SOUTH AFRICA: World Cup organisers say South Africa is well-advanced in its plans to ensure a safe and secure event
Record ID:
455467
SOUTH AFRICA: World Cup organisers say South Africa is well-advanced in its plans to ensure a safe and secure event
- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: World Cup organisers say South Africa is well-advanced in its plans to ensure a safe and secure event
- Date: 13th January 2010
- Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (JANUARY 12, 2010) (REUTERS) 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP ORGANISING COMMITTEE CEO DR DANNY JORDAAN ADDRESSING MEDIA REPORTERS LISTENING JORDAAN ADDRESSING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP ORGANISING COMMITTEE CEO, DR DANNY JORDAAN, SAYING: "We are convinced that we will deliver this World Cup in an efficient manner, professional manner and a safe manner. The happenings in Angola is unfortunate, is tragic and we have a lot of sympathy and understanding for the Angolan team. Angola, as you may know, has worked hard, invested more than 1 billion U.S. Dollars to put the infrastructure in place. But the event of Angola, has absolutely nothing to do with South Africa, absolutely nothing to do with the World Cup in South Africa and the reason for that is very clear that Angola is, by flight, three and a half hours from Johannesburg, South Africa, that Angola is a sovereign independent country, has its own military, its own police, its own infrastructure around security and its own operational plans. And therefore, if the army of Italy gains a victory, you are not going to ask an explanation from Germany and if there is a security breach in Finland as you had the event in ... (unclear), you are not going to ask England to explain and yet both those countries are within the three and half hour flight range." MILITARY SPOKESPERSON LIEUTENANT GENERAL VEEJAY RAMLAKAN LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP ORGANISING COMMITTEE CEO, DR DANNY JORDAAN, SAYING: "We are confident, as we move forward to deliver this event, this event will be one of the best and we should not be asked nor should we be condemned by what happened in a country far away from us because we do not apply the same standards when we come to any other country nor must we have it different when it comes to continent." (SOUNDBITE) (English) MILITARY SPOKESPERSON LIEUTENANT GENERAL VEEJAY RAMLAKAN SAYING : "In a global world, in a world that is fraught with dangers of all kinds, we had to devise scenarios and our responses to them. Our exercises, the most recent of which was in December last year, have proven that we are ready for any eventuality, not only ready for any eventuality but we will be taking major steps, massive interventions in a preventative mode." OFFICIALS SPEAKING AS MEDIA LISTENS
- Embargoed: 28th January 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: South Africa
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVAE8P71KGT75PI8DNTPSFXU760I
- Story Text: The head of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee, Dr Danny Jordaan, said on Tuesday (January 12) South Africa is extremely well-advanced in its plans to ensure a safe and secure FIFA World Cup in 2010.
Security concerns resurfaced when a bus carrying the Togolese national team was ambushed by alleged separatists assailants in Angola last week.
Jordaan, the Committee's Chief Executive Officer, said South Africa's safety standards should not be linked with events that happened in a country far away from its shores, adding that the country will host a safe and secure tournament.
"We are convinced that we will deliver this World Cup in an efficient manner, professional manner and a safe manner. The happenings in Angola is unfortunate, is tragic and we have a lot of sympathy and understanding for the Angolan team. Angola, as you may know, has worked hard, invested more than 1 billion U.S. Dollars to put the infrastructure in place. But the event of Angola, has absolutely nothing to do with South Africa, absolutely nothing to do with the World Cup in South Africa and the reason for that is very clear that Angola is, by flight, three and a half hours from Johannesburg, South Africa, that Angola is a sovereign independent country, has its own military, its own police, its own infrastructure around security and its own operational plans. And therefore, if the army of Italy gains a victory, you are not going to ask an explanation from Germany and if there is a security breach in Finland as you had the event in (unclear), you are not going to ask England to explain and yet both those countries are within the three and half hour flight range," Jordaan told a news conference in Johannesburg.
"We are confident, as we move forward to deliver this event, this event will be one of the best and we should not be asked nor should we be condemned by what happened in a country far away from us because we do not apply the same standards when we come to any other country nor must we have it different when it comes to continent," he continued.
Togo's national team was attacked soon after their arrival in Cabinda, Angola on Friday (January 8). The ambush on the team's bus killed an assistant coach, a team spokesman and the bus driver. Eight others were wounded. The team's goalkeeper, Kodjovi "Dodji" Obilale, was airlifted to Johannesburg's Milpark hospital following the attack and was in a stable condition there following surgery.
South Africa's Defence Force's Lieutenant General Veejay Ramlakan said the army was ready to handle all security and healthcare needs for the tournament.
"In a global world, in a world that is fraught with dangers of all kinds, we had to devise scenarios and our responses to them. Our exercises, the most recent of which was in December last year, have proven that we are ready for any eventuality, not only ready for any eventuality but we will be taking major steps, massive interventions in a preventative mode," Ramlakan said.
Ramlakan said 2500 members of the force would be deployed to provide medical assistance at all World Cup venues, as well as at hotels and other places housing those coming to the country for the tournament. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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