SA tops in Fifa's 2010 report
5 May 2004
South Africa has been confirmed as the front-runner in the race to host the 2010 Football World Cup, receiving the highest grading in the Fifa inspection group report on the five countries bidding to bring soccer's showpiece event to Africa for the first time.
In the report, published on Fifa's website on 4 May, world football's governing body concluded that South Africa had the potential to organise an "excellent" World Cup - compared to Egypt and Morocco's potential to organise "very good" World Cups, and Tunisia's potential to organise a "good" World Cup.
Libya, the inspection group found, would face "great difficulties in
organising a World Cup to the standards required".
The report noted South Africa's "excellent overall infrastructure" and "world class cultural and tourist attractions", praised the country's World Cup plans as "clear, detailed and stable", and found that a World Cup in South Africa would generate "significant unity
among the different ethnic groups that were separated socially, culturally and in sport for years".
The report is available on Fifa's website (in .pdf format) in English, French, German and Spanish. Here (in English) is Fifa's executive summary on each bidding country:
Fifa's inspection group, headed by Belgian football association president Jan Peeters, made exhaustive first-hand
inspections of the five bidding countries between early October 2003 and late January 2004. Other members of the inspection group included Pertti Alaja (Finland), Jacques Bouillon (France), Michel Sablon (Belgium) and Harold Mayne-Nicholls (Chile).
Fifa's executive committee meets in Zurich on 14 and 15 May to decide on the 2010 World Cup host. The five bidders will make final presentations to the committee on 14 May. On Saturday 15 May, the committee will meet at 9am to discuss the matter and cast their votes by secret ballot.
The announcement of the host country for the first-ever Fifa World Cup to be held in Africa will be made at an international media conference in the World Trade Center in Zurich at midday (Central European time).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: SOUTH AFRICA
If the World Cup is granted to South Africa, it will generate significant unity
among the different ethnic groups that were separated
socially, culturally and
in sport for years. In addition, South Africa has a number of world class cultural
and tourist attractions.
The project to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup presented to the Inspection Group,
based on an excellent overall infrastructure, was clear, detailed and stable,
proving its reliability. Furthermore, there is a strong backing for the bid from the
government. The population is very enthusiastic about football, spontaneously
showing their joy at the prospect of hosting the World Cup.
Despite questions about security in the country, the legacy compared to the investment needed will be a great contribution to the country.
The Inspection Group's opinion is that South Africa has the potential to organise an excellent World Cup.
Country commitment
Government: Totally committed to hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Public: Huge enthusiasm.
Football
Stadiums: Thirteen stadiums for the 2010 FIFA World Cup*
- Three almost ready, Five to be renovated, Five to be built. (*Definitive number of stadiums to be decided.)
Training facilities: Excellent facilities; some pitches must be improved.
Standard of football: Since 1992, successful come-back to the international football
forum.
General country infrastructure
Transportation: Very good for organising the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Telecommunications: Excellent facilities to handle the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Hotels: Excellent hotel infrastructure.
Safety and security: Lack of security in the country, but authorities have the know-how and resources to manage this aspect during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Medical centres: Excellent facilities including those in the stadiums.
Finance
Budget for the 2010 FIFA World Cup: Must be revised.
Ticketing: Whole policy needs to be fully revised.
Legacy
Country: The 2010 FIFA World Cup will contribute to the establishment
and
confirmation of the process of democratisation and unification
that started about a decade ago.
Football: In a country with a very strong sports culture, the organisation
resulting from the 2010 FIFA World Cup will assist the association
in reaching the highest international football standards, filling
the gaps from the past.
One stadium will not be built if the 2010 FIFA World Cup is not
granted to South Africa, keeping in mind that the number of stadiums
to be used still has to be decided.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: EGYPT
The general public in Egypt is very passionate about football and spontaneously
show their joy at the prospect of hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It is
largely for this reason – added to the wealth of history, culture and tourism in
the country and the strong backing given by the Government to the bid
– that
the Inspection Group believes there is potential for an excellent World Cup to be
staged in Egypt.
Despite the fact that at the time of our visit the country lacked stadiums suitable
for an event of such magnitude, and that we found a number of inconsistencies
between the bidding file and what was actually presented during the inspection,
we have come to the conclusion that Egypt is capable of organising a very good
World Cup.
Country commitment
Government: Total commitment to hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Public: Huge enthusiasm.
Football
Stadiums: Ten stadiums for the 2010 FIFA World Cup - One under renovation, Two to be renovated, Three under construction, Four to be built. Some changes compared to the bidding file.
Training facilities: Very good; pitches must be improved.
Standard of football: Strong with good youth development plans.
General country infrastructure
Transportation: Capable of
handling the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Telecommunications: Will be capable of meeting World Cup standards.
Hotels: Excellent hotel infrastructure; more than enough rooms for all participants
in hotels under contract for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Safety and security: Good internal security system.
Medical centres: Sufficient good facilities for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Finance
Budget for the 2010 FIFA World Cup: Requires complete revision.
Ticketing: Good policy.
Legacy
Country: The 2010 FIFA World Cup will contribute to developing and
promoting the country through its ancient culture and safe surroundings.
Football: The infrastructure and organisation resulting from the 2010 FIFA
World Cup will stimulate the development of youth plans which the association has implemented successfully for the last few years.
