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.
6 September 2007
SA starts 1000-days countdown to 2010 kick-off
Themba GadebeSoweto - In exactly 1000 days from Friday, 14 September, over a decade of planning and anticipation would have been realised when the first FIFA World Cup™ to be held on African soil, kicks off in South Africa.
Speaking today (Thursday) ahead of this historic milestone, Chief Executive Officer of the 2010 FIFA Organising Committee (OC) Danny Jordaan, assured that the South African construction sector had the capacity to build stadia for the event on time.
"We might have certain difficulties in the process because there's nothing we can do if there's a strike or the truck could not deliver the cement, but there is capacity in the construction industry and I'm confident we'll finish on time," he said.
On Saturday, 15 September, all nine host cities will be staging celebratory events, with the main one being hosted in Tshwane.
President Thabo Mbeki is expected to speak at the event with other major role-players, including Dr Jordaan, OC chairperson Irvin Khoza, Minister of Sport Makhenkisi Stofile, Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad and Deputy Minister of Finance Jabu Moleketi.
The countdown event is seen as an opportunity to update the South African and international public about the progress made in the quest to deliver a successful world cup.
Dr Jordaan said the celebrations would give respective host cities an opportunity to report on their state of preparedness.
The event signals an operational phase, triggering the country to be ready for the Confederations Cup which will be held in 2009.
The 2010 CEO explained that already four stadiums earmarked for the Confederations Cup were ready for the tournament, with only one stadium in Port Elizabeth currently under construction.
"The stadium must be completed in 24 months which is the tight timeline because the normal time to complete a stadium is between 31 and 34 months."
He further explained that five other stadiums that were being built from scratch were within the set timelines, with the Soccer City stadium being ahead of the schedule.
Soccer City is the venue for the opening and closing match of the world cup.
The four other stadiums currently being built are Green point in Cape Town, Mbombela in Nelspruit, Peter Mokaba Sport Complex in Polokwane and Moses Mabhida in Durban.
The existing four that are merely receiving minor facelifts are Loftus in Pretoria, Ellis Park in Johannesburg, Royal Bafokeng in Rustenburg and Vodacom Park in Bloemfontein.
"We also have established a Host City Forum that sits on a monthly basis to discuss progress in the respective cities
"The Special Measures Bill that looks at issues of VISAs …and working permits is also in place," he said.
He further indicated that a committee had been established to deal with ambush marketing.
With the Confederations Cup even closer, taking place in 2009, he said the match schedules and team alOCation had been finalised.
Issues of the business plan, mascot and slogan are also finalised while the broadcast rights are nearly complete.
He guaranteed that South Africans will view the match on High Definition TV as well as full broadcasts on their mobile phones.
Source: BuaNews