National News
All promises delivered - LOC
2010-06-01 18:20
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Johannesburg - The World Cup would bring South Africans together to create the kind of SA that Nelson Mandela would have wanted, Danny Jordaan said on Tuesday.
Jordaan, the CEO of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the FIFA World Cup that starts in nine days, promised the event would be "an intense emotional experience".
"You saw the Blue Bulls in Soweto... they arrived there with their Blue vuvuzelas, it's about our people coming together," he said.
Speaking at the Sandton Sun hotel in Johannesburg after the final board meeting before the tournament, LOC chair Irvin Khoza said the LOC delivered its promises to FIFA.
"Today I am confident that we have created history... what we promised, we have delivered," said Khoza.
"We have delivered stadia required by FIFA on time, four months before the event... we have been fully compliant... we have come up with stadia that's a piece of art."
Jordaan said that the targets for airports, roads and infrastructure have all been met.
"The experience the fans would have with South African people will enable you to see celebrations of joy... after the last board meeting we can look back and say that you will enjoy this World Cup," he said.
"This is as a result of the spirit and commitment of (Bafana Bafana) and the complete turnaround of doubters who are now believers."
FIFA president Sepp Blatter joined the start of the board meeting which was also attended by the chairman of the FIFA World Cup Organising Committee, Issa Hayatou and FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke.
One of the topics of the meeting was the much anticipated opening ceremony which will have a cast of over 2 000 people and has been billed as "welcoming the world home".
Only ticket holders to the opening match between SA and Mexico on June 11 will be allowed access to the opening ceremony which will be broadcasted live to viewers around the world.