With exactly one year to go before the 2010 FIFA World Cup kicks off, the celebrations are already underway with an event taking place this evening at the Green Point stadium in Cape Town to mark the historic occasion.

President Jacob Zuma, currently attending the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa in Cape Town, will visit the stadium on Thursday alongside Premier Helen Zille, Executive Mayor Dan Plato and Danny Jordaan, CEO of Fifa's Local Organising Committee.

The same evening, Executive Mayor Dan Plato is hosting a cocktail party at Hamilton's Rugby Field for hundreds of VIP guests, including some of the world's most influential leaders who are attending the WEF conference.

There are various other events also planned for the rest of the weekend to celebrate the milestone, including a motorcycle rally that will make their way from the Green Point stadium to the Football for Hope Centre in Harare.

Green Point Stadium, which is believed to be costing about R4.5-billion to build, is about 70% complete and is due to be handed over on December 14.