JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) - South Africa's 2010 World Cup organisers said
on Tuesday that the delayed stadium in Port Elizabeth was still among
five venues due to host next year's Confederations Cup test event.
World soccer's governing body FIFA raised concerns last November over
the pace of building at the 1.2 billion rand ($159.4 million) Nelson Mandela
Bay Stadium and put the venue on notice in January.
Construction was further delayed by an industrial dispute and although
the stadium has not been dropped, progress will be monitored closely.
'All five stadia are in for the Confederations Cup,' Irvin Khoza, chairman
of South Africa's organising committee (LOC), told a news conference.
'But we will put the strict condition that there will be tight monitoring
done by the (technical team) ... to make sure that all the five stadia
are in compliance.'
Khoza added that if any selected stadium failed to comply with the deadline
it would be left out of the June 2009 eight-team tournament held 12 months
before the World Cup.
FIFA have already drawn up two separate calendars for the event, one with
four venues and another with five to include Port Elizabeth.
FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke said Port Elizabeth has until March
2009 to finish work but that existing venues in Bloemfontein, Johannesburg,
Pretoria and Rustenburg would not get an extension.
The LOC also said Confederations Cup tickets would cost $10, making it
accessible for local football fans.
'It is very important that South Africans fill the stadium. This is the
first opportunity to see world class teams,' organising committee chief
executive Danny Jordaan said.
,
May 6, 2008
Russian ladies dream about happy marriage.
Click on a photo...
