By David Masango

A conference is underway in Kempton Park to ensure that municipalities are able to contribute to the successful hosting of the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

The conference has also given other role-players, especially business, a chance to seize opportunities during preparations for the tournament and beyond, for which government will be spending over R400 billion.

Key discussions are around issues of infrastructure development and construction, job creation and skills development, financing, public transportation, tourism, safety and security, broadcasting and marketing among others.

Addressing delegates, Graham Richards of the South African Local Government Association (Salga) told municipal officials that plans in this regard should be incorporated into their Integrated Development Plans (IDPs).

He emphasised that plans should be made not only to deliver a successful world tournament but to address a number of challenges facing our society in the long-term.

"The challenge to host the tournament is a national developmental opportunity. It is not about the people that will be coming here but about our developmental agenda," he said.

Richards explained the project afforded government an opportunity to develop crucial infrastructure such as roads, to build human capital, to develop and empower women.

CEO of the Fifa Local Organising Committee (LOC) Danny Jordan said the tournament would have great spin-offs and a lot of economic opportunities for individuals, companies and government.

He said the world cup would be the “biggest ever”, adding that the over 450 000 people were expected to come into the country for that.

Already, plans have advanced to either build or rebuild stadiums. Among them are plans to construct a stadium at Mataffin, outside Nelspruit this year which is expected to cost about R600 million.

Three existing stadiums in South Africa's major metropolis, Gauteng, will be upgraded. These are Soccer City (FNB stadium), Ellis Park and Loftus Versfeld.

The Royal Bafokeng stadium in North West province will be upgraded, as will the Vodacom Park in Mangaung (Bloemfontein) in Free State province.

Five new arenas will be built or rebuilt. In Limpopo, the Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane will host some of the 2010 games.

A new stadium will also be built in the Nelson Mandela Metro (encompassing Port Elizabeth) in the Eastern Cape.

Kings Park stadium in the eThekwini Metro (encompassing Durban) will be rebuilt for the event, becoming also a multi-sports facility.

The Cape Town's Green Point stadium will be rebuilt, becoming a "totally new" multi-purpose sports facility complete with a dome, which will be able to open and close.

Jordan encouraged cities to have strong tourism marketing plans to ensure fans remained in their areas.

"Safety and security is also a big issue that has to be looked into. There must be adequate personnel and vehicles at all times when they are needed," he said.

He stressed that preparations should be part of the cities' strategic vision beyond 2010.

Jordan also played down concerns that South Africa would not be able to host a successful tournament, saying the process was well on track to meet the deadline.

Source: BuaNews