Three major venues in Tshwane and Johannesburg will see a third of the action when the 2010 Fifa World Cup comes to South Africa. Coca-Cola Park in Johannesburg and Loftus Versveld will both host six matches, with the Pretoria stadium offering a knockout match involving the final group of 16 and Coca-Cola Park’s bouquet
including a quarter-final. Johannesburg’s Soccer City will have eight matches including the opening encounter, a quarter-final and the climax to the tournament, the World Cup final.

With this much soccer going on, Gauteng Province is set to benefit massively from the influx of soccer fans from all over the world. It is estimated that upwards of 400 000 visitors will descend on South Africa for the duration of the soccer festival.

South Africa – and Gauteng in particular – has shown its capabilities to host world-class sporting events. Starting with the 1995 Rugby World Cup and the 1996 African Cup of Nations (with both finals played in Johannesburg) through to the more recent 2003 Cricket World Cup and 2007 Twenty20, South Africa has lived
up to expectations every time. In 2009 alone the country hosted the Fifa Confederations Cup (soccer), the Indian Premier League (cricket), the British and Irish Lions rugby tour of South Africa and the International Cricket Council Champions Trophy, all super-sized international events. Again, South Africa delivered, with Gauteng’s main stadiums hosting a lion’s share of these events.

New businesses
One survey estimates that discretionary spending (beyond air tickets and accommodation) could total R4.5-billion in the two months that the event spans.

That money will be spent in South Africa at retailers, restaurants, national parks and on food, beverages, artwork and curios. This presents a once-in-a-lifetime for South African entrepreneurs.

The vuvuzela made its noisy international debut during the Confederations Cup held in South Africa in 2009. A lot of television viewers were less than happy about the uni-note plastic trumpet’s contribution to the atmosphere, but many others loved it. By the time the World Cup comes around, the kuduzela might be just as famous. An automotive vehicle manufacturer based in Vereeniging, AK Store Guard, has set up a special division – Kudu Kudu Manufacturing – to make the trumpet shaped like the horn of a kudu. With the support of First National Bank and South African National Parks, a percentage of every sale will go to the Kids in Parks initiative.

Another loud invention, but only in the fashion sense, is the makarapas. These are hard hats, as used by construction workers and miners, that have been converted into extravagant works of art celebrating the glories of a fan’s favourite team. Some exotic designs emanate from a man who cleans busses for a living and lives in a shack in Germiston, east of Johannesburg. Alfred Baloyi has gone into business with a sportsmarketing company to produce a range of readymade makarapas. These retail for about R120, whereas handmade designs can cost more than twice that amount. The World Cup represents an opportunity for Baloyi’s creativity and enterprise to be rewarded.

Fan parks
Another area where small business will have a chance to shine will be at official Fifa fan parks (such as in Mary Fitzgerald Square, Newtown, Johannesburg) and at other mass-viewing sites with giant television screens run by local councils, such at Free Park (Sandton) and Walter Sisulu Square (Kliptown).

In Pretoria, the Hatfield Fan Mile will cater to every football fan’s desire, and be run by local businesses. The Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality will be setting up public viewing areas in Soshanguve, Hammanskraal, Mamelodi and Atteridgeville.

Logistics
There is a possibility that jet fuel may have to be imported to cope with the extra demand put on South Africa’s refineries during the event. Management at the Engen refinery in Durban is estimating that daily demand will double to something between five and six million litres of fuel. The pipeline from Durban to Johannesburg will be in use, so extra trucks and rail capacity will have to be used to get the extra fuel to
Gauteng. The national Minister of Energy has consulted with oil companies, Transnet Pipelines, the South African Petroleum Industry Association and Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) in order to ensure that sufficient planning is done to avert any shortages.

Nasrec Expo Centre south of Johannesburg is the venue for the high-tech media facility, the International Broadcasting Centre (IBC). Built to accommodate more than 15 000 accredited media personnel, it will be at the heart of all television broadcasts for the duration of the tournament. Satellite teleports and other sophisticated communications infrastructure will support 40 gigabytes per second.

Health and medical services
The 2010 Fifa World Cup could be the most demanding period ever for local health services. In preparation, the Gauteng Department of Health and Social Development has established an emergency medical services (EMS) plan and will be spending R581-million on various necessary upgrades and improvements to the provision of rapid emergency medical services in time for 2010.

