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26 January 2009

Monday, 26 January 2009, marked 500 days before the kick-off of the 2010 FIFA World Cup (2010 FWC) the first to be staged on the African soil.

The South African government has availed more than R31 billion to support the preparations of the tournament. The money is spent partly to honour the 17 guarantees Government made to FIFA. The things done will assist to accelerate our national development programme of combating poverty and creating work for the millions of South Africans.

Indications on the ground concretely show we are on course to host the best ever FIFA World Cup. The dress rehearsal for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the FIFA Confederations Cup (2009 FCC), will take place on 14 to 28 June 2009.

As this is also a major tournament in the football calendar of FIFA, we are proud to say our country has declared that the standards set for the 2010 FIFA World Cup will be tested during this eight-nation football showpiece.

The 2010 Government Co-ordinating Unit is proud to report that all four 2009 FCC stadia will be handed over to 2010 Organising Committee by the end of January 2009.

2009 FCC match venues progress:
1. Ellis Park progress at 80% (Trencon) and 98% (Rainbow) by end 2008
2. Royal Bafokeng progress at 64% by end 2008
3. Mangaung progress at 80% by end 2008
4. Loftus progress at 80% by end 2008.

Progress on other 2010 FWC Stadia is as follows:

1. Moses Mabhida progress at 69% by end 2008
2. Peter Mokaba progress at 55% by end 2008
3. Soccer City progress at 64% by end 2008
4. Green Point progress at 38% by end 2008
5. Mbombela progress at 61% by end 2008
6. Nelson Mandela progress at 70% by end 2008.

Some of the major highlights in the preparations are as follows:

Host cities have identified training venues and upgrading has commenced with the set completion date of March 2009. When the tournament commences we will be ready to transport the more than 400 000 football fans expected to be in our country in 2010.

Some of the major transport projects underway include the following:

* Johannesburg: Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) covering the Ellis Park and Nasrec precincts. Contractors are on site finalising a detailed design for Nasrec International Broadcast Centre and Inner City Distribution system. Gautrain OR Tambo and Sandton linkage work in progress.

* Cape Town: The Integration of Transport Modes and Rapid Transit System projects are progressing well. Stadium precinct creation of Green Point traffic circle and construction of pedestrian underpass work in progress. Airport expansion programme (domestic and international upgrading) is progressing well.

* Nelson Mandela Bay Khulani Corridor which goes past the stadium and the first phase of the BRT, distribution system, streets upgrade, and the airport link on tender, two modal interchange on tender

* eThekwini Inner City PT distribution system, Warwick Junction Upgrade, PT Lane on M4 Highway, Western Freeway now operational. King Shaka airport under construction, upgrading of railway station at Kings Park stadium and upgrading of non-motorised access roads to stadium.

* Mbombela in the Matsafeni precincts the construction programme is underway - Ring Road construction has started, N4 bypass upgrading, public transport routes from the eastern residential locations are being upgraded.

* Mangaung: The pedestrianisation of Elizabeth Street and Selbourne Avenue has been completed. Phase one and two of inter-modal public transport is under construction, to be completed in April 2010.

* Rustenburg: There are streets upgrade and other public transport facilities. Pilanesberg airport is being upgraded and rail transport arrangements are being made for spectators during match days.

* Polokwane: There are various roads and public transport upgrades particularly in the stadium precinct and the airport currently taking place. 15 roads are under construction, covering a radius of eight kilometres. Pedestrianisation of linkages to main venues, and park and ride facilities. A transport centre hub has been established.

* Tshwane: Plans for transport and upgrading of infrastructure support have been completed and construction has commenced in January 2009. Residents and business operators within the stadia precinct are being engaged to avail their facilities for parking during matches. Road and storm water drainage projects will be completed by end of March 2009. Upgrading of Wonderboom airport in progress.

The Department of Public Works is upgrading a number of sites at Ports of Entry including Lebombo, Golela and Skilpadhek. The Repair and Maintenance Programme is implemented at Beitbridge, Maseru, Mananga and others at a cost of R497 million.

The Waterkloof Air Force runway is also being upgraded to serve as a landing strip for VIPs and other high profile visitors.

The Department of Communications and Sentech have signed an agreement for the installation of the satellite backup. National Treasury has confirmed the budget allocation of R200 million for the satellite back-up. Telkom has already started upgrading its base networks as part of the fulfilment of the guarantees.

There is also upgrading of 1 Military (Tshwane) and 2 Military (Cape Town) Hospitals.

The Department of Communications has set up a 112 public emergency centre to provide a single access number for emergency service providers, 24 hour service to all people in South Africa, accessibility to disabled persons including the sight and hearing impaired. The rollout plan of the emergency number will be completed in December 2009.

More than R136 million has been allocated by the Department of Minerals and Energy to the nine host cities for the upgrading of the electricity networks. All upgrades will be completed in the 2009 FCC host cities and other 2010 FWC host cities by April-May 2009. Generators arrive in February 2009 and will be installed and commissioned by March 2009.

