Government plans 2010 international broadcast centre

The International Broadcast Centre, which will cater for 2000 journalists, is at the centre of the bidding process, with the cities of Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban initially vying to host it.

It has now been established that only two cities remain as contenders, and the announcement of the ‘winning city' will be made in the coming weeks.

This media briefing comes at the time when speculation has been rife in the Western media that the 2010 World Cup could be staged in a neutral country, as South Africa is allegedly running behind schedule in its preparations for the event.

Will be a success

“All the 24 projects related to the 2010 FIFA World Cup are running like a well-oiled machine and the first ever African World Cup will be a success,” Finance Deputy-Minister Jabu Moleketi said.

“Pessimists will have to eat their words at the end of the day come 2009, when we host a successful Confederations Cup,” Moleketi added.

According to Government reports, a total of R17.4 billion direct investment has been set aside for the world cup, which is integrated into a much larger spending programme between 2006 and 2010.

Transport projects will cost a whopping R9.038 billion, in the aim of delivering an efficient, sustainable and affordable transport, Moleketi said.

Construction of all is within timelines, as R600 million has already spent in the 2006/2007 financial year.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup is also about providing a stage to show the very best of the African continent, and to build pride and unity, he concluded.

Other important projects related to 2010 include the training of volunteers – in the aim to build skills in the long term (R25 million), community mobilisation (R17 million), legacy projects (R337 million), arts and culture-related projects (R150 million), safety and security (R666 million) and information and communications technology (R2.5 billion).