Investment in medical services already undertaken in preparation for 2010 includes R37-million spent on high-tech communication centres at major centres within each province, the establishment of medical hospital services costing R27-million, the replacement of 450 medical vehicles costing R135-million, and the provision of higher-level training for emergency personnel and medical staff.

These investments have been accelerated so as to be ready in time for the World Cup, but will serve a valuable service far beyond July 2010 as Gauteng and the other host provinces will enjoy world-class medical care, especially emergency services, as a direct result.

Gauteng will further have at its service the latest officially accredited Fifa Medical Centre of Excellence. The University of Witwatersrand’s Centre for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine was inaugurated in 2008, the first in Africa and only the sixth worldwide. The centre will provide world-class medical care for football players and other athletes throughout the continent during the event and into the future.

Stadiums
Coca-Cola Park was in mint condition in 2009 for the final of the Confederations Cup between World Cup holders Brazil and underdogs USA. Upgrades to the stadium had been undertaken by empowerment company Rainbow Construction.

Loftus Versveld, home of the Blue Bulls rugby franchise, had finished its expansion projects in good time and is ready to host its allocation of World Cup games. The Grinaker-LTA and Interbeton Soccer City Company joint venture is proceeding well with the major upgrade to Soccer City to prepare it to be the showcase stadium of the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Capacity is being expanded to accommodate 95 000 fans in a R1.6-billion project that is employing 3 000 workers. The contract to build the roads and parking areas around the stadium is alone worth nearly R50-million.

Orlando Stadium also received a facelift from the same contracting team in order to make it into a good training venue for the World Cup: by August 2009 soccer teams in the Professional Soccer League (PSL) were calling Orlando the country’s best surface for playing football on. Dobsonville Stadium, Rand Stadium, Cecil Payne Stadium, Rabie Ridge Stadium and Ruimsig Stadium have all been identified as practice stadiums for teams. Minor upgrades are being done where necessary to meet Fifa standards, in particular regarding medical facilities, floodlights and media requirements.

In Tshwane, R500‑million is being spent on upgrading practice stadiums around the city, including the widening of certain access roads around stadiums in townships. HM Pitje Stadium in Mamelodi will be a much improved facility as a result of the World Cup.

In Ekurhuleni, Tembisa’s Makhulong Stadium is receiving a R38-million boost. Other venues in the metropole that will be used as practice venues and have been renovated to prepare them, are the stadiums at Katlehong, Vosloorus and Sinaba.

Companies in a wide range of sectors have received a boost from the World Cup stadium construction and renovation programme: steel, iron, leather, plastics, glass, paint... the list is long. Throughout South Africa, R8.4-billion is being spent on the 10 main stadiums.

Specific benefits
Based on the success of the previous World Cup in Germany in 2006, and specific forecasts relating to South Africa’s hosting opportunity,analysts have made several forecasts:

• An estimated 70 000 employment opportunities will be created during the construction phase.
• Estimates are that R4-billion worth of business activity will be generated annually during the implementation phase.
• Gauteng’s gross geographic product is estimated to increase by between 0.7% and 1% during implementation, while maintenance and operational business related to the project is estimated at around R325-billion, all of which will flow into the province.

Security
Four mobile command centres will be deployed during the World Cup, each costing about R6-million. In addition, the South African Police Service is going to deploy an extra 41 000 personnel, and special satellite police stations and courts will be overseeing tournament matters. Some special training in crowd control
has already been conducted by French forces for the benefit of South African policemen and women. More than R600‑million is to be spent on special equipment to assist police in their task, including mobile cameras, water cannons and unmanned aircraft for surveillance.

Hosting strategies
Gauteng has already indicated that it may be interested in bidding for the 2020 Summer Olympics, seeking to use its splendid new infrastructure to maximum effect. Studies have been commissioned to investigate the feasibility of such a bid.

In addition, the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation has given notice that new policies will be put in place in order to spread opportunities that arise from bidding for major games and events across the province.

The provincial strategic framework will see to it that district and local municipalities are also empowered to stage events as well as their metropolitan neighbours, thus spreading around economic opportunities and jobs.

Legacy
With the energy and enthusiasm for soccer generated by the World Cup and the preparations for the tournament, the youth of the province have a chance to fulfil their dreams through a soccer talent-scouting programme. Officials from the local branches of the South African Football Association (Safa) will run talent-identification camps across Gauteng’s three metros and district municipalities. The finalists of the male and female divisions will have a chance to train with the famous Manchester City Football Club in the UK.