Organisers dismiss 2010 worries
2008-02-18 19:15
Johannesburg - South Africa is on track to host a successful 2010 Soccer World Cup, local organisers said on Monday, dismissing concerns that their efforts had been undermined by infighting, cost overruns and a power crisis.
"This World Cup can never fail," Irvin Khoza, chairperson of the 2010 local organising committee (LOC), told an emotional news conference in Johannesburg after officials from world soccer body Fifa had toured stadiums to be used at the finals.
"We'll go hand in hand to make sure this World Cup is a success," said Khoza, who urged the public not to become despondent over reports that preparations had hit serious roadblocks.
High levels of violent crime and fears that construction of the 10 World Cup stadiums would not be completed within the allocated budget or in time for the June 11, 2010 kick-off had cast a cloud over the country.
The mood darkened considerably in the past month in the wake of rolling nationwide power cuts that have left millions of people without electricity and forced industry, including large mines, to shut down or restrict power consumption.
South African officials have promised that the stadiums will have power for the tournament, with generators in place for all games, but worries remain that the crisis could give prospective overseas fans another reason to stay home.
The nation hopes to attract some 450 000 visitors to the tournament.
Local organisers also tried to calm jitters about personality clashes on the committee spearheading preparations.
Reports that Tim Modise, the marketing and communications chief, had resigned as a result of clashes with Danny Jordaan, the chief executive of the LOC, led to media speculation this month that the committee was consumed with internal feuding.
Modise said on Monday he had reconsidered his resignation and would continue in his position. "I continue to support this project, irrespective of my relationship with the organisation or with my employers," Modise said.