July 6, 2006
By Anish Abraham
A HIGH-PROFILE delegation from the City of Johannesburg has left for Germany, where they will join President Thabo Mbeki in unveiling South Africa's 2010 World Cup emblem on 9 July.
The delegation, consisting of executive mayor Amos Masondo, city manager Mavela Dlamini, council speaker Nkele Ntingane and Joburg's executive director for the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup, Sibongile Mazibuko, had to attend the ceremony according to requirements laid down in the second programme of the World Cup bid book.
Johannesburg's executive mayor Amos Masondo has been invited to Germany
(Photo: Enoch Lehung, City of Johannesburg)
According to mayoral spokesperson Nkhensani Makhobela, other members of council leadership have joined them on the trip.
"The Council leadership is required to attend the event in order to exhibit the City's capacity to host the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup, while the mayor was also officially invited to attend the event," she said.
The city is home to two of the stadiums selected to host official matches during the soccer spectacle: the FNB Stadium in Nasrec and Ellis Park in downtown Joburg.
The City is doing its utmost to ensure that the venues are up to World Cup standard by 2010. The FNB stadium will have its capacity increased and will get a roof, while Joburg has planned exciting developments for the entire greater Ellis Park precinct.
It is hoped that smaller stadiums, like the Orlando Stadium, will be used for friendly warm-up matches or for training purposes.
According to Makhobela, both first and second programmes are contractual responsibilities of the bid book. The first programme was an observer mission aimed at exposing cities to the logistics required for an event of such magnitude. It took place between 16 and 25 June.
"Johannesburg is the only city in the country with two venues where matches will be played, and the final match of the 2010 competition will probably be in this city," she added.
To ensure the best co-operation, a special co-ordinating committee has been established in the office of the executive mayor and will work closely with both the local organising committee and Fifa.
The World Cup will also provide the opportunity for Johannesburg to establish itself as the primary city in the country, while trying to attract more tourists and investors.
"We intend to use the pressure that is being created by the 2010 World Cup to strengthen and deepen our own municipal programmes. These range from ensuring a green city to programmes that seek to ensure better urban management," she concluded.
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