South Africa has had its work cut out convincing the world it
will be capable 2010 FIFA World Cup™ hosts, but International
Olympic Committee (IOC) president Dr Jacques Rogge is one of the
country's most influential backers.
Rogge this week completed a five-day visit of southern
Africa, during which he used South Africa as his base, and on his
trip he said unequivocally that he is "absolutely
convinced" that South Africa will host a successful 2010 FIFA
World Cup™.
"South Africa is by far the most advanced country, in
terms of economics, sports expertise and political stability on the
African continent. You have great infrastructure and also
importantly you have a very good football team. You saw the
importance of having a good home team when you hosted the 1995
Rugby World Cup (which South Africa won). I'm not forecasting a
victory for South Africa in the FIFA World Cup in 2010 of course,
but I know you will definitely put on a very good show," Rogge
said in an interview.
He added that South Africa had a good track record of hosting
major sporting events and that he had no doubt the country was
equal to the task of hosting the African continent's first FIFA
World Cup™.
"I don't think you have many very big challenges.
There are always things that can be improved, but you are capable
of organising big events. South Africans have proved themselves to
be good athletes in the past and also good organisers, having
successfully hosted the IRB Rugby World Cup in 1995 and the ICC
Cricket World Cup in 2003. South Africa's a wonderful country,
with wonderful people. It's always hard work until the very
last moment to host an event as big as the FIFA World Cup, but you
have all the fundamentals in place to host a successful
tournament," said Dr Rogge.
During his South African trip Dr Rogge visited SAFA House,
the headquarters of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee
South Africa, and was given what he called a "very
impressive" briefing by the OC on the progress of the
country's preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.
"Like the Olympics, the FIFA World Cup triggers a lot of
expectations in the host country and in the whole world. Organising
it is never easy. But I received a briefing that was very
impressive and reassuring. The FIFA World Cup, together with the
Olympics, are the largest sporting events in the world. The
Organising Committee is a very professional team that sets very
clear deadlines and those deadlines are met," said Dr Rogge
after his visit to SAFA House.
He added that during the planning phase of such massive
undertakings as the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics it was
inevitable that critics would often question the progress of
preparations.
"There are always question marks because people
don't see anything tangible occurring. The FIFA Confederations
Cup in 2009 will make people excited about the FIFA World Cup. We
see the same with the torch bearing for the Olympics. People want
to see before they believe. The more you progress, the more you see
the approval rates augmenting. Let me be very clear, I am
absolutely convinced that South Africa in particular, and Africa
generally, are capable of hosting this major sporting event,"
said Dr Rogge.
The Olympic football tournament has played a more prominent
role in the success of the Olympics in recent times and Rogge said
the IOC's relationship with FIFA was a very good one.
"I have a wonderful relationship with FIFA and its
president Joseph Blatter is an influential and positive IOC member.
I can say without exaggeration that football is the biggest sport
in the world and the FIFA World Cup, together with the Olympic
Games, are the two major sporting events. We at the IOC have
regular meetings with FIFA and I want to congratulate Sepp Blatter
for having the brilliant and generous idea of having the FIFA World
Cup in Africa for the first time. I am sure it's going to be a
great success," said Dr Rogge.
Dr Rogge's visit to South Africa was to familiarise
himself with issues relating to sport and Olympism in South Africa
and the rest of the African continent.
He said the development of sport on the African continent is
one of the IOC's biggest priorities, with the IOC committing
itself to spending $65 million on developing sport on the
continent.
