Danny Jordaan CEO FIFA 2010 Organizing Committee

South AFrica will be ready to host the 2010 World Cup and to reap the benefits it will bring once the estimated 450,000 soccer fans leave, various government officials say.

“We will be showcasing the best of South Africa, its breathtaking beauty, the heartwarming hospitality of its people, its diverse culture and traditions, and many other things,” says Sicelo Shiceka, Minister of Provincial and Local Government. “We plan to capitalize on this opportunity in both the short and long term.”

The World Cup event will be held at ten stadiums across the country, located in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Bloemfontein, Johannesburg, Rustenburg, Nelspruit, Pretoria and Polokwane.

To accomodate the influx of half a million supporters, host cities have seen major improvements to their sports stadiums. Moreover, new hotels have been built and massive investment is being poured into transport infrastructure projects, including new rail lines and highways.

Officials are confident the investment will pay dividends. The late Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, former Minister of Communication said that schools, hospitals, and remote townships and municipalities can now be brought technologically up to date.

Football fans will get a chance to watch the world’s best 31 teams battle it out for the ultimate prize. Preliminary qualifying matches have already begun with some 200 countries from around the world now competing for a coveted place in the tournament.