SOUTH AFRICA: SOCCER - FIFA President Sepp Blatter says South Africa World Cup preparations are on time
Record ID:
452702
SOUTH AFRICA: SOCCER - FIFA President Sepp Blatter says South Africa World Cup preparations are on time
- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: SOCCER - FIFA President Sepp Blatter says South Africa World Cup preparations are on time
- Date: 17th September 2008
- Summary: SOWETO, GAUTENG, SOUTH AFRICA (SEPTEMBER 16, 2008) (REUTERS) VARIOUS SHOTS OUTSIDE FNB STADIUM UNDER CONSTRUCTION VARIOUS CONSTRUCTION WORKERS VARIOUS GUESTS LISTENING TO THE TOUR GUIDE SEPP BLATTER TALKING TO THE PARTNERS OF 2010 WORLD CUP (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA PRESIDENT, SEPP BLATTER "Sure we are on time and we have good weather. No, no we are on time, there is no problem. We are all very proud, we FIFA about the development of this World Cup 2010 FIFA welcome 2010 in South Africa. We have had this morning a discussion also with the chairman, Dr Khoza, with the Chief Executive Danny Jordan and president as just mentioned and I can tell you together with Secretary General of FIFA... he's working. So I can just say meeting of the board, directors, I'm a happy president." SEPP BLATTER SHAKING HANDS WITH THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS VARIOUS SHOTS INSIDE FNB STADIUM AND CONSTRUCTION TAKING PLACE
- Embargoed: 2nd October 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: South Africa
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA1SWZSWZ14VHF5LYSRFMD9LB9B
- Story Text: FIFA's president Sepp Blatter is upbeat about the 2010 World Cup tournament after a visit to the Soweto site, one of the venues for the competition.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter stressed that preparations for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa were on time, following a visit to the site of Soweto's Soccer City Stadium on Tuesday (September 16).
"Sure we are on time and we have good weather," he said during a four-day visit to meet political leaders and inspect stadium construction.
"We are all very proud, we FIFA, about the development of this World Cup 2010, FIFA welcome 2010 in South Africa," he added, reacting to concerns that preparation for the tournament was falling behind schedule.
Soccer City, also known as the FNB Stadium, is due to host both the opening and the final matches of the World Cup. The stadium, which has been the venue for many of the country's most memorable matches, is in the middle of being upgraded from a capacity of 80,000 to 94,700.
Five stadiums are undergoing major renovation work, with five new stadiums being built from scratch.
On Monday (September 15) Blatter expressed his concerns over the form of the South African team, which has dropped from 16th to 70th place in the FIFA rankings. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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