- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - FIFA defends World Cup facilities
- Date: 24th February 2010
- Summary: SUN CITY, SOUTH AFRICA, (FEBRUARY 23, 2010) (REUTERS) FIFA WORLD CUP 2010 LOGO FIFA TEAM WORKSHOP BANNER WIDE SHOT OF THE 32 COACHES POSING FOR THE MEDIA BRAZIL COACH CARLOS DUNGA AND SOUTH AFRICAN COACH CARLOS ALBERTO PARREIRA AT PHOTO OPPORTUNITY ENGLAND COACH FABIO CAPELLO ITALIAN COACH MARCELLO LIPPI SPAIN COACH VICENTE DEL BOSQUE GERMAN COACH, JOACHIM LOEW VARIOUS OF OTHER COACHES COACHES MINGLING FIFA GENERAL SECRETARY JEROME VALCKE AND SOUTH AFRICA 2010 CHIEF DANNY JORDAAN ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE MEDIA SEATED DURING THE NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA GENERAL SECRETARY JEROME VALCKE SAYING: "We have 108 days to go, and yes we have a few challenges, yes we have to do a few things around in South Africa but we will do it. If your question is, are you ready to host the world cup tomorrow morning, can we start the world cup tomorrow morning, my answer is no and it's normal." JORDAAN ADDRESSING THE NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA WORLD CUP SOUTH AFRICA 2010 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER DANNY JORDAAN SAYING: "As you know we are just coming out of a session with the 32 participating team and the coaches, and overall they are very happy. I just want to show you the base camp that has been in discussion and what we have seen as opposed to what has been presented. I was there with Jerome Valcke, we had dinner there, we had lunch there, it is a fully operational venue and we have asked that we can go back there, so that we can see the reality." PICTURE OF THE ROYAL BAFOKENG SPORTS ACADEMY, BASE CAMP FOR ENGLAND (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA WORLD CUP SOUTH AFRICA 2010 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER DANNY JORDAAN SAYING: "We have said that we are going to complete all of our stadiums, the government has invested more that 3 billion Euros, and all of the stadiums are complete. Not withstanding sceptism and judgement calls which were made that the stadiums would never be complete, that we will run out of money before the stadiums are complete. All of those things are just proved to be wrong. The stadiums are complete and not only that, our stadiums are some of the best in the world. Make a comparison with the stadium in Cape Town and some of the stadiums around the world or in Durban or Johannesburg, they are simply amongst the best in the world." WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA WORLD CUP SOUTH AFRICA 2010 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER DANNY JORDAAN SAYING: "Well I think the reality of rich and poor is a world wide reality. I can take that picture in South Africa or anywhere else in the world, so you can suggest a country and I can show you rich and poor in each and every one of those countries, so it's not a unique South African issue." MEDIA AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 11th March 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: South Africa
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVALB6WSUOAS3IPQCQM9TYKRUM7
- Story Text: FIFA has defended the facilities for the World Cup and says South Africa will be ready to host the tournament, despite ongoing challenges.
World football's governing body FIFA went on the offensive on Tuesday (February 23) in a growing row with English tabloid newspapers over the readiness of England's base camp for the World Cup finals.
A visibly irritated general secretary Jerome Valcke and his South African local organising committee counterpart Danny Jordaan used a news conference to refute allegations that the hotel where the squad are likely to stay during the tournament was only half completed.
"As you know we are just coming out of a session with the 32 participating team and the coaches, and overall they are very happy," Jordaan said.
"I just want to show you the base camp that has been in discussion (in the papers) and what we have seen as opposed to what has been presented.
"I was there with Jerome Valcke, we had dinner there, we had lunch there, it is a fully operational venue and we have asked that we can go back there, so that we can see the reality."
Jordaan showed glossy pictures of the hotel and said 68 rooms were completed and the hotel was already in use by guests.
However, questioned by reporters, both men admitted a second part of the hotel complex was still being constructed and a planned medical centre was not finished.
Valcke also said two pitches where England were likely to train for the June 11-July 11 finals were being reseeded.
The facilties in South Africa have come under constant criticism but Valcke added the country's ability to host the tournament was without question and the concerns that existed were natural at this point in the preparations..
"We have 108 days to go, and yes we have a few challenges, yes we have to do a few things around in South Africa but we will do it.
"If your question is, are you ready to host the world cup tomorrow morning, can we start the world cup tomorrow morning, my answer is no and it's normal," Valcke explained.
The completition of stadia has been an ongoing issue for the World Cup organisers but Jordaan assured reporters the venues would be ready come June.
"We have said that we are going to complete all of our stadiums, the government has invested more that 3 billion Euros, and all of the stadiums are complete," he said.
"Not withstanding sceptism and judgement calls which were made that the stadiums would never be complete, that we will run out of money before the stadiums are complete. All of those things are just proved to be wrong.
"The stadiums are complete and not only that, our stadiums are some of the best in the world."
Jordaan was also forced to defend South Africa when questioned on the issue of the country's rich and poor divide. He said every country battled to bridge the gap and South Africa was no different.
"The reality of rich and poor is a world wide reality," he said.
"I can take that picture in South Africa or anywhere else in the world, so you can suggest a country and I can show you rich and poor in each and every one of those countries, so it's not a unique South African isuue."
Meanwhile FIFA have denied reports that they will cut World Cup ticket prices or give away free seats to ensure capacity stadiums at the finals.
Valcke said there was no way that would happen but FIFA will to seek to increase the number of category-four seats, the specially-priced tickets for South African residents which sell at 140 rand ($18.21).
Valcke added 11 percent of stadium capacity was currently made up of category-four tickets and FIFA hoped to increase this to 20 percent for most games at the June 11-July 11 finals. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None