Sport and Recreation Minister Makhe-nkesi Stofile says that 2010 FIFA World Cup preparations have ensured that more than 103 600 people are employed at the ten stadiums that will host the extrava-
ganza, with a further 82 799 employed in 
sectors supplying goods and services to the stadium construction programme.

“The impact on small households is 
estimated to be over R2-billion,” said Stofile during his recent Budget Vote speech in Parliament.

He added that the first legacy of the event has already been delivered – the successful hosting of the FIFA Confederations Cup, which FIFA president Sepp Blatter rated 7,5 out of 10.

“We have done it before with the Africa Cup of Nations, the Rugby World Cup, the All Africa Games, the Cricket World Cup, Cricket Twenty20 and the Indian Premier League (IPL). We will do it again in 2010 and many years, thereafter.”

The IPL brought about 50 000 spectators into the country and injected in the region of R1-billion into the economy.

Stofile noted that after 2010, some host 
cities would use the stadiums to generate income or even to bid for future events.

He cited the completion of all four 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup stadiums as a major milestone that was achieved within the set schedule. The rest of the stadiums for the 2010 FIFA World Cup are progressing well and within the FIFA-set target dates.

“With the support of the National Treasury, we have agreed that municipalities could 
approach the Development Bank of Southern Africa for favourable loans. Some cities have already taken up this offer. The department will pay the interest on these loans for the first two years, as we cannot cater for ever-increasing costs. We hope that with the falling prices of cement and steel, the host cities will also be able to save some money as a result.”

Stofile urged the Local Organising Com-mittee to ensure that proper logistics were put in place to ensure that complaints on the park-and-ride system raised during the Confederations Cup were not heard anytime during or after the 2010 World Cup.

“I must say that even though there were challenges, the system assisted in reducing traffic congestion as thousands of people flocked to the stadiums.”

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