South Africa may have won the right to host the biggest soccer spectacle in the world, but now the real battle gets under way to ensure that the event is a success.
With less than six years to go before 32 World Cup games are played in nine stadiums around the country, a vast amount of work faces the organisers, despite the approval given to the country's bid by Fifa's technical committee.
And the government has to prepare for changes to a variety of laws in compliance with the rules of Fifa, the world footballing authority, while tourism chiefs brace for an influx of spectators on a scale never seen before and the organisers begin massive renovations to stadiums, roads and other infrastructure.
The praiseworthy efforts of globe-trotting bid leaders Danny Jordaan and Irvin Khoza over the past two years have ensured that the country's bid enjoyed a high profile.
But South Africa's right to host the 2010 World Cup was successful because of a meticulous bid proposal that paid attention to detail about every conceivable aspect relating to the tournament.
Winning the bid, says President Thabo Mbeki, will ensure that the country now enjoys the perfect opportunity to showcase itself to the world.
"Our mission is to demonstrate our modern stadiums, world-class infrastructure, advanced technology, mature business systems and proven organisational capacity," says Mbeki.
This attention to detail saw the bid organisers obtain guarantees from every arm of government, including a cabinet assurance it would amend laws temporarily to meet with requirements from Fifa.
The cabinet decided in May last year to comply with the guarantees sought by Fifa to ensure the country's bid was successful.
Mbeki says South Africa wants to stage a tournament that will send ripples of confidence from the Cape to Cairo, creating social and economic opportunities throughout the continent.
"We want to ensure that, one day, historians will reflect upon the 2010 World Cup as a moment when Africa stood tall and resolutely turned the tide on centuries of poverty and conflict... Africa's time has come," says Mbeki.
The raft of amendments to legislation that will take place in the run-up and during the 2010 World Cup, agreed to by the government, include:
- Issuing visas unconditionally to the entire Fifa delegation, commercial partners, broadcast rights holders, media representatives and foreign visitors. This includes issuing visas to countries who may not have normal relations with the country;
- Waiving work permit rules should Fifa delegates and personnel, affiliates and partners require permission to work in the country during the tournament. The government has promised that existing labour legislation that could restrict people from working will be suspended for the length of their stay;
- Allowing the importing and subsequent exporting of goods belonging to Fifa delegations, partners, broadcast rights holders, media and spectators free of customs duties, taxes and any costs or levies;
- Permitting Fifa delegates to be exempt from taxes;
- Undertaking to guarantee general safety, especially at airports, hotels and stadiums, and providing police escorts for use by teams, referees and members of Fifa;
- Allowing the unrestricted importing and exporting of foreign currencies to and from the country;
- Providing, at no specific costs to the users, a telecommunications infrastructure;
- Passing laws to prevent ambush marketing of the World Cup, and providing Fifa with support of the relevant authorities, such as police and customs, to assist in the protection of marketing and broadcast rights;
- Indemnifying Fifa, defending and holding it harmless against all proceeding claims and related costs; and,
- Providing a comprehensive medical service at every venue.
Fifa asked for these guarantees to be valid and in operation by 2010, irrespective of change in the political landscape, with the requirement that the government ensure all special laws, regulations and decrees necessary for organising and staging the World Cup are enacted and enforced.
Having obtained the government's support in terms of meeting Fifa's requirements, the bid organisers entered into agreements with hotels and stadiums throughout the country.
Hundreds of millions of rands have been committed by the government and business for renovations of stadiums in all nine provinces.
Although it may end up having a brewer as a major sponsor, the world footballing body has a strict in-stadium alcohol policy:
- Wine and spirits will not be sold inside the stadiums;
- Beer sales will only be allowed before and after the match;
- Beer will only be sold in plastic cups;
- A "zero-tolerance' policy will be applied to intoxicated spectators;
- Fans will not be allowed to take their own alcohol into the stadium.
Former president Nelson Mandela says that the country has the capacity and organisational structure to stage a joyous, efficient and secure global event. "By nature, our hotels and stadiums, transport systems, in our commercial centres, even in our homes, South Africans are eager hosts."
However, winning the bid required financial support and commitment from multinational corporations.
Bid chairman Jordaan and chief executive Khoza negotiated sponsorships worth more than R70 million from major companies, including boot manufacturer Adidas, German car maker BMW, electronics producer Philips, and Vodacom (Vodafone - the same company that sponsors British football team Manchester United).
First National Bank, Anglo American, the world's second- biggest brewer, SAB Miller, Telkom and Coca-Cola also threw their muscle behind the bid and pledged further support.
Jordaan and Khoza believe that the bid was a winner from the start, with Fifa already proclaiming the country "ready to host the event" in 2006. South Africa lost out by one vote when New Zealander Charles Dempsey abstained in defiance of his football organisation's support for South Africa. This time around, Jordaan and Khoza say, "Our financial planning and business structure offer comfort and confidence".
They expect the World Cup to boost the country's economy by at least R30 billion, according to a study done prior to the bid.
This confidence, they say, is strengthened by the fact that South Africa's economy is the biggest on the African continent, and the country is a top tourism drawcard on the
continent.
Jordaan and Khoza say winning the World Cup bid in the country's 10th year of democracy was "the greatest gift to the people of our country and continent". "We offer Fifa passion, profitability, precision in administration and the spirit of the African people for Africa's first World Cup," pledged Jordaan and Khoza.
Previous experience in hosting major tournaments include the rugby World Cup in 1995, the Africa Cup of Nations a year later and the cricket World Cup last year. However, the soccer World Cup, which is held every four years, is on a higher level, and is expected to attract at least 2.8 million spectators.
"For millions of South Africans, the experience of watching the world's greatest footballers contesting the World Cup on our own fields will be one of the highlights of their lives," says Lucas Radebe, the former Bafana Bafana captain.
Cheryl Carolus, head of South African Tourism, says the country's tourism industry will be ready and waiting to give a warm South African welcome to fans. She says tourism has been identified as one of South Africa's top five leading growth industries for its ability to contribute towards the eradication of poverty, and closing the gap between rich and poor through the sharing of an expanding tourism cake.
She says the influx of international media and spectators that will be drawn to South Africa for the 2010 event - as well as those visiting and scouting out the country in the years running up to the World Cup itself - will add significant momentum in contributing to increased growth and job creation, transformation and the alleviation of poverty.
"That South Africa has now received the ultimate stamp of approval for its ability as a preferred world-class global destination to successfully host major events is no longer in question. Fifa's decision is indisputable proof that South Africa's sun is shining ever brighter in the global context.
"The country has shown without a shadow of a doubt that it has the ability and maturity - in possessing the sophisticated world-class infrastructure and technology and quality tourism products - to facilitate and exceed beyond expectations in hosting such an international gathering of diverse cultures pursuing one single passion."
Carolus says that, over the past few years, the country has fast gained an enviable reputation for hosting, without incident, a number of high-profile international events.