Pundits say South Africa stands to lose millions in revenue if negative reports continue to cast doubt on the country’s structural capacity to host the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
Senior officials at the South African Football Association, who spoke on condition of anonymity, argue that hidden behind Fifa president Sepp Blatter’s recent statements that he was worried there was no sign of picks and shovels to mark progress are attempts to galvanise local football administrators and the government into action.
They warn that once negative perceptions take root in the public mind, especially the international market, South Africa will be in a position similar to that of Athens — where persistent doubtful reports about Greece’s readiness resulted in the 2004 Olympic Games taking place in front of half-empty stadiums.
Construction delays in Athens almost ruined the games for the hosts. Thousands of people did not travel to the city because of negative stories that consistently said building was behind schedule.
Even though all the construction was eventually completed on time, the country lost a huge amount of revenue from hotels and tourism.
”Once the lines get too tight [the South African organisers] will lose public confidence,” said one pundit.
Local Organising Committee (LOC) chairperson Irvin Khoza tried to address this issue when he said on Tuesday that his office was trying to circumvent bureaucratic officialdom to finalise contracts.
At a media conference this week to counter yet again reports questioning whether South African will meet its 2010 World Cup obligations, LOC officials painstakingly tried to quell pessimism largely spawned by the government’s delay in releasing funds for work so stadium construction can begin.
But constant denial of stories is not enough, say pundits; the public needs to see finished products.
While LOC officials continue to say they cannot understand the roots of the misgivings because preparations are still falling within the allotted time frames, experts have warned of dire consequences should ambiguous signs of the country’s ability persist.
To help downplay public anxieties Fifa general secretary Urs Linsi — who was in South Africa this week — contradicted his boss Sepp Blatter’s criticism, saying: ”We are positive and we have no doubt that the 2010 World Cup will be played in South Africa.”
The chairperson of the German World Cup oranising committee, Franz Beckenbauer, retracted a statement last week that he doubted that South Africa would meet its commitments. Despite all these reassurances, the passage of time without any sign of concrete beginnings has heightened international concerns.
Khoza announced that stadium funding could reach R9-billion, with this figure depending on the final documents. All will be known in three weeks, when the parliamentary budget committee approves the contracts. Khoza said if the government releases the money — probably early next month — work will begin not later than January.
Five stadiums — Ellis Park, Loftus, Rustenburg, Bloemfontein and Nelson Mandela Bay — need to be ready by 2009, for the Confederations Cup.
Despite the delay in releasing funding two cities — Durban and Port Elizabeth — have started construction. Apparently in both areas the local councils have gone ahead with the funding hoping to be reimbursed by national government.