You can't talk to her about the offside rule, but in all other respects, the South African Rene Olivier is an accomplished expert: In this interview with ContiSoccerWorld, the head of the PR and Communications department of Continental South Africa talks about the importance of soccer in her home country, about fan accessories for the upcoming World Cup that take a bit of getting used to, and about life in post-apartheid South Africa – she also talks about her brief career as a goalkeeper.

ContiSoccerWorld: Ms. Olivier, South Africa is really a rugby and cricket-playing nation, isn't it? How important is the FIFA World Cup for people in your country?

Rene Olivier: Oh, we can also get excited about things other than rugby! When we were selected to host the FIFA World Cup, a wave of euphoria swept through the country. After all, it's the second biggest sporting event in the world after the Olympic Games! However, the following thought then occurred to many people - myself included: How on earth are we going to put on this tournament? However, ever since the Confederations Cup in summer 2009 proved a great success as a dress rehearsal, even the greatest skeptics have now been won over to the view that South Africa will be able to host a perfect World Cup in 2010. It's going to be great - and I'm saying that as someone who doesn't even know all the rules. (She laughs.)

ContiSoccerWorld: So, what role does soccer play in South Africa, apart from the FIFA World Cup? Do people talk about the weekend's games at work on Monday mornings?

Rene Olivier: Well, of course South Africa isn't traditionally known as a soccer nation like many countries in Europe or Latin America. People do talk about soccer on Monday mornings, but generally speaking they're discussing how Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal got on. The English Premier League gets saturation coverage. I must say, however, that I even caught dyed-in-the-wool rugby fans watching matches in the Confederations Cup on the television. The World Cup is bound to give a real boost to the importance of soccer. Soccer fever is getting stronger, it's like a wedding: The event is getting closer, thousands of preparations are underway and the anticipation is growing from day to day. You can feel this throughout the country. In 1995, South Africa won the Rugby World Cup, which was held shortly after those crucial first free elections in 1994 when Nelson Mandela was elected president. Now, people are saying that the FIFA World Cup will play just as important a role in the country as the rugby version did back then.

ContiSoccerWorld: Fans in Europe are a bit worried that the FIFA World Cup will be an unforgettable event for the ears, above all else … in the Confederations Cup, the very loud noise levels from thousands of horn-blowing fans in the stadia could even be heard on the television coverage.

Rene Olivier: You mean the "vuvuzelas"? I'm afraid people will just have to get used to them. This horn is a traditional accessory of soccer fans with us. It's very irritating, I know. The players on the pitch in the Confed Cup couldn't hear one another's calls and the referee's whistle probably often couldn't be heard either. But, it's just part of the scene. My advice for all international fans is to get one of those things themselves - if you can't beat them, join them. And you need to practice in advance, because blowing one of those vuvuzelas isn't at all as easy as it looks.

ContiSoccerWorld: What else do soccer fans need to be aware of in South Africa?

Rene Olivier: As a tourist, you need to bear a few things in mind. You have to be careful about where you go and whom you mix with. Everyone arriving in the country is going to be given important rules about what places might be dangerous, and the hotels are going to be advising their guests as well. And you should follow these rules. Providing people do this, they will have a wonderful time. South Africa is an impressive country, and one which is, above all, quite different from what most people expect. There are breathtaking landscapes, monuments and natural wonders close to every stadium. Cape Town, for example, is a wonderfully beautiful metropolis, and everyone should stand at the top of Table Mountain once in their lives. Port Elizabeth, the city in which I live and work, is very pleasant and easy to find your way around. It is beautifully sited close to the ocean and you can watch the dolphins. Most hotels offer excursions to the surrounding area, which really shouldn't be missed.

ContiSoccerWorld: You are a South African born and bred. Are there still any echoes of apartheid in everyday life?

Rene Olivier: It will certainly take a lot up time until all the wounds are healed and we can really consign this part of our past to the history books. I am 38 years old, so I have experienced a lot of change. I expect that it will only really be the next generation that will be able to say that the bulk of the problems really does lie behind them. It's my daughter's sixth birthday today, and I really hope that by the time she is my age, she will be living in a unified society. I firmly believe that we will manage it, if we can concentrate on the positive aspects. If you only deal with the problems that still have to be overcome, you get stuck in a negative mindset which doesn't help the country at all.

ContiSoccerWorld: Let's change the topic: Tires are of course things that mostly men are interested in. There aren't many women in managerial positions in the tire industry. Do you feel at home with Conti?

Rene Olivier: I certainly do! I started out as the secretary for the National Sales Manager in Cape Town, but I soon changed over to work in the Marketing department. Seven years ago, I came to Port Elizabeth, initially as the assistant to the CEO. And since 2007 I have been in charge of public relations. But you're right, tires per se are not something that women have a lot to do with. But I find them extremely stimulating. And I hope that many more female colleagues will follow in my footsteps. You've got to be tough and know precisely what you want in order to survive in such a male-dominated environment. Fortunately, marketing is a straightforward department, and we all get on well with one another. Recently, however, a male colleague told a rude joke. "Hey, you lot," I said, "I'm here as well, and you're telling jokes like that." My co-worker just replied, "Rene, you're just one of the lads." I'm not sure whether I should take a statement like that as a compliment … but it was meant to be one, and we all laughed.

ContiSoccerWorld: Could I ask another personal question? At the start, you mentioned that you were not interested in soccer before the Confederations Cup in 2009. But our investigative research has revealed that you played in the ContiSoccerCup in 2006, the company soccer world championship organized by Continental. In fact, you were the goalie for the South African ladies' team…

Rene Olivier: (Bursts out laughing) That's right! But that doesn't mean I knew much about the game then. It was my first time on the pitch, as indeed for all my teammates. It was a lot of fun despite the fact that we were all total amateurs and everyone here in the company treated us as a bit of a joke at first. But we had an enthusiastic trainer who explained the rules to us and shaped us into a team. However, I must say he came fairly close to a nervous breakdown on a couple of occasions during that year. (Laughs) But in the end, we were so successful that we made it to the final round in Hanover. Nevertheless, we were soon made aware of our limitations there. I regret that we're not involved this time around - with all the preparations for the World Cup, we don't have any time left over for this fun.

ContiSoccerWorld: What are the particularly vivid impressions from your brief career as a goalkeeper?

Rene Olivier: That it really hurts when you get the ball in the face! And that it isn't as easy as you might think at first sight.

ContiSoccerWorld: It's a very clichéd question, but I'll ask it in any case: Can you explain the offside rule?

Rene Olivier: No! It's the one rule that I really never got my head around. But it doesn't matter, as a goalie I only had to know one thing: The ball must not cross the line.

Contact

Alexander Luehrs

Head of Media & Public Relations / Passenger & Light Truck Tire Division

Continental AG

Phone: +49 (0) 511 - 938 2615

Fax: +49 (0) 511 – 938 2455

E-Mail: alexander.luehrs@conti.de

www.ContiSoccerWorld.de

http://mediacenter.conti-online.com