SA marks one-year anniversary of 2010 World Cup

Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) - South Africa was Friday marking the one-year anniversary of the start of the 2010 World Cup, with organisers saying the tournament put Africa on the map for all the right reasons.

The 2010 Organising Committee Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Danny Jordaan, Thursday said with the successful hosting of the World Cup, South Africa dispelled doubt in its ability and invited the world to witness the reality.

“Africa’s first FIFA World Cup was FIFA’s best ever, it was the most commercially successful ever and arguably its most socially important ever, set as it was in a developing country and continent with so much to prove,” he said.

He said the country could take pride in what was achieved by all South Africans, at the legacy of world-class sporting infrastructure, improved transport and road networks and, most importantly, at the social cohesion the event generated and the pride felt by South Africans and all Africans as they successfully hosted the biggest event in world sport.

“While we are conscious that the FIFA World Cup was about building a better future for South Africa and showcasing South Africa’s best attributes on a global stage, it was also about acknowledging our country’s past and paying tribute to icons who enabled us to create a country that could even dream of hosting a FIFA World Cup,” Jordaan said.
-0- PANA CU/SEG 10June2011