ronin2172
05-15-2004, 12:30 PM
South Africa celebrates historic World Cup prize
By Mike Collett
ZURICH, May 15 (*******) - South Africa celebrated one of the greatest days in its history on Saturday as it won the right to stage the first soccer World Cup held in Africa in 2010.
A strong bid based on modern telecommunications, sophisticated infrastructure and impressive stadiums persuaded the 24 executive committee members of FIFA, world soccer's governing body, to award the finals to South Africa.
The World Cup is the biggest sporting event outside the Summer Olympics and staging the 32-team tournament will test South Africa's expertise to the highest level.
Former president Nelson Mandela, who was an ambassador for the bid, said last week that hosting the finals would be a perfect gift as South Africa celebrates 10 years of democracy.
He said it would add three billion rand ($423 million) to the economy and create more than 150,000 jobs in a country where unemployment is over 30 percent and poverty is rife.
South Africa controversially lost out by a single vote to Germany four years ago in the race to stage the 2006 finals.
This time there was no heartbreak just the sound of ecstatic cheering and horn-blowing at Zurich's World Trade Centre from South African supporters as FIFA president Sepp Blatter revealed the winning name from a large white envelope.
WIDESPREAD DELIGHT
In South Africa there was an outpouring of delight throughout the country. Following the end of the racist, apartheid era and release of Mandela, South Africans were celebrating another landmark in their history.
South Africa's victory was secured in the first round with 14 votes against 10 for Morocco, which thereby failed in its fourth bid to stage the finals.
Egypt, the third bidding nation, received no votes although its final presentation on Friday, and which included actor Omar Sharif, was praised by Blatter as the best of the four they saw.
Tunisia withdrew on Friday when FIFA turned down a plan to co-host with Libya, while Libya's bid was disqualified on Saturday over a legal dispute regarding visa issues.
While the Moroccans, Egyptians, Libyans and Tunisians were left to ponder what might have been, South Africans were rejoicing for what will be.
"Thank you FIFA. Thank you Sepp Blatter," said Irvin Khoza, chairman of South Africa's bidding committee. "This is for Africa. This is the people of the world voting for Africa's renewal."
MARKED CONTRAST
The victory scenes were in marked contrast to four years ago when then-FIFA executive committee member Charles Dempsey of New Zealand defied orders to vote for South Africa and abstained, handing the 2006 finals to Germany on a 12-11 majority.
This time Mandela, who at 85 is his country's iconic leader, was able to pose with the World Cup trophy.
He beamed: "I feel like a young man of 15, and the beauty of this victory is that we were dealing with highly capable competitors who made it difficult for us to forecast what the outcome would be".
Danny Jordaan, the tireless chief executive of the bid, said: "FIFA have found Africa worthy after 100 years. Two years ago, economists were saying Africa was a basket case but FIFA have said to Africa today, 'We have confidence in you'. It's wonderful to be an African and to feel world class."
Morocco's bid leader Saad Kettani congratulated the South Africans and said the 2010 World Cup would be a great event.
"We're disappointed but we're not desperately upset because this is part of a much greater strategic plan for Morocco," he said. "This bid was part of our programme of reforms."
Hisham Azmy, the general co-ordinator of Egypt's bid, was also downcast but offered South Africa his congratulations.
ROTATIONAL POLICY
FIFA decided in 2001 that the World Cup, which alternated between South America and Europe for most of its first seven decades, would in future be rotated around the confederations.
The 2002 finals were already set for Asia, while 2006 was awarded to Germany in 2000. FIFA's rotation begins in Africa in 2010 with South America assured of the 2014 event. Europe is next expected to stage the World Cup in 2018.
Franz Beckenbauer, president of Germany's 2006 organising committee, said: "South Africa will be very good hosts. In 2000, when we won a close decision over them, their presentation showed that they could stage warm and joyful finals."
The South Africans are not without experience of big events, having hosted the 1995 Rugby World Cup and the 2003 Cricket World Cup successfully.
However, the soccer World Cup, which began in 1930, is far bigger and will have a huge impact in all areas of a diverse South African society whether social, cultural or economic.
The country sent a high-profile mission to Switzerland, led by Mandela, President Thabo Mbeki and Nobel Peace prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu in their efforts to win the vote.
Tutu jigged with delight on the stage moments after the decision was announced.
South Africa's hopes of success were boosted at the start of the month after FIFA inspectors rated its facilities as the best of the five competing countries.
