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S Africa faces transport challenge
FIFA president Sepp Blatter singled out transportation as the biggest challenge facing South Africa ahead of the 2010 World Cup.
- Indo-Asian News Service
- Updated: June 21, 2007 02:28 PM IST
Read Time:2 min
Cape Town:
"Transport is definitely one of things ... you will have to look at," Blatter said on Tuesday, adding that a lack of transportation would hamper efforts by the expected 350,000 visitors to move freely around the country.
Blatter has spent two days in South Africa inspecting stadium sites and receiving progress reports from the local organizing committee and government.
"I am a happy FIFA president," Blatter said after meeting with President Thabo Mbeki. "Everything is on track."
South Africa won the right to host the 2010 World Cup three years ago. But since then it has been dogged by worries about delays in stadium and infrastructure construction, lack of public transport and the high crime rate.
Notoriously dangerous minibus taxis, crime infested commuter trains and long distance buses form the backbone of the transport system - though the wealthy minority use cars and planes. The government is promising a desperately needed transport overhaul costing more than $5.6 billion.
Blatter also downplayed concerns about South Africa's high crime rate, which sees 50 people murdered a day, saying the problem was not unique to the country.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter singled out transportation as the biggest challenge facing South Africa ahead of the 2010 World Cup."Transport is definitely one of things ... you will have to look at," Blatter said on Tuesday, adding that a lack of transportation would hamper efforts by the expected 350,000 visitors to move freely around the country.
Blatter has spent two days in South Africa inspecting stadium sites and receiving progress reports from the local organizing committee and government.
"I am a happy FIFA president," Blatter said after meeting with President Thabo Mbeki. "Everything is on track."
South Africa won the right to host the 2010 World Cup three years ago. But since then it has been dogged by worries about delays in stadium and infrastructure construction, lack of public transport and the high crime rate.
Notoriously dangerous minibus taxis, crime infested commuter trains and long distance buses form the backbone of the transport system - though the wealthy minority use cars and planes. The government is promising a desperately needed transport overhaul costing more than $5.6 billion.
Blatter also downplayed concerns about South Africa's high crime rate, which sees 50 people murdered a day, saying the problem was not unique to the country.
Topics mentioned in this article
Football South Africa Cricket Team
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