing, Enzo Scarcella: “Vodacom is a proud supporter of South Africa’s sporting teams. It’s a proud supporter of South African supporters. But most of all, Vodacom is a proud supporter of South Africa.
“We’re delighted to be a part of this record setting attempt … and to be able to use Vodacom technology to record it for both auditing and bragging purposes. That’s right, in addition to sending Guinness our geo-cam photographs for verification, we’ll post them to our media partners’ web sites – 702, Highveld, SuperSport – so that those who attend the game can locate themselves on the pic, tag it and upload it to Facebook and the like. What a wonderful way to support your country, and what a great way to prove you were there!’
Highveld, 702 and SuperSport will begin broadcasting details of how spectators can prepare for Saturday’s record attempt today (Wednesday). It is likely that the official attempt photography will take place at half time.
“Logistics being what they are at games of this stature, it is likely that the record attempt will take place at half time,’ said Dixon. “Of course, our team will be back in the dressing room preparing for the second half of the game but imagine what a rev they’ll get knowing that 90 000 South African flags are waving for them in that stadium. Once again, come on South Africa, get your flags out.’
