The 2010 Soccer World Cup has become the benchmark against which everything in South Africa is measured, and this has forced the local organising committee to answer some difficult questions, its chief executive, Danny Jordaan, said on Tuesday.
The reason is that 2010 is not just about 90 minutes of football, but is part of the transformation of the country, Jordaan said at a conference in Johannesburg on the preparedness of the accommodation industry for the tournament.
”When there are water shortages in Polokwane, I must answer what is going to happen to 2010; when there are power outages [in the Western Cape], I must answer what is going to happen to 2010; now there are questions about what is going to happen to Mugabe and I must answer what is going to happen to 2010,” said Jordaan.
He said that although it is not always easy, he is glad to answer the questions.
”Post-2010 South Africa must be significantly better than pre-2010 South Africa,” Jordaan said.
One question he is no longer prepared to answer is whether or not the country will be hosting the tournament.
Highlighting the fact that the 2010 World Cup has already generated more than $3,5-billion, Jordaan said the South African event has already become the highest revenue earner in World Cup history.
He said the soil turning ceremony for the construction of the last of five new stadiums will take place in Polokwane on Friday.
”We have thus delivered on our promise to the world to start construction in the first half of this year.”
In the meantime, Adam Brown, senior executive of Match — the Fifa-appointed agency for ticketing and accommodation — said they will start looking for 30 000 additional rooms for accommodation in the next few weeks.
The agency already has 25 000 of the 55 000 rooms needed to accommodate officials, the media and fans.
”We will be able to deliver 55 000 rooms for 2010,” he said. — Sapa