SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: FIFA releases details of tickets sales for the World Cup
Record ID:
452709
SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: FIFA releases details of tickets sales for the World Cup
- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: FIFA releases details of tickets sales for the World Cup
- Date: 10th April 2010
- Summary: SOWETO, SOUTH AFRICA (APRIL 09, 2010) (REUTERS) ***CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** CLOSE UP OF ELEPHANT SCULPTURE AND CAMERA PANNIG TO EXTERIOR OF MAPONYA MALL EXTERIOR OF MAPONYA MALL INTERIOR OF MAPONYA MALL BANNER - 'FIFA TICKETING CENTRE' VARIOUS OF INTERIOR OF MAPONYA MALL FIFA OFFICIALS AT MEDIA CONFERENCE SLIDE DISPLAYING TICKETING INFORMATION (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICA 2010 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER DANNY JORDAAN SAYING: "I don't think it would be correct to say that the continent does not, did not show any interest. I think the issues that we've raised is common knowledge. One is accessibility in that in many of the African countries you cannot get on a plane directly to South Africa. In some cases, you actually have to travel to Europe to come here. That's an issue to address, to see - can have charter flights? You can buy the ticket but you have to come here. So there were addition measures that we had to deal with to open the possibility that fans on the continent can buy tickets and come and those measures are in place. We've gone around the countries, starting with the six qualifying nations, and have been dealing with these issues and I think we will see a significant improvement in that area." SLIDE DISPLAYING FIFA TICKETING INFORMATION (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICA 2010 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER DANNY JORDAAN SAYING: "The cost question is quite a key question because there's no doubt the African continent, the desirability is there. You don't have to explain in any African country what the World Cup is all about. But its all the other barriers and cost is an issue, that's what I have said. That we have to look at why must a fan from Abidjan fly to Paris to fly to Johannesburg to come and watch the match." SLIDE DISPLAYING TICKETING INFORMATION JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA SECRETARY GENERAL JEROME VALKE SAYING: "Definitely we are not worried about Soccer City, for the opening (game) and the final, we are not worried about the matches in Cape Town because they are sold out. We are not worried about the matches involving the USA, England or Brazil or Portugal or some other matches. There are a few matches getting a lower interest but it's not because they are in a stadium specifically, its because the teams are getting less interest than other teams so that's where we have to do more work." MEDIA CONFERENCE JORDAN AND VALKE LISTENING TICKET COLLETION POINT STAND VALKE AND JORDAAN HOLDING A GIANT SOCCER TICKET MORE OF SLIDE WITH FIFA INFORMATION VALKE AND JORDAAN HOLDING A GIANT SOCCER TICKET JORDAAN HOLDING A GIANT SOCCER TICKET
- Embargoed: 25th April 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: South Africa
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA3H7GU3MWUEII3JYYCJMV71XWS
- Story Text: FIFA and local organisers of South Africa's World Cup have admitted work remains as they seek to ensure stadiums are full for matches involving some of the less glamourous teams.
South Africa 2010 CEO Danny Jordaan revealed to reporters on Friday (April 9) that giving Africans from right around the continent the chance to see matches in the tournament live is also proving problematic.
"I don't think it would be correct to say that the continent does not, did not show any interest. I think the issues that we've raised is common knowledge," he said.
"One is accessibility, in that in many of the African countries you cannot get on a plane directly to South Africa. In some cases, you actually have to travel to Europe to come here.
"So there were addition measures that we had to deal with to open the possibility that fans on the continent can buy tickets and come and those measures are in place.
"We've gone around the countries, starting with the six qualifying nations, and have been dealing with these issues and I think we will see a significant improvement in that area."
Jordaan added that financial barriers also existed, particularly with those supporting the Africans teams.
"The cost question is quite a key question because there's no doubt the African continent, the desirability is there," he said.
"You don't have to explain in any African country what the World Cup is all about. But it's all the other barriers and cost is an issue.
"That we have to look at why must a fan from Abidjan fly to Paris to fly to Johannesburg to come and watch the match."
FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valke also attended Friday's media briefing on tickets and said he was satisfied with sales for games involving the likes of the USA, England and Brazil but the hard slog remained ensuring the full house signs went up to some of the less glamorous group games.
"Definitely we are not worried about Soccer City, for the opening (game) and the final, we are not worried about the matches in Cape Town because they are sold out," Valke said.
"We are not worried about the matches involving the USA, England or Brazil or Portugal or some other matches.
"There are a few matches getting a lower interest but it's not because they are in a stadium specifically, its because the teams are getting less interest than other teams so that's where we have to do more work. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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