South African Fan Fest sites draw 250,000 people


JOHANNESBURG (AP) -More than 250,000 fans watched South Africa's 1-1 draw with Mexico at 10 official Fan Fest viewing sites across the World Cup host nation.

Johannesburg city officials on Saturday ordered extra security at Innes Free Park after some fans broke through a fence to watch the tournament's opening match on giant screens.

No injuries were reported among the capacity 35,000 spectators in the park in the up-market Sandton suburb, city operations director Christa Venter said.

Fans also gathered in public viewing areas, including 15,000 at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Johannesburg.

FIFA said 100,000 fans attended six international Fan Fest parks on Friday, including 50,000 in Mexico City. The others are in Berlin, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Rome and Sydney.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/soccer/wires/06/12/2080.ap.soc.wcup.fanfests.0255/index.html#ixzz0qdjsGIw5