Jordaan rubbishes Brazil takeover: report
18/7/2008 17:48
The 2010 World Cup chief executive officer, Danny Jordaan, yesterday
blasted at reports from Spain that Brazil was ready to host the 2010 showpiece
event, should South African not be able to host the event.
Speaking at the
South African National Editors Forum in Johannesburg, Jordaan scoffed at the
agency report that said FIFA had already discussed the issue with Brazil.
"I
have read this report. It does not have a source. There is nobody quoted and
frankly is just another of the same old stories we keep hearing over and over,"
Jordaan said.
"There is no substance to it whatsoever. Brazil will host the
2014 World Cup. South Africa will host the 2010 event."
FIFA president Sepp
Blatter set the cat among the pigeons when he said recently that he had a Plan B
in place should South Africa not be able to stage the biggest soccer event in
soccer history.
FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke was at pains to play
down the report at the time, claiming that FIFA's Plan B only became effective
should South Africa suffer a major natural disaster.
Jordaan again stated
that only God could prevent South Africa hosting the 2010 World Cup
finals.
Jordaan also disclosed that the 2010 tournament, the first to be
staged in Africa in over 100 years of FIFA history, had already generated US$3.5
billion.
"Germany generated US$2.8 billion when they staged the World Cup in
2006. With two years to go we have made history by generating more money than
any other World Cup in over 100 years," said Jordaan.
Jordaan also revealed
that he was part of the FIFA decision making inner circle for the 2010 event.
"If there were plans to take the finals away from South Africa, surely I would
have known about such plans. Frankly they are nonsense as FIFA are committed to
2010 in South Africa," he added.
Jordaan also pointed out that 12 million
rand (about 7.7 rand equals US$1) had been budgeted for new and renovating of
stadiums. He added that a further 3.6 billion rand had been set aside for
transport upgrades.
He said: "With that kind of money being invested there is
no ways the World Cup can be taken away from us unless there is a natural
catastrophe."
Jordaan said that most of the stadiums for 2010 would be
finished ahead of schedule.
Xinhua
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