By Mike Collett
ZURICH, May 15 (*******) - South Africa celebrated one of the greatest days in its history on Saturday as it won the right to stage the first soccer World Cup held in Africa in 2010.
A strong bid based on modern telecommunications, sophisticated infrastructure and impressive stadiums persuaded the 24 executive committee members of FIFA, world soccer's governing body, to award the finals to South Africa.
The World Cup is the biggest sporting event outside the Summer Olympics and staging the 32-team tournament will test South Africa's expertise to the highest level.
Former president Nelson Mandela, who was an ambassador for the bid, said last week that hosting the finals would be a perfect gift as South Africa celebrates 10 years of democracy.
He said it would add three billion rand ($423 million) to the economy and create more than 150,000 jobs in a country where unemployment is over 30 percent and poverty is rife.
South Africa controversially lost out by a single vote to Germany four years ago in the race to stage the 2006 finals.
This time there was no heartbreak just the sound of ecstatic cheering and horn-blowing at Zurich's World Trade Centre from South African supporters as FIFA president Sepp Blatter revealed the winning name from a large white envelope.
WIDESPREAD DELIGHT
In South Africa there was an outpouring of delight throughout the country. Following the end of the racist, apartheid era and release of Mandela, South Africans were celebrating another landmark in their history.
South Africa's victory was secured in the first round with 14 votes against 10 for Morocco, which thereby failed in its fourth bid to stage the finals.
Egypt, the third bidding nation, received no votes although its final presentation on Friday, and which included actor Omar Sharif, was praised by Blatter as the best of the four they saw.
Tunisia withdrew on Friday when FIFA turned down a plan to co-host with Libya, while Libya's bid was disqualified on Saturday over a legal dispute regarding visa issues.
While the Moroccans, Egyptians, Libyans and Tunisians were left to ponder what might have been, South Africans were rejoicing for what will be.
"Thank you FIFA. Thank you Sepp Blatter," said Irvin Khoza, chairman of South Africa's bidding committee. "This is for Africa. This is the people of the world voting for Africa's renewal."
MARKED CONTRAST
The victory scenes were in marked contrast to four years ago when then-FIFA executive committee member Charles Dempsey of New Zealand defied orders to vote for South Africa and abstained, handing the 2006 finals to Germany on a 12-11 majority.
This time Mandela, who at 85 is his country's iconic leader, was able to pose with the World Cup trophy.
He beamed: "I feel like a young man of 15, and the beauty of this victory is that we were dealing with highly capable competitors who made it difficult for us to forecast what the outcome would be".
Danny Jordaan, the tireless chief executive of the bid, said: "FIFA have found Africa worthy after 100 years. Two years ago, economists were saying Africa was a basket case but FIFA have said to Africa today, 'We have confidence in you'. It's wonderful to be an African and to feel world class."
Morocco's bid leader Saad Kettani congratulated the South Africans and said the 2010 World Cup would be a great event.
"We're disappointed but we're not desperately upset because this is part of a much greater strategic plan for Morocco," he said. "This bid was part of our programme of reforms."
Hisham Azmy, the general co-ordinator of Egypt's bid, was also downcast but offered South Africa his congratulations.
ROTATIONAL POLICY
FIFA decided in 2001 that the World Cup, which alternated between South America and Europe for most of its first seven decades, would in future be rotated around the confederations.
The 2002 finals were already set for Asia, while 2006 was awarded to Germany in 2000. FIFA's rotation begins in Africa in 2010 with South America assured of the 2014 event. Europe is next expected to stage the World Cup in 2018.
Franz Beckenbauer, president of Germany's 2006 organising committee, said: "South Africa will be very good hosts. In 2000, when we won a close decision over them, their presentation showed that they could stage warm and joyful finals."
The South Africans are not without experience of big events, having hosted the 1995 Rugby World Cup and the 2003 Cricket World Cup successfully.
However, the soccer World Cup, which began in 1930, is far bigger and will have a huge impact in all areas of a diverse South African society whether social, cultural or economic.
The country sent a high-profile mission to Switzerland, led by Mandela, President Thabo Mbeki and Nobel Peace prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu in their efforts to win the vote.
Tutu jigged with delight on the stage moments after the decision was announced.
South Africa's hopes of success were boosted at the start of the month after FIFA inspectors rated its facilities as the best of the five competing countries.