SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - The Cape Town 2010 stadium has the best pitch, jokes Valcke

Record ID: 455346

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - The Cape Town 2010 stadium has the best pitch, jokes Valcke
  • Date: 27th May 2010
  • Summary: CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA (MAY 26, 2010) (REUTERS) ( * BEWARE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ** ) TIME LAPSE OF CAPE TOWN STADIUM WITH CLOUDS MOVING OVER STADIUM (MUTE AUDIO) LOCAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE CHIEF EXECUTIVE DANNY JORDAAN; MAYOR OF CAPE TOWN DAN PLATO; WESTERN CAPE PREMIER AND LEADER OF DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE PARTY HELEN ZILLE; AND FIFA GENERAL SECRETARY JEROME VALCKE, POSING FOR MEDIA INSIDE STADIUM VARIOUS OF JORDAAN AND VALCKE UNVEILING PLAQUE (SOUNDBITE) (English) LOCAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, DANNY JORDAAN, SAYING: "This is the beginning of the World Cup. We are here to now officially take operational responsibility for the stadium. This is what the plaque symbolises and so from today onwards, questions that we will not answer, you may ask me 'what?', 'are you ready?', we're not answering that question because you know that. Questions that we will answer, 'are there tickets left?', 'where do I get the tickets?', and my advice, perhaps we cancel that one (laughs)." PHOTOGRAPHER (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA GENERAL SECRETARY, JEROME VALCKE SAYING: "I will always say, it's one of the best stadiums, at least it's the best pitch. It's definitely the best pitch we have during all this World Cup if you compare to all the other stadiums so I'm sorry for the other stadiums." (applause and laughter) WIDE OF STADIUM TIME LAPSE OF CLOUD COVER OVER STADIUM ROOF (MUTE AUDIO)
  • Embargoed: 11th June 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAJM39UTR7VYT10AHVVK0HMG7Q
  • Story Text: The Cape Town Stadium was handed over to soccer's governing body FIFA at an official ceremony on Wednesday (May 26).
    Following a tour of the 68,000-seater stadium, built on the site of the old Green Point stadium, and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque, the stadium was handed over by Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato and Western Cape Premier Helen Zille to FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke and World Cup local organising chief Danny Jordaan.
    After the handover, Jordaan joked that he would not answer any more questions about the country's readiness to host the World Cup.
    "This is the beginning of the World Cup. We are here to now officially take operational responsibility for the stadium. This is what the plaque symbolises and so from today onwards, questions that we will not answer, you may ask me 'what?', 'are you ready?', we're not answering that question because you know that. Questions that we will answer, 'are there tickets left?', 'where do I get the tickets?', and my advice, perhaps we cancel that one," said Jordaan.
    Valcke was also in a jovial mood, as he talked about the quality of the new facility.
    "I will always say, it's one of the best stadiums, at least it's the best pitch. It's definitely the best pitch we have during all this World Cup if you compare to all the other stadiums so I'm sorry for the other stadiums," he said, drawing laughter from the gathering.
    The stadium will host eight matches, beginning with Uruguay's encounter with France on the first day of the tournament on June 11.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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