PORT Elizabeth’s Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium has been dropped as a venue for the 2009 Confederations Cup announced the 2010 Fifa World Cup Organising Committee this week.
The committee took the decision after a report from its technical team that stated “it was highly unlikely” that the stadium would meet its completion deadline of March 30 2009.
“We acknowledge the progress that has been made on the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in recent months. With the complex nature of the construction and erection of the roof of the stadium, however, it was decided that it would be too high a risk to keep it in the Fifa Confederations Cup schedule,” said Irvin Khoza, chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC).
This will obviously impact on tourism to the area says Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism (NMBT). “This is a huge blow for the city especially the tourism sector. There has been lots of preparation for the Confederations Cup.” The organisation added that tourism stakeholders will suffer as a result of the decision as they were looking forward to the influx of business over the period.
The Eastern Cape Tourism Board (ECTB) agrees with NMBT saying: “According to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality – the Nelson Mandela Stadium will be ready by March 2009 and this is in accordance with the plan and schedule as jointly agreed with the LOC, its technical team and Fifa, therefore we do not agree that we were not ready for the Confederations Cup and we will definitely be ready for 2010.”
Both organisations have embarked on marketing campaigns for both tournaments, but, says NMBT, those efforts will now be lost in terms of the Confederations Cup.
ECTB says: “We have been undertaking marketing efforts geared towards 2010 and the Confederations Cup. Lobbying efforts will also continue as per normal because we might not have the opportunity to host the Confederations Cup now, but we are still working towards 2010.”
The stadium is, however, expected to be completed in time for the 2010 World Cup said Khoza and Fifa secretary general, Jerome Valcke. Valcke commended the LOC on making a firm decision on the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Other stadiums being built or refurbished for the Confederations Cup include Loftus Versfeld, Ellis Park, Royal Bafokeng and the Free State Stadium in Mangaung.