To date, more than 4 673 non-hotel rooms and 25 602 hotel rooms have been signed up and the grading process continues. Base camps hotels have now been identified by MATCH and waiting final approval from FIFA.

The Safety and Security operational plan has been handed to FIFA in May 2008 for both the 2009 FCC and 2010 FWC. There is great focus on major crime syndicates and human trafficking in the operational plan. Work in progress includes the recruitment of 7 000 stewards and provision of training by the LOC and host cities.

The Border Control and Operations Co-ordinating Committee (BCOCC) plans to have fully fledged joint command centres at all 28 priority ports of entry.

Dedicated courts near the 2010 match venues have been selected and will be resourced to function on a 24 hour basis during the tournament.

As part of its nine-point plan, the Department of Home Affairs has just unveiled a 2010 event specific visa. The system has an advanced passenger information concept, customer service trained volunteer programme and introduction of additional immigration officers at ports of entry.

The event specific visa will be tested during the 2009 FCC. The system will enable our security system to pre-screen and pre-clear passengers prior to boarding from their countries of departure.

The Department of Health has profiled all critical areas for deployment of healthcare and emergency services for the 2009 FCC and 2010 FWC. The Department of Foreign Affairs has completed the protocol plan for both the 2009 FCC and 2010 FWC. The protocol training programme involving trainers from national departments, provinces and host cities is at an advanced stage. Roadshows to promote the training programme commenced in June 2008. The national flag and anthem banks have been created.

Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA) has commenced with the mass mobilisation roadshows programme for the tournaments. Part of the programme will be launched by the Minister of Sport and Recreation, Rev Dr Makhenkesi Stofile, in Galeshewe on 27 January 2009. A dedicated service provider will be appointed to lead the campaign. Zakumi, the 2010 FWC mascot, is one of the attractions of the mass mobilisation drive.

A schools 2010 Football World Cup programme was launched in July 2008 by the Minister of Education, Ms Naledi Pandor, and Deputy Minister of Sport and Recreation, Mr Gert Oosthuizen. The programme targets 7 957 schools from 81 districts around the country. There is a training programme to capacitate more than 10 000 educators in various technical sport skills. The programme receives support from the embassies of the eight 2009 FCC participating countries.

The volunteer programme has attracted great interest among South Africans from all walks of life. The LOC has completed the screening and clearance of trainees. SRSA has made funds available to the LOC for the training programme which begins in January 2009.

SRSA and SAFA are finalising the memorandum of understanding to co-operate in mobilising club supporters for the national team. The Department of Arts and Culture and the Organising Committee have submitted the recommendations on the opening and closing ceremonies to the FIFA and LOC Board for the final decision.

The African leadership has recommitted to support South Africa's effort to host the best ever FIFA World Cup. A 2010 Peace Caravan to be led by South Africa, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania will be travelling in the eastern region of Africa to present a five-aside-football called 1pal. Participating in the programme will be youths from these countries.

Youth of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region recently held a 2010 Colloquium to deliberate on how the hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup by South Africa should advance the youth development agenda in the region. Emerging from the gathering were concrete recommendations such as that each SADC member state should host a similar gathering to develop an implementable programme informed by the resolutions of the colloquium.

Government is engaging various football associations on the continent to mobilise supporters' clubs.

FIFA has recommitted to finalise the building of the 20 Football for Hope Centres, five of which will be in South Africa and others on the rest of the African continent.

Government welcomes the FIFA gesture of goodwill to allocate two category four match tickets per employee of contractors who participate in the construction of the stadia.

More effort still needs to be put in place to ensure that the commitments towards the contribution of the tournament in the transformation of the economic landscape of our country is realised.

Government is engaging various stakeholders, including the SABC, to ensure that the joy of hosting the tournament is tasted by all, including the previously disadvantaged communities of our country. Such effort will include the spread of public viewing areas in needy and strategic areas of our country. The SABC has committed to avail signal free of charge to non-commercial public viewing areas for the 2010 tournament.

This will ensure that all 47 municipal districts and six metropolitan councils and 147 mainly rural municipalities receive the 2010 FWC. A further commitment stipulates that 47 districts, six metropolitan councils and 53 rural municipalities will have public viewing areas.

The South African government, speaking on behalf of the 46 million South Africans, is ready to welcome the seven (Brazil, Egypt, Italy, Iraq, New Zealand, Spain, United States, with South Africa as the eighth nation) countries who will be competing in the 2009 FCC.

Ke Nako. Celebrate Africa's Humanity.

For enquiries please contact:
Monde Mkalipi
Cell: 082 575 3976

Issued by: Sport and Recreation South Africa

26 January 2009
Source: Sport and Recreation South Africa (http://www.srsa.gov.za)