The 2010 Fifa World Cup is a prestigious and much anticipated international sporting event. South Africa has been granted the opportunity to host this event in nine cities and 10 stadia across the country.
This has generated much speculation among the South African public. The talk runs along the lines of what can be expected in the lead-up to and during 2010. Will South Africa be able to successfully organise and stage such a mega-event? More importantly, how will this world event benefit South Africans?
The proof of success will ultimately lie in the event itself, but the sound basis from which the event is planned is crucial.
The initial support received has been overwhelming. The lead times are tight but this would be the case for any event of this scale. All preparations thus far are ahead of the deadlines.
For example, the host cities and match venues have been selected and approved by Fifa a year in advance of the due date. Importantly, the host cities have shown their commitment to the process through the signature of the host-city agreements. Each agreement outlines the proposed mechanism for engagement between the host cities, the local organising committee and Fifa. Coordination is crucial among the role players.
The host city is the direct face of the event and as such there is much emphasis on the benefits that will accrue to the metropoles. The exchange of ideas for ensuring a viable host city are numerous — mostly through the global television exposure for the region — as well as other marketing and merchandising benefits, and through the indirect benefits of tourism spending.
The achievement of these benefits will be facilitated by the integration of the existing plans (such as for transport and infrastructure) of the host cities with the readiness requirements for hosting the 2010 Fifa World Cup. This event will simply be the impetus for fast-tracking current plans and policies. The accelerated time periods are all achievable and will ultimately establish a sound foundation for South Africa to market itself as an international destination for tourists, trade and investment.
The fast-track development requirements will have the added benefit of creating a foundation for additional employment opportunities. One process under way is the transportation plans for the host cities. In January 2005 the Department of Transport issued a policy document outlining the synergies with existing transportation plans and the proposed way forward in expediting all obligations.
More recently, the Department of Communications announced that the media requirements for the World Cup would be scrutinised in greater detail to prepare the communications infrastructure. The local organising committee’s activities must therefore dovetail with those of the government and other role players in the broadcast of the World Cup. The SABC has agreed that there will be testing of the broadcast infrastructure, and this is expected to occur shortly
The stadium construction process will be the next key challenge. The stadium authorities are all well aware of the time requirements for construction, and the preparation of construction plans is under way.
The time spent on planning is fundamental and we believe that with this in place there will be clear direction for 2010 and all the attendant requirements. We envisage that the planning phase will be completed by September of this year. The funding requirements for stadium construction have been canvassed with the role players, and the government has agreed to allocate certain funds to construction costs. The government will necessarily require the assurance that the funds are appropriately distributed and the outcome of the planning phase will further assist in any assessment.
The government is committed to assisting with the organisation of the World Cup in terms of the guarantees issued in favour of Fifa. The allocation of construction costs by the government reinforces this position.
Having due regard to the inherent complexities associated with the construction process, the local organising committee has and will continue to proactively engage with the stadium authorities and the host cities. Regular interactions are vital to ensure that the processes are all streamlined. We believe that we are well on the way to achieve this and have arranged a number of workshops where the issues pertaining to construction obligations and funding have been canvassed. The host cities will also be sending delegations to the 2006 Fifa World Cup to gather information and experience.
Ultimately, a positive approach must be taken in the organisation of an event such as the World Cup. This is an opportunity that cannot be missed and there are no second chances. Therefore, while there are going to be times when there are taxing challenges, we must stand strong. We have all committed to this process, and the positive aspects of using 2010 as another change agent for South Africa must be harnessed. It is this attitude that must be fostered, and we believe that we are well on track to achieving our goals.
Danny Jordaan is CEO of the 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa organising committee