Two stadiums will not be built if the 2010 FIFA World Cup is not granted to Egypt.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: MOROCCO
Morocco conducted excellent promotion and presentation of the bid, in their
fourth campaign. Furthermore, the 2010 FIFA World Cup is part of a new national
development strategy, called Vision 2010, with a government completely dedicated
to this plan.
The project to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup presented to the group was clear,
detailed and stable, proving its reliability. The presentation of the budget was
outstanding. Furthermore there is a strong backing from the government for the
bid. The people are enthusiastic about football, showing their joy at the prospect
of hosting the World Cup in a modest way.
Despite the very poor involvement of the association in the bidding and the actual lack of football infrastructure, the Inspection Group's opinion is that Morocco has the potential to organise a very good World Cup.
However, we do have some concern that three stadiums presented to
the 2006 Inspection Group in February 2000 as under construction have not been realised at all.
Country commitment
Government: Total commitment with full financial support.
Public: Normal enthusiasm.
Football
Stadiums: Nine stadiums for the 2010 FIFA World Cup - Three to be renovated, Two under construction, One ready to start construction, Three to be constructed.
Training facilities: Plans must be completely reviewed.
Standard of football: Good international standard with normal local organisation.
General country infrastructure
Transportation: Will be very capable of handling the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Telecommunications: Will be capable of meeting World Cup standards.
Hotels: Excellent hotel infrastructure.
Safety and security: Good internal security system.
Medical centres: Need huge improvements.
Finance
Budget for the 2010 FIFA World Cup: Outstanding presentation; minimum
changes must be made.
Ticketing: Whole policy should be revised.
Legacy
Country: The 2010 FIFA World Cup will greatly assist in fulfilling the Vision
2010 government plan for developing the country.
Football: The infrastructure and organisation resulting from the 2010 FIFA World Cup may give the association the know-how to run a full professional football league.
Three stadiums will not be built if the 2010 FIFA World Cup is not
granted to Morocco.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: TUNISIA
In Tunisia, the Inspection Group witnessed and listened every day to the interest
expressed by sporting and government officials in co-hosting the World Cup with
Libya. The Inspection Group only considered Tunisia as a single World Cup bidding
country, as established in the FIFA World Cup regulations and the Tunisian
bidding book.
This country has the splendid Rades Stadium and a very high level of
football.
But the Inspection Group feels that the commitment of the country and the association is to co-host the World Cup. If they change their opinion about co-hosting, and they follow their bidding book, they have the potential to organise a good World Cup.
Country commitment
Government: They are strongly committed to co-hosting the 2010 FIFA World
Cup with Libya.
Public: Normal enthusiasm from people in the street.
Football
Stadiums: Eight stadiums for the 2010 FIFA World Cup - One ready, Three to be renovated, Four to be built.
Training facilities: Very good, pitches must be improved.
Standard of football: At the moment top in Africa.
General country infrastructure
Transportation: Will be capable of handling the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Telecommunications: Will be capable of meeting World Cup standards.
Hotels: Excellent hotel infrastructure.
Safety and security: Good internal security
system.
Medical centres: Some good facilities for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Finance
Budget for the 2010 FIFA World Cup: Requires complete revision.
Ticketing: Whole policy should be revised.
Legacy
Country: The 2010 FIFA World Cup will develop and consolidate the country
as one of the strongest Mediterranean tourism destinations.
Football: The infrastructure and organisation resulting from the 2010 FIFA
World Cup will stimulate the development of current youth plans and keep the country at a very high African football level.
There are no guarantees that the construction work will be carried
out if the 2010 FIFA World Cup is not granted to Tunisia.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: LIBYA
The Inspection Group takes the view that Libya would face great difficulties in
organising a World Cup to the standards required, despite the spontaneous
enthusiasm of the people, the commitment
of the association, and the huge
financial resources available for construction of sports arenas.
The Inspection Group has summarised the obstacles as follows: lack of experience
in organising international sports events, insufficient time to prepare the
various cities in the country to welcome a World Cup, the enormous difficulties
facing fans from around the world in finding accommodation, entertainment and
leisure during their stay and, finally, the support from the authorities for a multico-
hosting World Cup in Africa.
Country commitment
Government: They are committed, but to their own head of state's project.
Public: Huge enthusiasm.
Football
Stadiums: Eight stadiums for the 2010 FIFA World Cup - All to be built.
Training facilities: Not enough suitable facilities.
Standard of football: Good local football, without international success.
General country infrastructure
Transportation: With
significant investment could be capable of organising the
2010 FIFA World Cup.
Telecommunications: Drastic investment and more qualified people needed.
Hotels: Not enough hotel infrastructure.
Safety and security: Excellent internal security system.
Medical centres: Some very good facilities for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Finance
Budget for the 2010 FIFA World Cup: Requires complete revision.
Ticketing: Whole policy should be revised.
Legacy
Country: The 2010 FIFA World Cup will open the country up to the world.
Football: The football legacy will be limited, but with the new infrastructure resulting from the 2010 FIFA World Cup, they may have an open opportunity for the development of their League and youth football.
No stadium will be built if the 2010 FIFA World Cup is not granted to Libya.
SouthAfrica.info reporter. Executive summaries sourced from FIFA.com
| 
