Elections will not affect 2010: Mbeki
Michael Appel
16 September 2008
Next year's general elections and subsequent change in government will not prevent South Africa from delivering the best World Cup yet in 2010, South African President Thabo Mbeki said following a meeting with Fifa president Sepp Blatter on Sunday.
Addressing the media at the presidential guesthouse in Pretoria, Mbeki said that while elections next year would usher in a new leadership, various government institutions and the local organising committee (LOC) were all committed to making the World Cup a successful tournament.
"I have assured President Blatter that the government, institutions and the LOC are all very committed to ensure that this is a very successful tournament," Mbeki said.
In addition, Fifa, together with the LOC, have agreed that Blatter will also meet with African National Congress President Jacob Zuma.
"They will be discussing the same questions that President Blatter and I discussed today," Mbeki said. "It doesn't matter what happens here with regard to the political challenges, this country will meet its commitments to Fifa."
Extensive discussions
Mbeki on Sunday held extensive discussions with Blatter, who is on a three-day tour of the country to inspect the progress on preparations at various sites to host the World Cup.
Mbeki told Blatter that South Africa was also committed to ensuring that the tournament remained an African tournament, while at the same time ensuring that all Fifa obligations were met.
During his trip, Blatter will visit three stadiums, starting with the Green Point stadium in Cape Town, during which he will meet with Cape Town Mayor Helen Zille.
"I will then have the privilege to meet the model of modern South Africa, Nelson Mandela," he said. "I will have the honour to offer Mandela a smaller model of the world cup trophy because he was instrumental in bringing the world cup to South Africa."
Blatter will then visit both the Ellis Park and Soccer City stadiums in Johannesburg.
100% trust in SA
Blatter, for his part, said his objective in South Africa was to assure the whole country that Fifa had 100% trust and confidence in the country's ability to host the World Cup in 2010, adding that he believed that the stadiums would be ready and visitors would be well-received during the tournament.
"What we need a little more is for the whole country to say 'Yes, let's go' and get the determination to go forward, whatever happens in this country," Blatter said. "It's a nationwide event with an international, universal importance - there is no single event in the world that will have the same audience."
He further highlighted that football had 260 million active participants across the world, while Fifa also had a higher number of member countries than the United Nations - an illustration the power of the sport.
"Football is hope and football is emotion … and what do we need more in this world than hope and emotion," Blatter said.
Source: BuaNews
