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Green Point 2010 sod-turning
20/03/2007 16:25 - (SA)
Vivian Warby
Cape Town - A year ago everyone stood on different ground when it came to the building of a stadium in Cape Town for 2010.
At times it even looked as though Cape Town would be dropped completely as one of the cities earmarked to host the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
But on Tuesday, to thunderous applause, the Metropolitan Golf Club site on Green Point Common was blessed as the place where the new Green Point stadium will be built.
With soil blessed by members of various faith groups and sod turned by Cape Town Major Helen Zille and Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool, the land was handed over to joint contractors Murray & & Roberts and WBHO to start the building of the R2.8bn 68&Nbsp;000-seater stadium.
At the combined sod-turning and blessing of the soil ceremony on Tuesday, Premier Rasool said: "At times we never thought we'd reach today. Just over a year ago we stood on different ground. That we're here today is a victory of opportunity for all over the interests of some."
He further said the Western Cape has shifted from being an afterthought to the World Cup to being a welcoming moment for the world's biggest soccer spectacle.
Multi-purpose stadium
"It has gone from being one venue in the World Cup to being a semi-final venue. That we're here today has demonstrated that it's possible when we all pull together. This is what great unity can achieve in a fractious Western Cape," he added.
The R2.8bn stadium will in its completion be a 68 000-seater, multi-purpose stadium built in time to host a semi-final of the 2010 Fifa World Cup match.
"What the contractors will now build is only the cheese in the trap. What it needs to catch for us is R7bn in public transport legacy in the Western Cape, R12bn investment in hotels and tourism in the Western Cape, R21bn in GDP as we begin to turnover tourists, before after and during the World Cup," Premier Rasool said.
He said it was a signal to Fifa and to the world that Cape Town was ready to meet all obligations for 2010.
"The debate is closed (on where the stadium will be built), the fight has ended, now we are in the position of a wonderful opportunity to leave a legacy behind of not only transport, hotels, work opportunities, skills but also enjoyment," Premier Rasool added.
Afro-pessimism to the dustbin of history
City of Cape Town Executive mayor Helen Zille said that with all the other things that the stadium and 2010 could do, it could also throw Afro-pessimism to the dustbin of history.
"We can show the world that Africans can do it. That we can get it right, that we can be professional, on time and that we can co-operate and do it all in style and with the type of parties you couldn't imagine anywhere else in the world," mayor Zille said.
<>"It is a red letter day for Cape Town. It shows that we've arrived, we're here," she said, adding that without the co-operation between herself, Premier Rasool and other stakeholders, today would not have been possible.
Thanking everyone, she made a special thanks to Investec Bank who came to the financial rescue of Cape Town when it looked as though the mother city would have to give up its bid as one of the 2010 Fifa World Cup venues. BuaNews
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