FIFA 2010 WESTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL COORDINATOR

UNCLAS CAPE TOWN 000081


PLEASE PASS TO AF/S, JOHN MARBURG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON SA
SUBJECT: FIFA 2010 WESTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL COORDINATOR
PROVIDES UPDATES ON 2010 WORLD CUP PREPARATIONS


1. Summary: Fifa 2010 Western Cape Provincial Coordinator
Dr. Laurine Platzky discussed a number of key issues
pertaining to the Western Cape's preparations for next year's
World Cup extravaganza at a brief meeting in Cape Town on
March 13. She noted that the province was already organizing
sports and various life skills training activities for young
people in the townships since provincial schools will be
closed during the month-long sports event. She further
shared that the Western Cape is aiming to host ten national
teams with their base camps located throughout the province.
Platzky volunteered that two national teams had already
visited the Western Cape to inspect accommodations, practice
areas and security requirements for their players. Overall,
she appeared upbeat about her province's preparations and
asserted that the various projects, including transportation,
were either slightly ahead of or on schedule. End Summary.

How Do We Keep the Kids Busy?
--------------


2. Dr. Platzky met with the Consul General and other
Consulate officials on March 13 to provide an update on the
Western Cape's preparations for next year's World Cup.
Platzky, in response to a question, confirmed that provincial
schools will be closed during the entire month of World Cup
activities from June 11 to July 11, 2010. She pointed out
that the province was already planning to have Mass
Participation Programs (MPP) for township youth during the
month-long school holiday. These programs will include
soccer activities and other life skills training to engage
them in constructive activities. Dutch coaches had already
begun soccer training in the townships, she added.

A Plan to Host Ten National Teams
--------------


3. Platzky shared that the Western Cape is aiming to host
ten national teams with their base camps located throughout
the province. She volunteered that since the province had
approximately one third of the high-end accommodations in the
country, provincial officials had decided to try to host one
third of the thirty-two teams. Platzky also noted that
officials from the French and Spanish teams had already
visited the Western Cape to look at accommodations, practice
playing fields and security requirements. (Comment: A
Consulate official following the Fifa 2010 qualifying games
predicted that the French team would not qualify to play in
the World Cup matches. End Comment). She wondered, somewhat
regretfully, why the U.S. team had only looked at one area in
Pretoria and had not visited other parts of the country.
Note: Consul General Andrew Passen (Johannesburg) put Consul
General Mayberry (Cape Town) in touch with U.S. Soccer
Managing Director of Administration Tom King. King promised
to update Consulate General Cape Town on the U.S. team's
plans for the World Cup when he visits here at a later time.
Post will report as appropriate. End Note.

Sanguine on Transportation Projects
--------------


4. Platzky described several initiatives that the Western
Cape and the city of Cape Town are undertaking to minimize
potential transportation bottlenecks during the World Cup
games. She mentioned that officials had decided to hold
seven of the eight Cape Town matches at 20:30 in the evening
to avoid traffic tie-ups with rush-hour traffic. The eighth
match will be held at 14:30. She also elaborated on a
reservation scheme for domestic and international fans that
Qreservation scheme for domestic and international fans that
includes transportation in their travel packages. For
example, there are "follow-your team" and five-day city
packages available, particularly for international soccer
fans. When an individual buys one of these packages, it will
contain a ticket to the match, accommodation, and shuttle
transportation to/from the event. For the majority of local
fans, who can buy tickets apart from a package, they can
catch a train or a bus to the train station and then walk the
fan mile to the stadium. Incidentally, tickets purchased for
the events will include the person's name and ID number to
try to minimize scalping activities. Platzky confirmed that
there will also be shuttle buses from District Six for those
individuals who wish to park their cars there.


5. The other transportation projects underway in the Cape
Town area are on schedule, she continued. The widening of
the N2 route near Groot Schuur Hospital, otherwise known as
"hospital bend," is scheduled to be finished by December

2009. Another city official indicated that the city's
Integrated Rapid Transport (IRT) system, while still
controversial with taxi operators, is also "fairly" on
target. The implementation of the inner-city IRT system from
Castle Street to the new Green Point stadium has begun and is
well within city timelines. This official further noted that
about R1 billion (USD 100 million) worth of bus ways are
already under construction with more to follow for the new
system. He added that the city is going ahead with its IRT
plans but will continue to consult with the taxi industry.

Other Issues of Interest
--------------


6. Dr. Platzky also touched on a number of other World
Cup-related issues.

-- She asserted that the city and the province have no
reason to believe that sex work will increase during the
World Cup events although she agreed that young people may
try to sell their services. Platzky said that South Africa
will not be able to decriminalize the sex industry by 2010.
She further maintained that all World Cup literature and
advertising makes abundantly clear to fans that underage sex
is illegal and that it will not be tolerated.

-- Platzky explained the reasons for the increases in
the cost of the Greenpoint Stadium. The first estimate, she
maintained, was based on the average cost of a seat with
65,000 seats installed for the 2010 matches. She added that
environmental considerations had greatly increased the costs
from R3.8 billion (USD 380 million) to its current estimate
of R4.4 billion (USD 440 million) - an increase of fifteen
percent. For example, a double skin must now be put on the
roof to cut down on noise levels. Stade de France has also
received a thirty-year concession to operate the stadium.

-- Besides the fans in the stadium, there will be a fan
park with giant screens televising the matches for fans who
cannot afford or obtain tickets. The fan park will be
located on Cape Town's "grand parade" near the train station.

-- Coca Cola has paid USD 2 billion for the exclusive
sale of coke products within stadiums for three World Cups,
including the one to be held in South Africa. Budweiser will
be the only beer sold at the stadiums during the matches.
South African wine will be served in the boxes but not in the
stands.

-- Fifty-seven new Home Affairs officials will be
stationed at the Cape Town airport to help process increased
visitors.


7. Comment: Platzky seemed pleased with the progress to
date on the Western Cape's preparations for 2010. She seemed
equally satisfied with the progress on transportation
projects thus far. Nevertheless, Cape Town has not seen the
last of the taxi industry's discontent with the IRT system.
The taxi industry's opposition to a similar bus system in
Johannesburg led to a massive taxi strike with violence
against bus drivers and passengers in that city on March 21.
More consultations between government officials and the taxi
industry will be needed to deconflict the new transportation
system. Until then, uncertainty over adequate transportation
for local fans and an additional 150,000 outside visitors may
continue to cloud an otherwise sunny forecast for Cape Town's
2010 World Cup. End Comment.


MAYBERRY