Plans for World Cup 2010 are not without controversy but hopes are
high, writes Paul Kelso in Cape Town
Under a dazzling Cape Town sky Raymond, a security guard, stands at the
gates of the Greenpoint Stadium construction site and searches the bags
of the 1,600 workers building the most ambitious and controversial stadium
that will adorn the 2010 World Cup.
Over his shoulder the concrete ribs of the emerging 68,000-seat arena
reach up from dust under the gaze of 16 orange cranes. To the north lies
Table Mountain, to the south the ocean, with Robben Island visible on
the horizon. In less than two years Cape Town's newest icon, already the
subject of strikes, local protests and official warnings from Fifa, is
due to be handed over. "Don't worry, it will be ready in time,"
says Raymond. "The guys work hard and for long hours."
For his five 12-hour days plus weekend shifts Raymond earns 1,700 rand
a month - about ?130 - with which he has to feed, clothe and educate three
children from his home in the townships of the Cape Flats. With the cheapest
match tickets costing almost two days' wages, it is likely that his 2010
World Cup experience will be limited to watching the stadium being built.
"Will I see a game? For $20 a ticket? No way. We are building the
stadium but we will not be able to come and watch games in it. I will
have to watch it on TV or listen on the radio rather than come to the
stadium for that money. I cannot afford it."
Raymond and the millions of black South Africans like him trapped by low
wages and limited opportunities pose as a big a challenge to the World
Cup organisers as do the construction deadlines, rampant crime and limited
transport infrastructure. Having presented the tournament as football's
chance to give something back to a continent that has provided so many
great players, Fifa can ill-afford to leave ordinary Africans at the stadium
gates.
The social challenge is one of several that organisers have spent the
last week attempting to assure the world they will meet. Last week Fifa
announced that the cheapest tickets for games will be sold only to South
Africa residents for about $20, and a further 120,000 will be given away
to the lowest paid. Fifa will also donate up to $10m (?4.9m) to build
20 football, health and education centres across Africa, five of which
will be in South Africa.
For residents of Greenpoint scepticism remains. "They have got their
priorities all wrong," says Mehmet, pouring cappuccinos in Giovanni's
coffee bar opposite the site. "There is 35% unemployment here, huge
problems with homelessness and they are pouring billions of rand into
a hole in the ground."
SA 2010's chief executive, Danny Jordaan, rejects the criticism. "If
government money identified for social projects was being spent on construction,
then I would be the first to lead the protests but it is not the case,"
he said. "The government has spent R420bn [?30.1bn] on the World
Cup and related infrastructure projects but they are not at the expense
of other things. I challenge anyone to say that money is being diverted
from social, housing, health and education projects for this World Cup.
The tournament will bring huge benefits to our country and to all Africans."
Jordaan has spent more than a decade working to bring the tournament to
South Africa and he rounds on critics of the awarding of the event to
the country. South Africa, like any host, faces questions over infrastructure
and security but, as the first African nation to stage an event of this
scale, it also has to overcome scepticism about basic competence.
Last Sunday the preliminary draw brought almost 200 football federations
and the world's media to Durban. The huge security that swamped the city's
downtown area was a reminder of the perennial threat of crime, as was
the tragic shooting of an Austrian businessman, but the draw itself passed
off without a hitch.
"We are very happy with the way things went this week," Jordaan
said. "This was the first major World Cup 2010 event we have staged
in our country, we had all the member federations of Fifa present, international
broadcasters and media and I think they all went away happy and impressed
with what we have done."
Work on several of the stadiums including Greenpoint has been interrupted
by strikes but the unions have little political support, with the ANC
government and the opposition Democratic Alliance united behind the World
Cup project.
Questions also remain about the use to which the stadiums
will be put after the tournament. Cape Town already has a 49,000-seat
stadium in the Newlands rugby ground. It was approved by Fifa to host
a quarter-final but, eager to remain in the tournament for at least another
four days, the city went ahead with the R500m (?35.9m) Greenpoint development.
Both the city's Premier League football teams, meanwhile, are working
on new grounds, leaving a major question about who will eventually use
Greenpoint.
It is one of many awkward questions South Africa will face between now
and 2010 but many seem willing to set them aside for another day. For
now the opportunity to show off the country and continent to a global
audience seems worth the odd white elephant.
SA 2010 Stadiums
Durban Construction on the Moses Mbhida Stadium has been interrupted by
strikes, but work has resumed and is on schedule.
Cape Town Brand new Greenpoint stadium faces a tight schedule and uncertainty
over its future use, and organisers this week launched a search for a
sponsor to take naming rights.
Port Elizabeth Sepp Blatter has warned that the stadium may not be ready
in time to host the 2009 Confederations Cup.
Bloemfontein The Free State stadium is being increased from 38,000 to
48,000 capacity, but hotel rooms are limited with just 6,500 of the estimated
requirement of 20,000.
Rustenburg Bafokeng Royal Sports Palace has had its roof removed to increase
capacity to 45,000, and work is scheduled to end in October 2008 so it
can be used for the Confederations Cup.
Polokwane The brand new 42,000 seat Peter Mokoba stadium is 15% complete,
but major work needs to be done on infrastructure serving the site.
Nelspruit Another new arena, concrete has been poured for the first level
of seating at the Mbombela Stadium. A new reservoir and electricity sub-station
will also be built to serve the stadium.
Johannesburg Work is well underway on upgrading the FNB Stadium at Soccer
City, which will host the opening ceremony and the final.
Pretoria Famous rugby venue Loftus Versfeld needs only minor upgrading,
so work is focused on improving transport and accommodation in the city.
, December 1, 2007
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