By Andrew Warshaw in London
October 6 – The boss of last summer’s World Cup in South Africa insists most of the stadiums will not be turned into white elephants – despite a growing debate over whether millions of dollars were unnecessarily spent on constructing new venues.
Speaking at the Leaders in Football conference here, Danny Jordaan, chief executive of the Organising Committee in South Africa, said eight of the 10 stadiums used would continue to flourish by being used for both soccer and rugby union.
But he admitted: “One of two may struggle to be sustainable.
“Some of them will be a challenge.”
Jordaan cited Peter Mokaba Stadium at Polokwane and the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, both of which staged group matches, as those that might not be viable in the future.
He said: “They will not become white elephants, but they do face challenges.
“However, those challenges can be met – contrary to some reports there are no plans to demolish any of them.”
Reflecting on the build-up to the finals, Jordaan said his lowest point came after the terrorist attack on the Togo team at the African Cup of Nations in Angola in January in which three players were killed.
“I saw that as the last onslaught – if I may use that word – because that was quite a threat to the World Cup.
“There was a thought that the managers of English clubs would withdraw their players.
“Many of the top players came from European clubs and if they withdrew their players, we might not have a World Cup, so it was quite a serious threat.
“You have difficult moments, but that was the last of the lowest points.”
Latterly Jordaan was part of the FIFA technical inspection team who visited all nine 2018 and 2022 World Cup contenders.
He said the technical report to be be issued before the December 2 vote could have a serious bearing on who ends up winning – even it is not ultimately decisive.
The FIFA Executive Committee, said Jordaan, must have an idea whether a candidate has the capacity to put on the toutrnament.
As a member of the six-man inspection team, it was especially useful to have hosted the World Cup himself.
“I’m sure that they’ll study the report and they will be influenced by what the report says,” Jordaan said.
“At the end of the day FIFA wants a successful World Cup and it gives them an indication of what exists in terms of building over the next few years.”
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