South Africa 2010 Stadia Running Late

Preparations for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa have been hit by the news that construction on one of the key stadia is running behind schedule.

The 2010 World Cup Local Organising Committee (LOC) has decided to remove the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth from the 2009 Confederations Cup schedule which was to act as its official opening ahead of staging World Cup games the following year.

However, the LOC still believes that the venue will be ready for the 2010 World Cup.

The decision was taken after receiving a report from the LOC’s technical team, which says that the completion of the stadium is unlikely to meet the 30th March 2009 deadline.

Commented LOC chairman Irvin Khoza: ‘With the complex nature of the construction and erection of the roof of the stadium, it was decided that it would be too high a risk to keep the stadium in the Confederations Cup schedule. We reiterate that the stadium will be a wonderful venue in 2010.’

The Confederations Cup is an eight-team tournament staged by the World Cup hosts a year before the tournament, featuring the holders, hosts and continental champions.

It is seen as an opportunity to test the hosts’ preparedness for holding the world’s biggest single-sport event.