The ten stadiums that will host the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ were all completed six months ahead of the tournament’s kickoff - all built to world-class standards with their own unique characteristics.

This feat was a major tribute to the professionalism, skills and work ethic of South Africa’s construction industry and the tens of thousands of stadium construction workers who worked on the project.

As an additional reward to those workers, the decision was made by the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa (OC) and FIFA to provide two Category Four tickets to the workers who helped build the country’s FIFA World Cup stadiums.

The number of Ticket Fund tickets available for construction workers was recently increased to 54 000, up from the initial 40 000 tickets, enabling the 2010 Organising Committee to supply tickets to a total of 27 000 construction workers.

Working closely with the Host Cities and stadium contractors, the Organising Committee has identified eligible workers who qualify to receive the tickets. The OC has individually written to all workers informing them that they will receive double tickets to matches in their cities for their “selfless contribution” to the construction of the tournament stadiums.

Workers will initially receive ticket vouchers which will be distributed across the country in May, with the vouchers enabling workers to pick up their actual match tickets at ticketing centres in every Host City.

“We have certainly travelled a long road since the first stadium inspection tour in 2005. In each inspection we saw the stadiums develop from an idea on a piece of paper in an architect’s office to the magnificent football arenas that we see before us today,” said the OC Chief Executive Officer, Dr Danny Jordaan after the last stadium inspection tour in March.

“We can say with confidence that we have delivered on our promise of ten world class stadiums and we have delivered them months before the tournament even starts,” Dr Jordaan added.

This is testament to the committed men and women on stadium construction sites who have turned South Africa’s FIFA World Cup dream into reality.