FIFA WM 2010, Wirtschaft
27. Januar 2009
FUNDING for the 2010 Soccer World Cup will not be affected by the economic downturn, with all sponsors still firmly on board for the tournament, according to Fifa secretary-general Jerome Valcke. Concern has been raised about the effect of the economic crisis, with the International Olympic Committee having had four of its top sponsors decline to renew their Olympic deals.
Speaking at a press conference in Johannesburg yesterday, Valcke said major sponsors for the World Cup were signed up until 2014.
“Business is good,” he said. “We have not received a single call from one of our sponsors and all the broadcasters, including SABC, are on board. No one has come to us in the present crisis to say they want to discuss or renegotiate their deal with us.”
Valcke said that with the exception of ticketing-system partner Satyam Computer Services, which is embroiled in a scandal over inflated profit reporting, they had no concerns about their partners. Fifa has thrown its support behind Satyam but has said it would monitor the situation to ensure that India’s fourth-largest software exporter was able to meet its obligations.
The six main corporate sponsors are Sony, Adidas, Hyundai, Coca-Cola, Emirates Airlines and Visa, followed by second-tier sponsors that include MTN, Continental and McDonald’s.
Provincial and Local Government Minister Sicelo Shiceka, Deputy Safety and Security Minister Susan Shabangu, Deputy Foreign Minister Sue van der Merwe and treasury director- general Lesetja Kganyago replace Essop Pahad, Jabu Moleketi, Sidney Mufamadi, Charles Nqakula and Aziz Pahad on the board of the local organising committee (LOC).
LOC chairman Irvin Khoza said the new appointments would not affect progress as most of the legwork was being done by department officials who had not been removed. “The capacity lies with the departments and they have the know-how,” he said.
The CEO of the LOC, Danny Jordaan, also reassured the public that the LOC believed that transport would be up and running in time for the tournament next year.
On the issue of the taxi industry’s opposition to the bus rapid transit system, Jordaan said the LOC had met the transport ministry to encourage them to engage taxi organisations in a bid to resolve the impasse.
The transit system “is part of the effort to strengthen the country’s transport system and is vital to the World Cup”, he said.
Chantelle Benjamin and Calli Roberts