Jordaan: World Cup preparations on track

Preparations for the 2010 Soccer World Cup are well on schedule and the reported “Plan B” is dead, CEO of the local organising committee Danny Jordaan said on Wednesday.

“You didn’t call a funeral, but I know Plan B is dead,” said Jordaan of reports that the Cup may be moved to Australia.

Stadium construction was on track, although organisers anticipated disputes over bonuses as the Christmas holidays approach. They expected this to be only for a day or two.

“And we must accept that as part of our democratic culture in this country,” he told a media briefing in Johannesburg.

Ticket prices would remain at $10 for category four for the Confederations Cup next year and $20 for the World Cup, pegged at an exchange rate of R7 to the dollar.

“Therefore they will be R70 and R140 regardless of what happens to the rand.”

Category four is a ticket solely for sale to South African residents.

Further meetings are planned to raise the shortfall of R1,8-billion after the medium-term budget allocated an additional R1,4-billion towards the R3,2-billion overrun.

The impact of the global financial crisis on the event was not yet known. This was because the organisers didn’t know yet who the 32 qualifying teams would be and whether their supporters would follow them to the games.

Marketing head Derek Carstens said they were finalising the choice of companies who would do the opening and closing ceremonies, who would dress the stadium and who the master concessionaire would be at the stadiums.

“And yes, the famous vuvuzela will be allowed,” said ticketing head Leslie Sedibe.

The most popular ticket purchase was category four, with 53,4% of sales going to this category.—Sapa