The premier during her State of the Province emphasised the need to do things differently as the province and also action all the plans and prioritise the projects that yield benefit for the people of Gauteng.
The Department of Sport and Recreation’s mandate is to ensure access, increase participation and transform the sports, arts, culture and recreation sectors in a manner that yields optimum social and economic benefits for all in the province, promote nation building and social cohesion.
For us as a department we are very excited because this is the year we all have been waiting for, a year where we promise to do our utmost as we are the heart of everything that will happen around the 2010 FIFA World Cup. As the soul of the biggest party as the department we are ready and rearing to go.
Stadiums
Stadiums such as Soccer City, Ellis Park and Loftus are ready for the big games and the minor touch ups that needed to be done are complete. The Nasrec precinct upgrade and public transport hub are approximately 90% complete. The pedestrian bridge over the railway station between Nasrec and Soccer City has been completed. The Railway Station basic infrastructure is also 90% ready for the soccer’s biggest event.
Team based camps training venues
The Rand Stadium, Ruimsig Stadium, Wits Rugby Stadium, Super Stadium and Dobsonville Stadium will be used in Johannesburg as official training venues while Super Stadium and HM Pitje or Pilditch Stadia will be used in Tshwane. Stadia such as Makhulong and George Thabe will be used as training venues during the team base camps.
Infrastructure
The construction of major freeways will be halted in May to make way for the World Cup spectacular. The Albertina Sisulu motorway and Giloolys interchange is key as they are critical linkages between OR Tambo International Airport, Tshwane (Loftus), Sandton FIFA offices, Soccer City and Ellis Park will be beautified.
The Railway stations across Gauteng have been renovated and reconstructed. International Broadcaster Centre is almost complete. The venues such as Devonshire, Parktonian, Baker House, Dudley Heights, Skyway and YMCA situated in Braamfontein have been identified as the media accommodation.
Health Medical and Emergency Services
All our Hospitals in the province are ready for any eventualities. Communicable disease outbreak teams have been established and places of safety have been identified for lost children and victims of abuse.
Disaster Management Services
The Gauteng Disaster Management Centre responsible for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear response services is complete and the airport emergency response plan is also in place.
Safety, Security and Policing
The Provincial Joint Operation Structure led by SAPS meets on a monthly basis to assess the state of readiness on Safety and Security issues. Dry Runs have been conducted and more are in the planning stage. More police members are being recruited and trained. Police stations such as Jeppe, Booysens and Sunnyside are linked to Ellis Park, Soccer City and Loftus Versfeld stadia respectively.
The corresponding courts with dedicated personnel and facilities are Johannesburg Magistrate Court, Protea Court and Sunnyside Court respectively.
National Safety and Security plans on management of the event have been submitted and approved by FIFA. High-Tech equipment and vehicles for crime and terrorism combating have been purchased and dry runs have been conducted during Confederations Cup and are continuing.
Special police have are already been deployed in trains to reduce crime as most people will be using trains during the World Cup to and from fan parks and matches.
Transport and traffic management
Transport plan is well in place and the Gauteng Traffic Police in partnership with the Metro Police and district traffic police have developed and started implementing a traffic management plan. Interaction between the Gauteng Traffic Police and neighbouring provincial traffic authorities for coordination of activities to mitigate risks has already taken place.
Plans are afoot to deploy traffic police services at airport in the province such as the OR Tambo International Airport, Lanseria, Wonderboom and Grand Central Airports for the safe arrivals and departures of visitors on our shores. We will also be using rail and busses services as alternative transport.
Green Goal
Working closely with municipalities, the department is working towards the greening project throughout the province during the 2010 World Cup through the implementation of planting trees and building of eco-parks in townships.
Volunteer programmes
There is still a need for about 3 950 and 1 880 volunteers in the City of Joburg and City of Tshwane respectively. These volunteers are needed in 11 functional areas namely accreditation, administration, information technology and telecommunication, Language support, logistics services, marketing, media, protocol services, transport, volunteer management, welcome and information services.
However, interview process for both host cities started on 11 January 2010 and will end on 26 February. We envisage that training for the selected volunteers takes place from 19 to 21 March 2010.
Development programmes
The department has taken a conscious decision to re-direct most of its key projects to coincide with the hosting of 2010 World Cup to boost tourism opportunities for the province. These initiatives include.
* Football Development
* Legacy Programmes
* Youth Volunteer Programmes
* 2010 Schools Holiday Programme
* Mini World Cup Festivals
* Adventure 2010 schools World Cup – National tournament
* Adopt a country programme
* GPG Integrated School Holiday Project
The overall aim of these initiatives is to involve young people over the holiday period and to improve quality of their lives by protect them against social challenges that may impair their human development ability. The special holiday programme will require the cooperation of various Gauteng Provincial Government departments.
Public Viewing Areas
The province will explore the use of community halls as public viewing areas during the World Cup as the tournament takes place winter. Working closely with municipalities we will refurbish halls in identified areas in the province to suit public viewing areas needs and change their face as part of legacy.
A viability study will be conducted to activate township TV’s to act as Public Viewing Areas, which will be turned into places of entertainment, craft markets, and exhibitions and centres for informal traders contributing to local economic development.
We will engage with Big Business to sponsor Public Viewing Areas to offset high costs and provide them branding and other business opportunities as a return on investments.
The State of readiness summit
A Summit with Stakeholders will be organised in March 2010 to demonstrate that Gauteng is ready to host the FIFA World Cup. The summit will tackle issues such as engagement with heads of football fan clubs, Local Soccer Teams and Stakeholders in the Hospitality Sector as part of mobilisation and engagement on the preparations for the World Cup.
Gateway Project
As the heartland of the FIFA World Cup Gauteng province has introduced Gateway Project, an initiative not only for economic and tourism opportunities for communities, but it will enhance communication, marketing and branding of Gauteng to help position it as a smart province.
The Gateway project will also ensure that the people of Gauteng will effectively host and participate in the economic opportunities arising from the World Cup.
Its main objectives is to mobilize all resources of Gauteng towards a common goal and vision, market Gauteng offerings to our potential domestic and foreign visitors and most importantly to promote Gauteng as a preferred tourist, trade and investment destination beyond the World Cup.
To enhance visitor experiences by improved service levels and tourism products.
As the department we are proud that we are hosting this momentous occasion, my humble request is that we all have to make it possible that not only do our people celebrate but that we mirror the nation’s soul. It is for these reasons that we all work together, and for us as the cultural ambassadors of Gauteng province we encourage all to get involved in ensuring the success of the 2010 World Cup.
Ke Nako!
For more information contact:
Nomvula Khalo
082 713 1538
011 355 2769
Issued by: Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Gauteng Provincial Government
23 February 2010
Source: Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.srac.gpg.gov.za/)
