Gauteng is unsurprisingly the centre stage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. With three match venues located in Johannesburg and Pretoria, the International Broadcasting Centre, the temporary FIFA headquarters, the biggest and busiest port of entry for foreign visitors travelling by air, OR Tambo International Airport and housing base camps of 18 out of 31 visiting teams, Gauteng is truly the hub of the World Cup.
As you all know this stadium, Soccer City, will host both the opening match and the finals, meaning that the world cup will start and end in Gauteng. As government, we understand very well the huge responsibilities of being the centre-stage and the heart and pulse of the World Cup. We have a duty to ensure that the 2010 FIFA World Cup is successful. Failure is not an option. We have since 2004 worked very hard with the national government, the host cities and other municipalities in our province to prepare Gauteng to host the biggest football spectacle in the world.
We are satisfied with the work that we have done that Gauteng is ready to welcome the multitude of visitors expected to attend the world cup. All match venues will be ready. Ellis Park and Loftus Versfeld are ready while finishing touches such as paving and landscaping are still being completed at Soccer City.
The government has also attended to all other matters that can have an impact in the success of the world cup. There are clear plans to deal with disaster management, emergency services, traffic management, security, hospitality, entertainment and other related matters which may impact on the success of the world cup. Our plans are being tested regularly and we are satisfied that Gauteng is ready to host the world cup.
The Gauteng provincial government, together with municipalities and national government, have done everything to ensure that fans, players, officials, organisers, sponsors and everybody else who will be part of the world cup are able to stay and move freely and safely within Gauteng.
Our province is Africa with a difference, offering the best of all worlds. Our people are ready to receive the world because they know they are the true hosts of this important event. The world cup buzz can be heard in all our townships, villages and cities where our people are ready to lay a red carpet to the multitude of visitors and give them a very warm African welcome.
You will feel the excitement and warmth of our people later today when we visit Soweto and I hope that will give you a glimpse of what our visitors can expect when they arrive here for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Gauteng is full of life with plenty of entertainment for everyone, and I can assure the visitors that the people of Gauteng will do everything to ensure that their stay in this province is most enjoyable and memorable.
Thank You
Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government
26 February 2010
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.gautengonline.gov.za/)
