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SA 'well on track for 2010'
29/05/2006 20:49 - (SA)
David Masango
Kempton Park - A conference is underway to ensure that municipalities are able to contribute to the successful hosting of the 2010 Soccer World Cup, government news agency BuaNews reports.
The conference has also given other role-players, especially business, a chance to seize opportunities during preparations for the tournament and beyond, for which government will be spending over R400bn.
Key discussions are around issues of infrastructure development and construction, job creation and skills development, financing, public transportation, tourism, safety and security, broadcasting and marketing among others.
Addressing delegates, Graham Richards of the South African Local Government Association (Salga) told municipal officials that plans in this regard should be incorporated into their Integrated Development Plans (IDPs).
Address challenges
He emphasised that plans should be made not only to deliver a successful world tournament but in the long-term address a number of challenges facing the society.
Richards said: "The challenge to host the tournament is a national developmental opportunity. It is not about the people that will be coming here but about our developmental agenda."
Richards explained the project afforded government an opportunity to develop crucial infrastructure such as roads; to build human capital; to provide skills; develop youth and empower women as well as to build essential skills among others.
CEO of the FIFA Local Organising Committee (LOC) Danny Jordan said the tournament would have great spin-offs and a lot of economic opportunities for individuals, companies and government.
"Biggest ever"
Jordan said the world cup would be the "biggest ever", adding that the over 450 000 people were expected to come into the country for that.
Already, plans have advanced to either build or rebuild stadiums.
Among them are plans to construct a stadium at Mataffin, outside Nelspruit this year which is expected to cost about R600m.
Three existing stadia in South Africa's major metropolis, Gauteng, will be upgraded. These are Soccer City (FNB stadium), Ellis Park and Loftus Versfeld.
The Royal Bafokeng stadium in North West province will be upgraded, as will the Vodacom Park in Mangaung (Bloemfontein) in Free State province.
New arenas built
Five new arenas will be built or rebuilt. In Limpopo, the Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane will host some of the 2010 games.
A new stadium will also be built in the Nelson Mandela Metro (encompassing Port Elizabeth) in the Eastern Cape.
Kings Park stadium in the eThekwini Metro (encompassing Durban) will be rebuilt for the event, becoming also a multi-sports facility.
The Cape Town's Green Point stadium will be rebuilt, becoming a "totally new" multi-purpose sports facility complete with a dome, which will be able to open and close.
According to Jordan, cities should have strong tourism marketing plans to ensure fans remained in their areas.
"Safety and security is also a big issue that has to be looked into. There must be adequate personnel and vehicles at all times when they are needed," he said, citing that as some of the planning that had to be done.
He stressed that preparations should be part of the cities' strategic vision beyond 2010.
Jordan also played down concerns that South Africa would not be able to host a successful tournament, saying the process was well on track to meet the deadline. - BuaNews
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