South Africa will spend £2billion on World Cup

Published on Tuesday 18 March 2008 23:59

SOUTH Africa will spend nearly £2billion on hosting the 2010 Fifa World Cup, according to a report released yesterday.

"This report shows we have complied with literally every guarantee we have made, we even went beyond that," said Sports Minister Mike Stofile.

About 1.25billion had already been made available for infrastructure investment, added Stofile at a ceremony to hand over the 2010 mid-term government report to the country's deputy president.

South Africa is spending millions to build new stadiums and upgrade others, but there has been concern high levels of violent crime and construction delays might cast a cloud over the finals.

There have also been fears South Africa's power crisis might black out the World Cup although officials have said all stadiums will have power for the tournament.

Nationwide power cuts since the start of the year have left millions of people without electricity and forced industry, including large mines, to shut down or restrict consumption.

Generators will be in place for all matches, but worries remain the crisis could give fans from overseas a reason to stay at home.

South Africa, the first African country to host the World Cup, is hoping to attract about 450,000 visitors for the finals.

Meanwhile, Hugo Sanchez said he will not resign as coach of Mexico's senior and under-23 squads after the unexpected failure to qualify for the Olympic Games.

"I've said it already, I'm not resigning," Sanchez told a news conference at Mexico City airport after the under-23 team returned from the Concacaf Olympic qualifiers in the United States. "I'm sad, as are all Mexicans, and disappointed, because our dream was to take part at the Olympic Games," he said. "But for these players to mature, we have to experience failure and I'm sure that the ones who carry on from here will be stronger at the World Cup in South Africa in 2010."

The Concacaf region has two places at the Olympics and qualifying for Beijing was seen as little more than a formality for Mexico. But they failed to reach the semi-finals, finishing third behind Guatemala and Canada in their group and prompting calls for Sanchez to quit the senior team as well.

Sanchez, who before taking over as coach had persistently criticised his predecessor Ricardo La Volpe, called for more understanding. "We have to be fairer, more flexible and more human," he said."