SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - 2010 World Cup in South Africa begins a year from June 11

Record ID: 454743

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - 2010 World Cup in South Africa begins a year from June 11
  • Date: 11th June 2009
  • Summary: VARIOUS LOCATIONS, SOUTH AFRICA (RECENT) (REUTERS) JOHANNESBURG CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT BUILDINGS IN SANDTON, JOHANNESBURG STREET POLE POSTERS ADVERTISING JOHANNESBURG AS A HOST CITY OF THE 2010 WORLD CUP EXTERIOR OF 'SOCCER CITY' STADIUM IN JOHANNESBURG, VENUE FOR OPENING AND CLOSING MATCHES VARIOUS OF SOCCER CITY STADIUM INTERIOR AS UPGRADING PROCEEDS WIDE OF ELLIS PARK INTERIOR, JOHANNESBURG -- VENUE FOR 1995 RUGBY WORLD CUP WORKERS CLEANING SEATS AT ELLIS PARK SIGN FOR THE KHAYELITSHA TOWNSHIP 'FOOTBALL FOR HOPE CENTRE' ON OUTSKIRTS OF CAPE TOWN JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICA WORLD CUP ORGANISING COMMITTE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER DANNY JORDAAN SAYING: "Well, it's been a long journey, you know. A journey that started in 1994 and now with just over 300 days to go those hopes and dreams have become a reality. The stadiums in each of the cities is now a reality. We are selling the tickets, the teams are arriving and this is a dream come true. So, it's quite a happy and rewarding moment" TRAFFIC AT AN INTERCHANGE VARIOUS OF CONSTRUCTION SITES WITH WORK IN PROGRESS MINIBUS TAXIS PARKED AT RANK POLICEMEN SIMULATING A CROWD CONTROL EXERCISE POLICE USING WATER CANNON, SIMULATING CROWD CONTROL (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICA WORLD CUP ORGANISING COMMITTE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER DANNY JORDAAN SAYING: "Well the security track record of this country is second to none. We've hosted 146 major events in the country and not a single incident. We've just completed the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the country; not a single incident. This country is hosting major events. We have the Super 14 virtually every week in the country. So, this country's track record around staging and managing safe events is equal (second) to none in the world" POLICEMEN LINED UP FOR EXERCISE CROWDS SINGING AS POLICEMEN WATCH (SOUNDBITE) (English) POLICE SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT VISHNU NAIDOO SAYING: "We're going to approach this in two ways. We're going to approach it the proactive way, as well as a reactive way. The proactive measures that we have in place is that we're working veru closely with Interpol. They are in the process of establishing what is called the Dangerous and Disruptive Persons Database which will assist us in identifying people that may pose a potential danger to the tournament as far as organised fighting or hooliganism is concerned. Also what we're doing is that we're going to ask the countries, the participating countries, who know, who have identified people that are related to this type of behaviour, to assist us in keeping back those potential troublemakers" VARIOUS OF ELLIS PARK STADIUM DURING SOCCER MATCH VARIOUS OF FANS AT ELLIS PARK (SOUNDBITE) (English) PASSER-BY, ATHI BABUSENG, SAYING: "Think we're going to make it even though we have critics about our the World Cup, we're going to make it. Our country is so good. We're going to host this World Cup and it's going to be succesful" (SOUNDBITE) (English) PASSER-BY, TSHOLO MOKGALE, SAYING; "I don't know about the stadiums if it's -- all of them are finished. In terms of work , you know, opportunities for other people, I think it's going to benefit a lot of people around South Africa. And I really hope that they make it in time" (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED PASSER-BY SAYING: "Yeah, I would say one of the issues that we're really concerned about is the issue of security. Because, you know, most of the places that they are going to be using for the World Cup, if you watch the news these days, the news is always reporting the issue of crime and crime and crime and I wonder if, people that are coming to the World Cup, if they continue hearing such news on the TV it's really going to discourage people to turn up for the event (indistinct)" FANS AT SOCCER MATCH CAMERAMEN TAKING PICTURES OF MATCH
  • Embargoed: 26th June 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAB5530H5YNNUPAJDS4TPAC3ZW
  • Story Text: The 2010 World Cup in South Africa begins in one year from Thursday (June 11) and it has huge importance for the image and economy of the host nation, with effects that can last for decades.
