Danny Jordaan: South Africa Must Build on World Cup Legacy

(WFI) World Cup CEO Danny Jordaan says South Africa 2010 has united the people of the Rainbow Nation and improved perceptions of the country.

Speaking in Johannesburg on the eve of the final, Jordaan said he was "very happy" with what the World Cup - a "moment of special unity and celebration" - had helped to achieve in rebranding the Rainbow Nation.

"People look at South Africa with new eyes, with new understanding and now embrace the people of this country. That is very important to us," he told a media briefing at Sandton Convention Centre on Saturday.

Jordaan said developments for the World Cup and the staging of the tournament itself had aided nation building and social cohesion between black and white South Africans, boosted tourism and infrastructure investment and created a safer environment.

He dismissed the pre-tournament naysayers who had doubted South Africa's capability to stage FIFA's showpiece, saying they could continue sulking in their corner and wallowing in their misery while the country celebrated its accomplishments.

South Africa's tourism chiefs estimate the World Cup's economic impact to be worth 10 billion rand ($1.3bn).

"What we cannot quantify is the generation of pride in South Africa as a nation, the unity, the sharing of a single vision and the energy that has been unleashed to bring this event and open up this country to further investment," Jordaan said.

"We are happy with what has been achieved so far."

Jordaan said the big challenge now facing South Africa was in sustaining the momentum provided by the World Cup.

"How do you capture the World Cup atmosphere and make that the life of South Africa on a permanent basis?," he said. "Clearly people found a sense of pride. They walk tall and they are very proud of what this country has achieved."

He added: "We are beginning to look at that. Some people say find that in hosting an Olympics and other events."

After all the scare stories about crime in South Africa that preceded the World Cup, Jordaan claimed people now understood the difference between perception and reality.

"I think our police and security forces have done an amazing job. They have done this over 16 years [since South Africa first bid for a World Cup]."

In terms of a physical legacy, Jordaan pointed to the 10 host stadia, as well as the 52 artificial pitches that would benefit grassroots football.

"South African football has a platform to move to greater and higher levels," he said.

He urged the South African Football Association to make good use of the $80m to $100 million from the World Cup, revenue generated mostly from ticket sales, that is set to be reinvested into football development.

Africa's six sides, Ghana apart, disappointed at the World Cup. Bafana Bafana failed to make the second round, the first time in the tournament's 80-year history that the host nation has failed to progress.

Ghana was left to fly the flag for Africa until the team was knocked out by Uruguay in the quarter-finals.

"If Africa wants to make an impact in 2014, we will have to look at the teams going into the London 2012 Olympics," he said. "That will provide the basis for players at 2014."

Describing Brazil as the home of football, he said the 2014 tournament would be an "incredible World Cup".

Organisers of the 2014 edition launched their logo in Johannesburg on Thursday.

The Netherlands clash with Spain in the World Cup final at Soccer City stadium on Sunday. The closing ceremony begins at 6.30pm with the match starting at 8.30pm.



INSIDER editor Mark Bisson reports from Johannesburg

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