Share

All promises delivered - LOC

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.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
loading... Live
Edinburgh 19
Zebre 14
loading... Live
Dragons 14
Stormers 13
Voting Booth
Should the Proteas pick Faf du Plessis for the T20 World Cup in West Indies and the United States in June?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Faf still has a lot to give ...
68% - 2740 votes
No! It's time to move on ...
32% - 1287 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE