The latest Sport and Recreation Department progress report on the 2010 Soccer World Cup presented to the Cabinet on Wednesday confirms “it is all systems go”, government spokesperson Themba Maseko said on Thursday.
Briefing the media following Cabinet’s regular fortnightly meeting, he said all the stadiums were ready and in the process of being handed over to the host cities, well ahead of the Fifa requirement that they be handed over 15 days before the June 11 start of the tournament.
The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs had developed and finalised the 2010 disaster management plan in partnership with the National Disaster Management Centre.
Simulation exercises were being conducted to test the effectiveness of the plans, Maseko said.
“The ‘ticket frenzy’ that greeted the last phase of ticket sales was the clearest evidence yet that South Africans are indeed ready and excited about the World Cup,” he said.
Mass mobilisation efforts, such as Football Friday, fly the flag, road shows and the countdown were having the desired effect of inspiring South Africans to embrace “the biggest show on Earth”.
“Millions of South Africans are flying the national flag from their cars and wearing Bafana Bafana and other football shirts as a sign of their readiness to welcome the world during the World Cup.”
The Sport and Recreation Department was putting up billboards throughout the country and flighting adverts on various radio and TV stations to raise awareness and get increasing numbers of South Africans excited about the event.
President Jacob Zuma officially opened the newly revamped international terminal at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday, and Durban’s new King Shaka International Airport would be opened on May 1.
Economic boost
Meanwhile, foreigners will inject R13-billion into South Africa’s economy during the World Cup, helping the soccer spectacular boost economic growth by 0,5 percentage points.
The estimated gross economic impact for South Africa, including indirect spending and infrastructure built over the past four years, will be R93-billion, according to a study by accounting firm Grant Thornton.
But the bulk of this is internal government spending.
Gillian Saunders, who led the study, told journalists and economists on Wednesday that fewer foreign fans were expected to come than previously thought, but those that did would spend more compared with other tournaments like Germany in 2006.
With just less than 50 days to go before kick-off, football fever is growing in South Africa, but the global economic crisis, the tournament’s high cost as a long-haul destination and fears of violent crime have reduced the numbers of foreign fans.
“We have revised the figures post the worldwide recession and major ticket sales phases, and some of the numbers are encouraging,” Saunders said, presenting the study on the World Cup’s economic effect.
Grant Thornton has conducted in-depth research into the affect of the World Cup for South Africa, and its reports are seen as authoritative by other analysts.
The month-long soccer spectacular, the first in Africa, starts on June 11.
National and regional governments have spent about R40-billion on stadiums, transport and airports.
Foreign fans should spend about R8,8-billion in the country, and together with spending by governing body Fifa, other officials and teams, the economy will receive a R13-billion cash injection.
The study showed 373 000 foreigners were expected to visit South Africa for the tournament, about 230 000 of them ticket holders. This is higher than the most recent estimate by the local organisers of 200 000 foreign fans, but down on earlier predictions of 450 000 overseas visitors. — Sapa, Reuters