As South Africa stands on the cusp of hosting the FIFA Confederations Cup, the Chief Executive Officer of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa (OC), Dr Danny Jordaan, has declared the country ready to host the first major FIFA tournament on African soil.

"Transport, ticketing, safety, ICT, hospitality, and accommodation are all ready," Jordaan told media at a breakfast briefing this morning.

Jordaan said the stadiums and surrounding facilities, being used for the FIFA Confederations Cup were more than ready. "Our approach has been to use only existing stadiums for the competition, requiring only the minimum outlay, and these are complete and finalised," said Jordaan.

Looking forward to next year as South Africa marks exactly one year to the 2010 FIFA World Cup on Thursday 11 June 2009, Jordaan took the opportunity to discuss the progress made on the other stadiums being built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

"These are the best stadiums in the world, I have seen many so I can tell you, structurally, architecturally, they are all incredible," said Jordaan.

The first newly-built 2010 stadium, in Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth, was officially opened on Sunday, allowing thousands of people living in the area an opportunity to enter their stadium and sit in its seats. "I can't think of an international tournament of this size where the infrastructure was ready a year before the contest started," said Jordaan.

Jordaan made the point that South Africa has surpassed expectations, and that the country's readiness for the FIFA Confederations Cup could only bode well 2010.

Safety and security is a key issue for both local and international spectators hoping to visit South Africa's cities, during both the FIFA Confederations Cup and the FIFA World Cup next year and Jordaan stressed that the safety of individuals visiting South Africa would be ensured.

"South Africa has hosted 146 international events without a single major incident," said Jordaan. "Of course people must be mindful of criminal elements, but no more so than anywhere else in the world."

To mark a year to the official kick-off of the FIFA 2010 World Cup, Jordaan will be meeting delegates from the World Economic Forum, currently underway in Cape Town, to explore the legacy potential for Africa's first FIFA World Cup.

"This is an African World Cup, but it is also a first class World Cup and we mustn't forget that," said Jordaan.

Speaking about the landmark tomorrow holds, Jordaan emphasised the long road South Africa has travelled to reach this point.

"It has been an incredible journey of hope, despair, hope again and eventually triumph - Ke Nako (It's Time) South Africa."