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Johannesburg - Former president Nelson Mandela will be given the honour of presenting the World Cup trophy to the winner of Sunday’s final, if he attends the match, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said on Thursday.
"If he comes and stays to the end (of the final) then it is possible he will present the trophy," Blatter told a press briefing in Johannesburg.
The match between Spain and Holland kicks off at 20:30.
“We all know the reason why Madiba could not attend the opening ceremony also at Soccer City, due to sad bereavement in his family. But we hope he can attend the final. Presenting the trophy would be a fitting honour for South Africa and Africa as Mandela was one of the driving lights to bring the World Cup to South Africa.”
Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke said over one million tourists visited the country in June.
“At least a third of those came to watch the World Cup.”
Chairperson of the 2010 Organising Committee (OC) Irvin Khoza said the number of tourists had far exceeded expectations.
Blatter said he was satisfied and happy with the way the tournament had been organised: “We have had 62 of the 64 games so far and the tournament has been a great success. Both South Africa and Africa can be proud of their achievements by successfully staging this wonderful event."
Stadiums are jewels
On the new stadiums built and those renovated for the finals Blatter said: “There is not one single country in Europe that has such world class stadiums as South Africa. The stadiums are jewels. They are superbly built and every fan inside has a good view of the action on the pitch.”
Blatter gave his endorsement to South Africa hosting the Olympic Games in 2020: “If a country can host the World Cup they can host the Summer Olympics. I will tell the IOC (International Olympic Committee) that South Africa is ready to host the Summer Olympics.”
On the contentious matter of goal-line technology Blatter said the issue would be debated by FIFA's law makers, the International Football Committee.
Blatter was responding to a question on whether the rules would be changed and the technology introduced after Uruguay striker Luis Suarez deliberately handled the ball in the last minute of extra time, in the quarter-final match against Ghana, to deny Ghana victory and a place in the semi-finals for the first time.
Uruguay reached the semi-finals by beating Ghana in a penalty shoot-out.
Said Blatter: “The issue of technology would be placed on the agenda at the International Football Committee, who will table it at their meeting in Cardiff (Wales) on July 26 for further discussion."
