1,000 days till South Africa hosts the World Cup

This past Friday marked the official commencement of the construction of a new international airport in Durban to receive the huge numbers of people expected to visit South Africa when it hosts the FIFA World Cup in 2010.

The new airport is to be a vast improvement on the existing structure, with a yearly capacity of 7.5 million people. New generation aircraft like the Airbus A380 will be able to use the airport, something impossible at the present location.

Jeff Radebe, South African transport minister made a statement at the official opening ceremony of 1,000 days till the beginning of the tournament: “The work we are doing here should bury whatever doubts that might still exist about our state of readiness for hosting the 2010 Soccer World Cup.”

So far the price tag for improving the country’s infrastructure system in preparation for the advent of the World Cup is $5.6 million, but the government hopes the tournament won’t be a flash in the pan for the economy, it is hoped that it will open the doors to increased tourism, and no chances are being taken when it comes to being prepared; the public ceremony for the construction of the new airport is one example.