FOR fans who have no tickets for the World Cup opening ceremony today and subsequent matches, Fan Fests are the closest experience to a stadium feel they will get.

Public viewing areas (PVAs) have also been set up.

lIn Johannesburg, Soweto's Elkah Stadium in Moroka can accommodate 40000 fans, and Innesfree Park in Sandton on Harris Road can host 20000 people.

Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown will be the official public viewing area. At least 22000 people can gather there.

The City of Joburg and its partners have set up nine township viewing sites with 4mx3m television screens.

Safe and secure venues with 24-hour security have been organised at Diepsloot Park, with a capacity of 4000; Kremtart Park - capacity - 6000; Diepkloof Park - capacity - 1000; Ivory Park - capacity 6000; Rose Park in Lenasia - capacity 6000; Joubert Park in the inner city - capacity 4000; Thokoza Park in Soweto - capacity 6000; Dube Park in Soweto - capacity 5000; and Orange Farm Regional Park - capacity 6000.

l In Tshwane, the Temba Sports Ground in Hammanskraal and Giant Stadium in Soshanguve will be used as public viewing areas.

l Mpumalanga has also come to the party.

In Nkangala, there will be a PVA at Themba Senamela Stadium in Mhluzi, which will show the Bafana-Mexico and Uruguay-France matches today starting at 4pm and 8.30pm respectively.

The final will be shown at Kameelrivier Stadium in the Dr JS Moroka Municipality on July 11.

Gert Sibande residents will feel the vibe at eMbalenhle Stadium, with the showing of the Group H match between Honduras and Chile at 1.30pm, the Bafana-Uruguay match at 4pm, and Spain versus Switzerland at 8.30pm.

Another PVA in the region will be set up at Mayflower Stadium in Albert Luthuli Municipality, where fans can watch Bafana versus France at 4pm and Nigeria versus Korea at 8.30pm.

Ehlanzeni will host PVAs at Thulamahashe and KaMhlushwa stadiums in which all Bafana Bafana, quarterfinals, semifinals and the final matches will be shown.

l At Limpopo's NkowaNkowa Stadium, Giyani Stadium, Shongwane Sports Ground, Thohoyandou Stadium, Ntwampe Sports Ground and Hlogotlou, select games will be shown.

l KwaZulu-Natal fans can watch from Pietermaritzburg's Ndumiso College Sports Ground; Empangeni's eSikhawini College; Ladysmith's Ezakheni College Sports Ground; Port Shepstone's Gamalakhe-Sayidi FET College; Zululand's Ulundi Stadium; Greytown's Nhlalakahle Sports Ground; Stanger's KwaDukuza Sports Ground; Kokstad's Bhongwoni Soccer Stadium; Mtubatuba's KwaMasame Sports Ground; and at

Newcastle's Osizweni Sports Ground.

l Western Cape fans can enjoy the festivities from Vygieskraal Stadium, Athlone; Bellville Velodrome, Bellville with a capacity of 6000; Swartklip Sports Complex, Mitchells Plain, with a capacity of 36000; OR Tambo, Khayelitsha, with a capacity of 5000.

l In Free State, the Fifa Fan park will be at Mangaung Sports Centre. The two public viewing areas are Mabana Stadium in Thaba Nchu and Botshabelo Stadium in Botshabelo.

l St George's Park Cricket Stadium, Park Drive in Port Elizabeth, Nelson Mandela Bay, will be the official Fan Fest.

The rest of Eastern Cape will have Port St John's Old Military Base, Grahamstown's Miki Yili Stadium, Cofimvaba Stadium, Lady Grey's Kwezi Naledi Hall, Matatiele's Northend Stadium, Mdantsane's Sisa Dukashe Stadium, Lusikisiki's Jikindaba Senior Secondary School as PVAs.

l In North West, Fields College in Rustenburg will be the official Fan Fest.

Other PVAs will be at Mafikeng Stadium, Maquassi Hills Stadium, Vryburg Showgrounds in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati Municipality, and Makapanstadt Stadium and Tsitsing Village in Bojanala Municipality.