 Jordaan wants the 2010 World Cup to embrace all of Africa |
The man in charge of organising the 2010 World Cup wants the tournament to be a world-class affair, showcasing his country and the African continent at large. One year after South Africa burst into celebration after winning the bid to stage the event, former anti-apartheid activist Danny Jordaan is heading an organising committee seeking to pull off a major financial and sporting success.
"It must be better than the other World Cups," Jordaan said in an interview in Soweto's FNB stadium where the South African Football Association (Safa) is headquartered.
"It must be African and world class," he said.
The 2010 World Cup will mark the first time that world's most-watched tournament will be held on African soil and the biggest international event ever staged in South Africa.
 |  "This will be the first World Cup where African football fans can come by road, by bus, by taxis or by train |
Some 160,000 direct jobs are expected to be created from hosting the World Cup, according to the organising committee. Construction companies are also expected to cash in with at least three more stadiums to be built and five others to be upgraded.
Work on an express train dubbed the "Gautrain", linking Johannesburg, Pretoria and Johannesburg International Airport is also due to begin this year with a view to having it fully operational for 2010.
Jordaan said preparations were not only on track for hosting the World Cup but "in fact, we are ahead."
Parliament is due to adopt two laws in December on financing the World Cup.
Legal experts from the world football governing body Fifa arrived in Johannesburg on Thursday to help with that effort.
"We want to succeed as a nation. We want to be seen as a winning nation," said Jordaan, adding that the 2010 World Cup was "part of the psyche."
Jordaan said South Africa is working to share the benefits - and the preparation work - for the event with the rest of the continent to show that Africa should not be shunned to the sidelines of key international events.
"We have to make sure that this event remains an African event and that we embrace all of Africa.
"The opportunities are there. We just have to work together and plan together in order to extend the benefits."
Beyond the economic spin-offs, African football fans are also getting a treat.
"This will be the first World Cup where African football fans can come by road, by bus, by taxis or by train.
They have never had this opportunity before," said Jordaan.
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