JOHANNESBURG, August 16 (Xinhua) -- South African organizers for the first soccer World Cup in Africa on Wednesday reiterated their confidence that the country can deliver a successful tournament while beating pessimism on the African continent.
Much preparatory work had been done and many others are well on the track for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Danny Jordaan, chief executive of the tournament's Local Organizing Committee (LOC), said in Johannesburg on Wednesday, citing the finalized match schedule, sold broadcast rights, established website and new stadiums under construction.
Jordaan said the preliminary draw, the first official event as run-up to the 2010 World Cup, will be held in Durban on November 25, with the highest number of countries ever had entered for the event.
"If it's not going to happen, why would 204 countries want to participate and win one of the 32 places?" he told a 2010 National Communications Partnership Conference.
A total of 197 countries and regions had entered the preliminary draw to decide qualifying groups that eventually produced 32 teams for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
South Africa and FIFA, the world soccer governing body, have repeatedly fended off suspicions over the country's ability to host a World Cup, particularly rumors that South Africa could be replaced by other countries as the host.
Jordaan said much work had already been completed. Nine host cities had been confirmed, stadium contracts had been signed, legislation had been finalized, match schedules completed, all senior managers appointed and 95 percent of the broadcast rights had been sold.
On the stadiums, Jordaan said the organizing committee was "quite comfortable" with progress being made. Five new stadiums were being built, one was receiving a major upgrade and there were already four existing ones.
"Four of the stadiums can be used to host the FIFA World Cup tomorrow, "he said.
"We are convinced that all these stadiums will be ready for 2010. If we do it on deadline we will be the first host in the world to complete all its stadia on time," he said.
Efforts were also being made to ensure that the tickets, of which there would be about 3.5 million available, would be affordable. The cheapest ones had cost 36 euros in Germany in 2006.
Jordaan said about two million people had visited Germany for the 2006 World Cup, with 30 percent of them day trippers. The long-distance meant that South Africa would likely receive less tourists, but that they would stay for longer.
On technology, Jordaan said the 2010 event would be broadcast in high-definition television and full broadcasts would be available on mobile phones.
Delegates from African media and communication industries used the one-day conference to discuss how to make the 2010 World Cup an opportunity to positively project Africa, which is often associated with conflicts, famines, corruption and diseases in international media coverage.
The World Cup is "an opportunity to reposition our continent and country in the minds of people all over the world," Yvonne Johnston, CEO of South Africa's International Marketing Council, said, adding that " Africa has much to be proud of."
She said Africa should be highlighted as "a continent that is politically and economically transformed; a continent where the extraction of raw materials is being overtaken by beneficiation and innovation on home soil; a continent that is safe, welcoming and efficient."
