All stadiums will have a construction company on site by the end of the week in preparation for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, the local organising committee (LOC) said on Monday.
LOC chairperson Irvin Khoza, CEO Danny Jordaan and Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile were briefing the media in Johannesburg after the LOC board meeting.
”All stadiums are well on course. The Fifa delegation was here, they inspected the stadiums and were satisfied,” Khoza said.
Stofile said the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the responsibility of Fifa, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the African Union and the whole of Africa in staging a successful World Cup.
Stofile said South African players deserved to be given an opportunity to develop.
People in rural areas should also benefit from the World Cup. ”They should participate in programmes, as volunteers, ushers and guides … it must be inclusive as possible.”
South Africa would celebrate CAF’s 50th anniversary in September as one of its four founding members, Stofile said. Celebrations had already been held in Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt.
The LOC meeting was attended by representatives from business, labour and government. — Sapa