News
2010 more than just a game – Govt
21 August - The 2010 Fifa World Cup to be hosted in South Africa should be used as a vehicle to send new images to the world about the people of South Africa and the African continent alike, media delegates in Beijing have heard.
World Cup to boost SA tourism
21 August - South African tourism and leisure sectors are set to benefit from the country’s hosting of the 2010 Fifa World Cup™, Deputy Minister of Finance Jabulani Moleketi said on Thursday.
SA police promise safe World Cup
19 August - South African National Deputy Police Commissioner Andre Pruis says the 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup™ and the 2010 Fifa World Cup™ to be held in South Africa will be safe.
Media to scrutinise 2010 preparations
15 August - A contingent of international and local media representatives has been invited to put preparations for the 2010 Fifa World Cup™ under the microscope in Beijing, the Department of Sport and Recreation said in a statement on Friday.
2010 lessons from Olympic volunteers
15 August - Potential volunteers for the 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup™ and 2010 Fifa World Cup™ to be hosted in South Africa will have to be on top of their game to ensure that crucial areas of operations are well-manned during the events.
SA must unite to make 2010 a success - govt
13 August - With less than 666 days left before the biggest soccer event on the African continent kicks off, government has called on South Africans to come together and share the vision of making it a memorable success.
Fifa: Nothing can go wrong in 2010
12 August - Fifa boss Sepp Blatter has once again reiterated his confidence in South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 Fifa World Cup™ saying the event will change the face of the tournament.
Beijing comes alive with Olympic spirit
12 August - Giant outdoor screens brandishing the Olympic circles, sports memorabilia, Chinese flags, strict traffic flow protocol, heavy police presence, branded commodities, scores of tourists, giant official mascots, late night food markets, and game.
LOC gets ball rolling at Host Cities
06 August - The 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa™ Organizing Committee has announced the appointment of eight Organising Committee Venue Managers in a move aimed at dispersing its operations to host city level.
2010 boss for Soccerex
05 August - Soccerex have announced that Danny Jordaan, CEO of the 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa™ Organizing Committee will be participating at the 2008 Soccerex Conference programme.
Volunteer applications hit 20 000
04 August - More than 20 000 South Africans have applied to volunteer during the 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup™ tournament, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) Volunteer Programme said on Friday.
2010 security exercises in Bloemfontein
04 August - South African law enforcement agencies will hold joint security exercises in Bloemfontein in preparation for the 2010 Fifa World Cup™, South African Police Service (SAPS) said in a statement on Sunday.
Message by Deputy President Jacob Zuma at the 2010 World Cup Bid Farewell Banquet
Vodaworld, MidrandOn the eve of the important announcement of the country to host the Soccer World Cup in 2010, we have gathered, to bid farewell to our hard working Bid team.
As we send our delegation to this crucial assignment, we are confident of a positive outcome, and with good reason. We have over the last few years not sat on our laurels. We took the challenge of losing the 2006 Bid in our stride, went straight back to work, and delivered one of the biggest bid campaigns to convince the world that we are ready to host the 2010 tournament.
The sterling work so far done by the 2010 World Cup Bid Committee was only recently confirmed by a FIFA Technical Committee Report that pitched South Africa above the rest of the contenders from our continent. South Africa is the only African country with the potential to host "an excellent World Cup in Africa in 2010," said the report.
And the Technical Report further confirmed what every South African intimately knows, that sport in our country continues to build bridges by uniting the nation in the manner never before seen. This was apparent on every occasion that the many FIFA delegations visited our country during this campaign.
We are also especially blessed today, Distinguished Guests, to have Madiba in our midst and we are sure that the delegation we send today will be fully armed with the Madiba magic, whose wonders we have all seen. We are very grateful Tata for the support you have demonstrated and the many endeavours you continue to undertake on behalf of South Africa and all our people. As the first president of our democracy, you reminded us this morning at the Joint Sitting of Parliament that South Africa continues to inspire us "to celebrate our own demonstration of the capacity of human beings to progress, to go forward, to improve, to do better". As we celebrate both your life and your leadership, and a decade of democracy, we are certain that there can be no better gift to give you than securing the World Cup 2010 that today Africa and South Africa in particular deserves.
We therefore send this delegation to Zurich to promise FIFA and the world's soccer-loving nations a spectacular event in the true fashion, spirit, flair and vibrancy of the Rainbow Nation.
There is not a slightest doubt that South Africa is a truly soccer-loving nation, and we know that the masses of our people would fill up every stadium to capacity when the World's biggest football showpiece is brought to our shores.
The benefits of this prospect to our nation would be so enormous that we would take the whole evening, outlining what contribution hosting the World Cup would make to our programme of alleviating poverty, creating jobs and generally in social upliftment.
Not to mention the name we would have carved for South Africa and Africa in the global world, including the impact on the eradication of stereotypes and Afropessimism.
The economic spin offs of this tournament for the SADC region are enormous, and it will fit in with our objectives of working for the sustainable development not only of our country but that of our continent as well. Our victory is therefore the victory of our sister countries in this region as well.
Mr Irvin Khoza, Mr Danny Jordaan and the whole team have done exceptionally well once again in executing this crucial national duty. As you embark on the journey to Zurich this week, the whole of South Africa is fully behind you.
The South African flag will be anxiously waiting to hit the breeze, to fly higher and higher, as the much-awaited announcement is made in our favour on Saturday.
Our streets are waiting to come alive with excitement from Cape Town to Durban, Tzaneen to Kimberley, Port Elizabeth to Mafikeng, Nelspruit to Bloemfontein and Johannesburg.
Sinifisela inhlanhla! Sithi hambani zinsizwa niye e-Europe nibuye nayo!
I thank you.
Issued by: The Presidency
10 May 2004