African journalists need to engage in discussions about the challenges that South Africa might face in hosting the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup.
African journalists need to engage in discussions about the challenges that South Africa might face in hosting the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup.
However, that does not mean they must forget about the good news of hosting the mega event for the first time, said Nozipho January-Bardill of the MTN Group Executive, Corporate, in Port Elizabeth. While a large group of journalists from all over the continent were discussing these and other issues at the Highway Africa conference at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, delegates gathered in Port Elizabeth for the official opening in the soon to be completed stadium where the World Cup matches will be played in 2010.
MTN has been sponsoring the Highway Africa conference for eight years and the trip to Nelson Mandela Stadium was said to be aimed at “getting a glimpse of what South Africa is going to offer,” said January-Bardill. “The stadia will provide a world class experience and MTN is going to assist the media with world class facilities, we also aim to use rights to bring the World Cup to mobile phones,” she said.
The event is not just a South African event, but an African one, was the message proclaimed by Danny Jordan, CEO of the Local Organising Committee. He explained that, “We need to strengthen the African and South African image and promote new partnerships with the world as we stage a unique and memorable event.” Jordan added that this is indeed a big event for Africa as a continent as we will be hosting the event for the first time in 103 years of football “compared to Europe which has hosted this event ten times.”
After his presentation Jordan responded to a few questions posed by journalists, which included a question regarding the legalisation of the sex trade. One journalist also enquired about the fact that Jordan has encouraged people to volunteer for work instead of providing them with permanent employment. He responded by saying that “volunteers will be equipped with valuable skills and training provided by the world’s top professionals, besides it would not be fair to hire people on permanent basis for one month,” said Jordan.
The opening was chaired by Mphuthumi Mafani, the Communications Manager of the 2010 Office of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, who added a bit of humor. A local live jazz band provided the entertainment with golden oldies which soon had everybody moving on the dance floor.
