Thursday, October 05, 2006
Football World Cup South Africa
South Africa has won a three-way contest to be the first nation in Africa to host football's World Cup in 2010. FIFA, world football's governing body, announced its decision Saturday in Zurich.FIFA President Sepp Blatter said the organization's 24-member executive committee needed only one round of secret balloting to make its decision.
"The 2010 FIFA World Cup will be organized in South Africa," Mr. Blatter announced.
South Africa beat out Morocco, which had mounted a strong presentation on its fourth bid to host football's maximum event. Egypt was also a finalist. FIFA said a fourth candidate, Libya, did not meet all the required conditions. Tunisia, which had wanted to co-host the World Cup with Libya, bowed out at the last minute.
Irwin Khoza, who organized South Africa's bid with the support of such heavyweights as former President Nelson Mandela and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, was magnanimous in victory.
"This is for Africa," he said.
South Africa was disappointed four years ago, when it lost out to Germany in a bid to host the 2006 World Cup. FIFA then decided to rotate the championship every four years among the various continents, and Africa was first up.
Mr. Mandela beamed at Saturday's ceremony, as he lifted the golden World Cup trophy.
A South American football executive who asked not to be identified says awarding the World Cup to South Africa is a tribute to the ailing, 85-year-old Mr. Mandela, who oversaw his country's transition from apartheid to multiracial democracy.
The executive says South Africa was the best of the three candidates, because it has an excellent infrastructure and experience in hosting international sports events, such as the rugby and cricket world cups.
Source: VOANEWS Brussels 15 May 2004
Author: Roger Wilkison
"The 2010 FIFA World Cup will be organized in South Africa," Mr. Blatter announced.
South Africa beat out Morocco, which had mounted a strong presentation on its fourth bid to host football's maximum event. Egypt was also a finalist. FIFA said a fourth candidate, Libya, did not meet all the required conditions. Tunisia, which had wanted to co-host the World Cup with Libya, bowed out at the last minute.
Irwin Khoza, who organized South Africa's bid with the support of such heavyweights as former President Nelson Mandela and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, was magnanimous in victory.
"This is for Africa," he said.
South Africa was disappointed four years ago, when it lost out to Germany in a bid to host the 2006 World Cup. FIFA then decided to rotate the championship every four years among the various continents, and Africa was first up.
Mr. Mandela beamed at Saturday's ceremony, as he lifted the golden World Cup trophy.
A South American football executive who asked not to be identified says awarding the World Cup to South Africa is a tribute to the ailing, 85-year-old Mr. Mandela, who oversaw his country's transition from apartheid to multiracial democracy.
The executive says South Africa was the best of the three candidates, because it has an excellent infrastructure and experience in hosting international sports events, such as the rugby and cricket world cups.
Source: VOANEWS Brussels 15 May 2004
Author: Roger Wilkison
# posted by organicworld @ 11:35 AM 
