The 2010 Soccer World Cup will test South Africa’s ”fiscal muscle”, but the country will not run out of money, the chief executive of the local organising committee said on Wednesday.
”We will never run out of money, we will not even run out of ideas … the project remains within budget,” Danny Jordaan told a 2010 National Communications Partnership Conference in Johannesburg.
He said ”innovation, flair and precision” are needed to ensure that timelines are achieved and the budget adhered to.
With South Africa being the first developing country to host the event in the post-1990 period, this will also put the country’s technical ability and infrastructure under the spotlight.
Jordaan praised the government for its ”high level of dedication, commitment and support”, which, in his experience, neither the Japanese nor the French governments had shown during their countries’ preparations for the World Cup.
He said much work has already been completed. Nine host cities have been confirmed, stadium contracts have been signed, legislation has been finalised, match schedules completed, all senior managers appointed and 95% of the broadcast rights have been sold.
Jordaan said the mascot has been chosen, but still needs a sex and a name.
The preliminary draw is scheduled for November 25.
With a nod to his detractors, Jordaan pointed out that the highest number of countries ever had entered for the event.
”If it’s not going to happen, why would 204 countries want to participate and win one of the 32 places?”
In Germany 2006, 197 had entered.
On transport, he said the country needs more buses, particularly luxury ones, to provide direct links between rural areas and big cities. This will be addressed with the aim of making sure it is a long-term solution.
”We must place whatever we do and build in the context of achieving sustainable economic growth in the future.”
On the stadiums, Jordaan said the organising committee is ”quite comfortable” with progress being made on Cape Town’s Green Point stadium.
Port Elizabeth’s Nelson Mandela stadium has to be completed in 24 months, when the international average is between 30 and 34 months. Polokwane’s venue will be finished before October 2009.
Five new stadiums were being built, one is receiving a major upgrade and there are already four existing ones.
”We are convinced that all these stadiums will be ready for 2010. If we do it on deadline we will be the first host in the world to complete all its stadiums on time.”
He said the bids by Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban to host the international broadcast centre have been sent to Fifa, which would ”soon” make its decision.
Efforts are also being made to ensure that the tickets, of which there will be about 3,5-million available, will be affordable. The cheapest ones had cost about R360 in Germany.
”I’m sure we are looking at something below that.”
Jordaan said about two million people had visited Germany for the 2006 World Cup, with 30% of them day trippers. The long distance meant that South Africa will likely receive less tourists, but that they would stay for longer.
On technology, Jordaan said the 2010 event will be broadcast in high-definition television and full broadcasts will be available on cellphones.
Ben Egbuna, president of the African Union of Broadcasters, said critics are looking forward to a ”flawed and mediocre” organisation of the tournament.
”Unfortunately, many commentators still regard Africa as one big country where all forms of crime are the rule.”
He said more effort is needed to surpass the standards set by previous hosts of the World Cup.
Inter-African flights in particular have to be improved.
He said that were it not for rotational hosting — where each continent is given a turn to host the event — and Fifa boss Sepp Blatter’s magnanimity, Africa’s desire to host the event would still remain a ”tantalising mirage”. — Sapa