south afrika set a new benchmark

Valcke: South Africa
set a new benchmark
(FIFA.com) Thursday 23 September
2010
The resounding success of the 2010
FIFA World Cup™ has set a new
benchmark against which
future global showpieces will be
judged. That was the verdict
of FIFA Secretary General Jerome
Valcke, who was addressing
members of the media following
the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising
Committee board meeting in
Johannesburg on Thursday
afternoon.
Valcke also announced that in
the wake of the tournament, the
first FIFA World Cup to be played
on African soil, a trust fund will be
formed to oversee the money FIFA
will give South Africa. It will be
managed by both FIFA and the
South African Football Association
(SAFA). Valcke also revealed
that FIFA President, Joseph S.
Blatter will travel to South Africa in
the near future to meet South
Africa's president, Jacob Zuma. The
FIFA President will use this meeting
to outline in detail the benefits of
the FIFA World Cup for South Africa
and the legacy projects that will
ensure that these benefits continue.
“South Africa’s success has created
a new benchmark,"
said Valcke. "When I think about
the road that has been travelled,
there is a lot to be proud of. I
believe that last year’s Final Draw
(in Cape Town) was one of the best
I have seen and that is because
everything was planned
thoroughly. The success was a
result of a close working
relationship between FIFA and the
host country, in this case the Local
Organising Committee. We were
prepared for any event. In many
ways, South Africa was a unique
experience for most of us.”
Turning his the trust fund, Valcke
said that it would ensure the
money given to South Africa after
the FIFA World Cup will be directed
towards developing football in the
country. “This morning we had a
long discussion about a number of
issues. Of course we are still busy
finalising a number of those, so we
are not in a position to present all
the figures. However, I can confirm
that today it was agreed that we
should create a trust fund. The
money that FIFA will leave in South
Africa will go towards that trust
fund, which will be formed very
soon. This was a unanimous
decision taken at the board. This
will be a perfect opportunity for
SAFA to bring other investors on
board for the future who will also
contribute to this trust.”
Danny Jordaan, CEO of the
Organising Committee, said that
South Africa will continue to benefit
from hosting the FIFA World Cup for
a long time to come. “The people
who came to South Africa had a
great experience and I’m told that
up to 93 per cent of them said they
will definitely come back to the
country to visit.” Jordaan
also made a point of publicly
declaring his support for the trust
fund.
Stadium and infrastructure
legacy
Jordaan said the infrastructure left
after the World Cup will provide a
lasting legacy for the country. He
said plans are afoot to ensure that
the stadiums constructed for the
world’s greatest showpiece are
utilised extensively in the coming
years and decades. “The country is
in a stronger position than before.
We are in a position where we can
make bids for other major
international events and we will do
so.
"Durban is already talking about
bidding for the Olympics and they
have the infrastructure already. All
they need to do is to make a few
adjustments to meet such
requirements. After the World Cup,
Soccer City hosted one of the
biggest rugby matches in this
country and the same applies to
other stadiums. These will continue
to be national assets