World Cup stadiums on display

(LOC) Wednesday 3 March 2010

For the last three years, members of the media have been coming to SAFA House, the head
office of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee, to be briefed on the host
country’s preparations. In that time they have had the opportunity to see for themselves the
tournament’s flagship stadium, Soccer City, rise from the ground to the point where the final
touches are being made to the stadium precinct.

But this World Cup will be hosted in ten stadiums, in nine cities across eight provinces. For
this reason the OC marked the 100 day celebrations by travelling thousands of kilometres
around the country taking 120 members of the media to nine cities in four days.

Tshwane/Pretoria – Super Stadium

After a morning spent in Johannesburg’s Ellis Park and Soccer City stadiums (see earlier
article) the group headed north to Tshwane/Pretoria, where the mayor of the capital, Gwen
Ramokgopa, welcomed the group to the “City of Champions” – a worthy name given that this
city is home to both the reigning Premier Soccer League (PSL) champions SuperSport United
and rugby’s Super 14 champions, the Blue Bulls.

The tour took the opportunity to visit Super Stadium in Atteridgeville, which will be one of
the training grounds for the World Cup.

The city will play host to many of the top teams during the tournament, with Italy, Germany,
USA and Ghana all choosing to be based in Tshwane. All in all, 19 of the 32 teams will be
based in Gauteng.

Rustenburg - Royal Bafokeng Stadium

On to the platinum city of Rustenburg, home of the Royal Bafokeng nation, whose 45000-
seater stadium helped bring the world’s biggest sporting event to the North West province.

”When we built this stadium in 1997 we had a dream that one day we would bring a major
international event to this stadium – and that has definitely happened,” said Kasana Joseph
Rapestsana, representing the Royal Bafokeng nation. The Bafokeng nation not only built the
stadium but also the newly complete Bafokeng Sports Campus where the England team will
be based during the tournament.

OC CEO, Dr Danny Jordaan complemented the local team for the excellent quality of their
pitch and said that he was certain that England and USA, the two top buying nations for the
tournament who will meet each other here at a sold out venue on 12 June, should have all the
facilities at their disposal in Rustenburg to perform at their best.

Polokwane – Peter Mokaba Stadium

At the start of the World Cup many around the world will have heard of Cape Town, Durban
and Johannesburg, but thanks to the World Cup millions will also have heard of Polokwane,
Nelspruit and Mangaung.

“We will never get another opportunity like this, after this tournament we will never be the
same as we were before,” said Polokwane Mayor Thabo Makunyane whose small city now
boasts a 44000-seater stadium.

OC CEO Danny Jordaan explained that the nine host cities, all unique and diverse, were not
chosen at random. “In the bid book we proposed 13 cities. FIFA then came back and said –
not more than ten. We asked the Development Bank of South Africa to do a technical audit of
the cities looking at their ability to invest in this tournament and to rank the top nine. That
gave us our decision.”

Nelspruit – Mbombela Stadium

Mbombela’s striking stadium will leave the world in no doubt that this is an African
tournament. Set in the bush, the stadium is supported by 18 giraffe-shaped columns and the
seats resemble a zebra hide – adding to the ‘wild charm’ of the stadium.

The city, which is within an easy drive of both Swaziland and Mozambique, has worked
closely with these two countries to market the region as a whole during the tournament. The
city is also likely to attract fans from these countries during the tournament, with close to
2000 applications made by fans in Mozambique in the fourth phase, which started on 9
February, alone.

This stadium was without a pitch during the media tour but Richard Hayden of the Sports
Turf Research Institute in the UK, which has been contracted to advise the OC on all its
pitches, is confident that a world-class pitch will be growing in Mbombela in seven to eight
weeks time.

Mangaung/Bloemfontein – Free State stadium

South Africa’s natural beauty will no doubt win many an admirer in South Africa but
ultimately it is the fans that will make this World Cup a memorable one. And there are few
places one will find more passionate fans than in Mangaung/ Bloemfontein. Welcomed by the
song and dance of around 300 Bloemfontein Celtic fans, as well as fans from other local PSL
sides, visitors to Free State stadium got a taste of what the World Cup experience may be in
this city, especially on 22 June when South Africa takes on France in the very stadium.

Cape Town – Green Point Stadium

FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke beamed when he walked onto Green Point stadium’s
perfect pitch.

“This is just an amazing stadium, it is in the perfect place and I don’t think there is one issue
with it,” said Valcke.

Ticket sales in Cape Town have been incredibly successful with tickets for the seven matches
that will be hosted here currently unavailable. Residents of the city are no doubt eager to
experience this new facility with both test events held to date, a local derby and a rugby
match, being sell out affairs.

Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth – Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium

“I grew up not far from here but twenty years ago I wasn’t even allowed to come to this site
as it was in a white area. Today I stand here in a stadium about to welcome some of the
world’s biggest teams – Germany, England, Portugal, Cote d’Ivoire, in a stadium named after
one of the biggest icons in world history,” said Jordaan as he stood smiling on the pitch of
Nelson Mandela Bay stadium.

The stadium was the first newly built World Cup stadium to be complete, opening
in June 2009, just 26 months after construction began. It has already hosted a number of
successful events including a game between local club Orlando Pirates and team from
neighbouring Botswana the day before the roadshow team arrived.

Durban - Durban Stadium

The tour culminated at the magnificent Durban stadium, with its iconic arch boasting a cable
car and steps to the top to take in the views of the city’s famous Golden Mile.

"The arch is the celebration of our freedom and rainbow nation. We have a diverse culture,
but this stadium brings people from all corners together. We are waiting for the whole Africa
to come and join this party,” said KwaZulu Natal Premier, Zweli Mkhize, at a press
conference to mark 100 days to go.

And a party it will certainly be in this tropical seaside city with its warm climate and soon to
be completed beachside fan mile.

Rating: 3.7

Rating: 3.7
(LOC)
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