The City of Cape Town’s preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup are on track, according to Pieter Cronjé, the city’s director of communication.
 
Reporting to a Fedhasa Cape meeting on the city’s organizational progress, he said the World Cup stadium in Green Point was now 80% complete and would be finished on December 14. The city has appointed SAIL/Stade de France, a joint South African and French operator, to manage the stadium for the next 30 years. The city would receive 30% of earnings before tax from the stadium.
 
Cronjé said South Africa expects 450 000 visitors to attend the World Cup, four out of five of whom are expected to visit Cape Town either before, during or after the event. He says the success for the city depended on service excellence and the hospitality of ordinary Capetonians. “If we get that right, the benefit will be repeat visitors and overseas investment,” he stressed.
 
On December 4, Cape Town will host the Final Draw for the World Cup, which will determine the match order for the 32 participating teams and will directly influence teams’ decision where to base themselves. The Final Draw at the Cape Town International Convention Centre will be televised live to 130m people around the world. Capetonians will be able to watch the event on a big screen television at a public viewing area in Long Street. There will also be a host of events during the week of the Final Draw and during the ensuing festive season. These will include:

• The switch-on of the festive lights in Adderley Street on November 29, this year with a 2010 World Cup theme.
• The opening of the Khayalitsha Football for Hope community centre.
• The launch of a Sony FIFA pitch at the V&A Waterfront.
 
During the World Cup, there will be a major fan park at the Grand Parade, which will be open daily from 10am to midnight. Access will be free and there will be free entertainment and music. There will also be three smaller public viewing areas at Vygieskraal in Athlone; the Bellville Velodrome; and at OR Tambo Swartklip on the Cape Flats. All three will offer free access and free entertainment, but only Cape Town-based matches will be screened here as well as the semi-finals and final.
 
Shuttle buses will operate between Cape Town International Airport and the inner-city, and from there to the stadium, throughout the World Cup period.
 
Cronjé said R11,4bn worth of public sector and public enterprise investment in Cape Town was being spent on upgrading the airport, the rail network, the station, the Grand Parade, the Athlone and Philippi stadia and the Green Point Common. In addition, at least eight hotels had either already been built or were being constructed in Cape Town ahead of the event.
 
He said the SAPS, provincial, metropolitan and private security firms would collaborate to ensure safety and security during the period. This involved an increase of manpower, technology upgrades, training, surveillance and joint operations centres.