WITH exactly 700 days to go until World Cup 2010 kick-off, South Africa
has fewer than 500 working days left to complete preparations, but Nelson
Mandela Bay officials are confident of meeting all deadlines.
Despite concern this week following Fifa president Sepp Blatter's comment
about a 'plan B' being in place should South Africa be unable to stage
the tournament, 2010 chief organiser Danny Jordaan dismissed this as 'old
news'.
With an estimated 482 working days remaining until the event, the Bay's
Fifa World Cup directorate says it has every confidence the event will
be a success - as long as no 'acts of God' interfere.
Local organising committee executive director Errol Heynes said this week
that although the construction of the stadium was on a tight schedule,
everything was on track to have the mammoth structure in North End finished
on time.
And at a recent 2010 stakeholders forum meeting, Mzukisi Skade from the
Nelson Mandela Bay municipality's 2010 office, said the bulk of the construction
would be completed by December this year.
'I don't see any reason why the World Cup cannot happen in South Africa.
Anyone would have a plan B or even a plan C for such a major event. It
doesn't mean plan A is in jeopardy,' said Heynes.
There was consternation when Blatter said before the Euro 2008 final between
Germany and Spain last Sunday there was a 'plan B'.
World Cup local organising committee chief executive Jordaan said: 'I
got numerous calls from SA journalists wanting to know what is going on.
Well, nothing at all - this is old news ... I have spoken to Blatter and
he reaffirmed only God can prevent SA staging the World Cup.'
Heynes said Port Elizabeth's stadium would be fully complete by March
next year. 'We were the only host city that had to build a stadium from
scratch, so obviously our schedule was tight to begin with.'
The 48000-seater stadium will be used for three major events before the
Confederations Cup to test the stadium's amenities. 'We will only know
the toilets work properly and that there is enough parking etc, after
we have had a few thousand people using the facility.'
The first event, expected to be a Bay United soccer match, will allow
between 5000 and 10000 spectators to try out the new stadium. The second
event, expected to be a rugby match, will see at least 15000 spectators
attending and the third undecided event is hoped to test the stadium's
capabilities with between 25000 and 35000 people.
The stadium's roof, being assembled in Kuwait, is expected to be installed
by January next year.
Heynes said the committee was finalising details around transport issues,
including a bus rapid transport system. 'The idea is to have a similar
system to tubes overseas - except this one would be on wheels.'
He added that the success of the World Cup depended on assistance from
members of the public.
'An event like this will make or break you as a city. We need members
of the public to assist if tourists are looking for directions, or even
just to smile at foreigners and make them feel welcome,' he said.
Heynes said 'fan embassies' would be established around Port Elizabeth
at various clubs like the German, Italian and Portuguese clubs to make
visitors feel at home.
Fifa this week also launched a volunteer programme allowing members of
the public to register as official volunteers for the Confederation's
Cup. The volunteer programme for this event is the first step towards
recruitment of around 15000 volunteers for the World Cup. 'Those wanting
to be official volunteers can register on our website.'
With mounting concern over crime, Jordaan was this week adamant high crime
rates would not affect the event. 'I do not believe we will have one security
problem at the Confederations Cup or the World Cup.' The Confederations
Cup, a dry run for the World Cup, takes place from June 14 to June 28
next year.
