South Africa will not only produce the best World Cup next June, but also the noisiest — and there will be no security problems at all.
That was the promise made by 2010 local organising committee (LOC) CEO Danny Jordaan at a special media briefing in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
Jordaan said the LOC had no fears over security for fans and teams for both the Confederations Cup, which starts in four days’ time, and the World Cup, which kicks off in 12 months, on Thursday June 11 2010.
Said Jordaan: ”We have hosted 146 high-profile events — including rugby and cricket world cups — and more recently the IPL cricket tournament, and we are about to host the Confederations Cup and the British and Irish Lions rugby team are touring our country.
”We have not had a single incident in those 146 events. The fans are going to be celebrating football, and with our vuvuzelas [we] are going to make both events really memorable.”
Jordaan added the LOC had complete faith in the South African private security firm that is looking after fans, teams and officials during both the Confederations Cup and World Cup.
”It is because of our strange past that we have among the best and highly trained private security people in the world. There will always be criminal elements, no matter where a major event is played, but we have taken every precaution.”
He added no fan or team should fear for their safety at either soccer event.
Jordaan also told the media that apart from Green Point Stadium in Cape Town, all the other nine stadiums to be used for the World Cup would be ready by October. The new stadium in Port Elizabeth, the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, has already been completed.
Said Jordaan: ”The PE stadium is a world first in that it was completed more than 12 months before the World Cup starts. In my opinion it is the best stadium in the world.
”As regards Green Point, we lost four months with negotiations with environmentalists and it will be ready on time.”
But Jordaan admitted when it came to strike action, such as the one planned in Nelspruit, he had no control. ”Strikes happen all over the world and we simply have to deal with them.”
Jordaan said the Confederations Cup, which is a dress rehearsal for the 2010 showpiece, was heading for success.
He said by Thursday all the teams will have arrived. Bafana and Iraq kick off the tournament, billed as the ”Festival of Champions”, at Coca-Cola Park in the opening Group A match on Sunday at 4pm.
”Despite all the doubters from the overseas media, both the Confederations Cup and the hosting of the first World Cup in Africa is a reality,” said Jordaan.
Jordaan disclosed the Bafana versus Iraq match was heading for a sell-out, with 85% of tickets sold.
Bafana’s next Group A clash, against New Zealand in the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on June 17, had sold 57% of its tickets, and the Bafana versus Spain showdown in Bloemfontein was looking good with 83% of the tickets for the clash being sold by Wednesday.
Jordaan stressed the spirit in the country would be friendly and enthusiastic.
”The fact we were overwhelmed by 40 000 applications for volunteers for 4 000 jobs, underlines that fact.
”We are going to get a taste of what is to come in 12 months during the next two weeks with the Confederations Cup, which hosts not just our own Bafana, but our fans are going to see some of the greatest stars in world soccer.” — Sapa