Preparations for the Fifa Confederations Cup 2009 and the 2010 Fifa World Cup are gathering pace in South Africa's Host Cities.
From 18-22 February 2008 football world governing body Fifa and the Local Organising Committee will complete a joint inspection tour of six of the World Cup venues.
In reflection of the importance and prestige of this event, Fifa sets the bar very high for its venues and facilities. The inspections offer a great opportunity to interact with the various parties involved in the venues to review the current status of affairs and to see first-hand the progress.
That is why such inspections play a major part in the organisation of any Fifa event across the world, says Fifa Secretary General Jereme Valcke. The Chief Executive Officer of the 2010 Fifa World Cup Organising Committee South Africa, Dr Danny Jordaan, was confident that the latest inspection tour will find considerable progress has been made with the preparations for the first Fifa World Cup on African soil.
2008 is the year of delivery of the infrastructure for the Fifa Confederations Cup 2009 and the 2010 Fifa World Cup. The inspection tour comes on the back of a very successful Preliminary Draw for the 2010 Fifa World Cup in Durban late in 2007. The international media and the entire Fifa family left South Africa after the draw very excited and anticipating a wonderful experience when they return to South Africa for the World Cup, said Dr Jordaan.
The tour will get underway at Johannesburg Ellis Park Stadium and Tshwane Loftus Stadium on Monday and will then proceed to Rustenburg Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace on Tuesday February 19, Polokwane Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday February 20, Nelspruit Mbombela Stadium on February 21 and then conclude the tour at Mangaung Free State Stadium on Friday, February 22.
Each inspection visit in the venues will include discussions with the stadium management. The delegation is composed of experts in competitions, marketing, IT, media, TV, accommodation, security, stadium construction and transportation from both Fifa and the OC. Inspection visits are standard procedures in the preparation of any Fifa competition to get a better understanding of the status of the preparation in the host country as well as to strengthen relationships with the local authorities, the host city and stadium teams to clearly define the next steps towards the final competition.
On this inspection tour a major focus will be on the Fifa Confederations Cup venues. The delegation will see four of the five venues on the tour, all of which are existing stadia which regularly host major international events. They need only minor upgrades, which are currently well underway.
Overall we're happy with the progress and there no doubt we will be ready to host the Fifa Confederations Cup in June 2009. We're confident Fifa will be happy with what they see on this tour, added Dr Jordaan. In addition there will be visits from a full Fifa delegation for the first time to the Polokwane and Mbombela host cities for the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Recently-crowned African champions Egypt qualified for the Fifa Confederations Cup 2009 (14-28 June 2009) with their win at the Ghana 2008 MTN African Cup of Nations. They join an impressive Fifa Confederations Cup line-up which also includes 2006 Fifa World Cup winners Italy, South American champions Brazil, hosts South Africa, surprise Asian champions Iraq and CONCACAF champions the USA.
The last Fifa inspection visit took place in October 2007 to Cape Town Greenpoint Stadium, Nelson Mandela Bay and Durban Moses Mabhida Stadium. The venue tour itinerary*: 18 February: * Ellis Park Stadium 10:00 13:15 * Tshwane/Pretoria 14:50 18:45 (Stadium Photo opportunity 16h20-16h30) 19 February * Rustenburg 13:00 16:20 (Stadium Photo opportunity 13h10-13h20) 20 February * Polokwane 10:20 14:45 (Stadium Photo opportunity 10h20-10h30) 21 February * Nelspruit 9:20 13:55 (Stadium Photo opportunity 09h20-09h30) 22 February * Bloemfontein 10:30 13:30 (Stadium Photo opportunity 10h30-10h40) * timings subject to changes please check out local announcements - Sapa