South Africa rake 3.5 billion dollars from 2010 World Cup

(From William Dodzi Ezah, GNA Special Correspondent, South Africa, courtesy ECOWAS)

Durban, SA, Nov. 7, GNA - South Africa ; host of the 2010 World Cup raked a whopping 3.5 billion dollars from the event, the highest in the 100 year old history of the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA).

Danny Jordan, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of South Africa 2010 said the amount was far higher than the 2.8 billion dollars made by Germany after the 2006 World Cup, adding that South Africa also erased several doubts over the organizational ability of the African continent.

The Chairman disclosed this at the end of a two day Africa International Media Summit (AIMS) for Journalists in Durban, South Africa.

The summit under the auspices Africa Communication Agency (ACA); a Diaspora communications outfit was under the theme; "the impact of the 2010 World Cup". Mr Jordan said the successes of the 2010 World Cup were not only in financial gains made, but the country was the first in the history of the event to deliver all infrastructure and communication equipment, ahead of time.

"The 2010 World Cup was the only event in the history of FIFA that recorded the lowest crime rate despite fears over the perceived high level of crime in South Africa.

"Indeed we met all demands of the competition hence the event was the most successful in many years". He stated. Mr Jordan said the success of the 2010 World Cup has debunked all negative assertions about Africa adding, "negative conversations about Africa has changed after the World Cup".

He noted that before the World Cup, many people from the Western World insisted South Africa take off the tag, "the African World Cup", but "we insisted it was an African event, because we are proud of the continent and wanted to lead it on".

"With the support of the entire continent we proved to the world that we were capable of organizing a more complex and complicated event and it was an African World Cup indeed". He stated.

The LOC Chairman, however, expressed disappointment about the performance of the six Africa representatives, saying "but for Ghana, none of the team would have been in the quarter finals". He said Africa has a glorious story to tell from the 2010 World Cup, and it presented all Africans the opportunity to re-brand and reposition the continent on a brighter light.

According to Jordan, re-branding and repositioning Africa may come with several challenges but must be embraced by all to ensure that the image of the continent is enhanced.

"We have a perfect position now. Our continent is no longer described as a hopeless one, but a continent of hope." He said. Mr Jordan said, "We have come afar and now is the time to give our continent a new chapter and hope by working harder to meet our goals and aspirations".