South Africa vacations

Minister of Human Settlements Tokyo Sexwale says the 2010 Fifa World Cup Final Draw to be held in Cape Town will be a resounding success.

Sexwale was addressing local and international journalists on Robben Island in Cape Town on Thursday during Fifa’s historic Executive Meeting held here.

“The Fifa Draw is going to take place successfully; we are going to stage the Fifa World Cup. It’s a great week in South Africa this week, people never thought we could pull this one off.

They thought we could not produce the stadiums, the bullet trains and all these things, we are ready and we are on course,” Tokyo said.

Local Organising Committee Chief Executive Officer Danny Jordaan shared Minister Sexwale’s sentiments.

“The draw tomorrow will be spectacular and people are going to realise that South Africans are not violent people, we are warm and welcoming people, he said.

Arts and Culture Minister Lulu Xingwana also said South Africa said the Draw would be a great success.

The City of Cape Town has promised to roll out the red carpet for the event on Friday with South African President Jacob Zuma expected to welcome top guests to the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

Former South African President Nelson Mandela – who was instrumental in South Africa’s bid to host the 2010 World Cup will – has prepared a special a video message to be played during the Final Draw session.

Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu and F.W. de Klerk have confirmed that they will be attending the prestigious event.

As part of the event, the City has also organised a one-day festival in Long Street where residents can watch the ceremony on large television screens.

Meanwhile, Fifa’s Executive Committee approved the increase of prize money for the 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa™ to USD 420-million, as compared to USD 261.4 million in 2006.

The winner will receive USD 30-million, while the runner-up will obtain USD 24 million, semi-finalist teams USD 20 million and quarter-finalists USD 18-million.

Teams that reach the Round of 16 will get USD 9 million, while those eliminated in the group stage of the final competition will receive USD 8-million.

In addition, each of the 32 qualified teams will be granted USD 1-million for preparation costs.

Finally, USD 40-million will be provided by Fifa via the member associations to the clubs whose players will take part in the 2010 Fifa World Cup as a contribution to their participation in the competition.
source: sa2010.gov.za