    The World Cup will be the biggest sporting event ever held in Africa. The continent's future reputation and chances of holding more mega-events -- with the huge investment that they bring -- will hang on its success.
    Organisers hope it will be made unforgettable by a unique and joyful atmosphere that will reverse persistent stereotypes of a continent seemingly in permanent crisis and conflict, where bad news in one country tends to affect the images of many others -- to the great frustration of Africans.
    Newly-elected South African President Jacob Zuma said in his State of the Nation address in May that the country will deliver a world-class event that will forever change the perceptions of the international community and also ensure a lasting legacy for the people of Africa generally.
    Any failure in the month-long tournament, such as major incidents of violence involving South Africa's notorious criminals, will have the opposite effect, proving the dire predictions of some people include a few white South Africans still sceptical about black rule.
    Danny Jordaan, the chief executive officer of the World Cup organising committee, told Reuters that seeing the infrastructure and other elements coming into place is a "rewarding moment".
    "Well, it's been a long journey, you know. A journey that started in 1994 and now with just over 300 days to go those hopes and dreams have become a reality. The stadiums in each of the cities is now a reality. We are selling the tickets, the teams are arriving and this is a dream come true. So, it's quite a happy and rewarding momentsaid Jordaan.
    South Africa is enjoying a construction boom in road, rail and stadium work, producing a rare bright spot in an economy entering its first recession for 17 years. Transport problems are also being addressed by government through new initiatives that will see the current minibus taxi mode of transport replaced by a bus rapid transit system.
    Security is a concern for many people, but not Jordaan.
    "Well the security track record of this country is second to none. We've hosted 146 major events in the country and not a single incident. We've just completed the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the country; not a single incident. This country is hosting major events. We have the Super 14 virtually every week in the country. So, this country's track record around staging and managing safe events is equal (second) to none in the world," said Jordaan.
    The South African Police Service has also been formulating strategies to increase capacity during the World Cup. Officers are currently being trained and assessed city by city to assess the standard of policing.
    Senior Superintendent Vishnu Naidoo told Reuters: "We're going to approach this in two ways. We're going to approach it the proactive way, as well as a reactive way. The proactive measures that we have in place is that we're working veru closely with Interpol. They are in the process of establishing what is called the Dangerous and Disruptive Persons Database which will assist us in identifying people that may pose a potential danger to the tournament as far as organised fighting or hooliganism is concerned. Also what we're doing is that we're going to ask the countries, the participating countries, who know, who have identified people that are related to this type of behaviour, to assist us in keeping back those potential troublemakers."
    Most South Africans seem keen to welcome the competition to their country and are excited to play host.
    Athi Babuseng comment: "Think we're going to make it even though we have critics about our the World Cup, we're going to make it. Our country is so good. We're going to host this World Cup and it's going to be succesful."
    Tsholo Mokgale said: "I don't know about the stadiums if it's -- all of them are finished. In terms of work , you know, opportunities for other people, I think it's going to benefit a lot of people around South Africa. And I really hope that they make it in time."
    One local, however, sounded a note of caution: "Yeah, I would say one of the issues that we're really concerned about is the issue of security. Because, you know, most of the places that they are going to be using for the World Cup, if you watch the news these days, the news is always reporting the issue of crime and crime and crime and I wonder if, people that are coming to the World Cup, if they continue hearing such news on the TV it's really going to discourage people to turn up for the event."
    One year from Thursday, South Africa's national soccer team will go up against an international opponent and the locals, as well as fans around the globe, will be watching eagerley to see if the first World Cup on African soil will live up to its promise.
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