Soccer Bid 2010: briefing

SPORTS AND RECREATION PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
15 APRIL 2003
SOCCER BID 2010: BRIEFING

Chairperson: Ms R N Bhengu

Documents handed out:
Sport Recreation South Africa on 2010 soccer world cup bid

SUMMARY
Sports and Recreation South Africa outlined the progress made on efforts for securing the Soccer World Cup in 2010. Former bids for international events on such a scale had taught valuable lessons regarding the approach to the 2010 bid. The nature of the presentation was to inform the Committee of proceedings thus far, and the Bid Committee would make a more comprehensive and detailed presentation to Cabinet.

National and International launches had been planned, as well as the cooperation between different Departments to facilitate preparations. Issues raised by the Committee dealt with the cost of bid efforts and media launches, and there was a request for a written report. The Committee also discussed the study tour to Zambia and agreed that a complaint would be lodged with the appropriate authority regarding the continued postponement of the trip.

MINUTES
Mr Swigelaar, Sports and Recreation South Africa, presented a general view of proceedings regarding the bid for the World Cup Soccer in 2010. Timing was good because members would be returning to their constituencies. The Bid Committee was in the process of putting a programme together whereby a number of people would be employed and sponsors brought on board. Valuable lessons had been learnt with the bids for the 2004 Olympic Games and the 2006 Soccer World Cup. President Mbeki had already lent support to the efforts for the bid.

Ivan Khosa and Danny Jordaan planned to present the programme and proposals to Cabinet raising a number of issues. In terms of planning in the next two weeks, Mr Swigelaar said that FIFA required guarantees committing South Africa to the bid. SAFA had indicated that South Africa would stand a good chance as far as hosting the event was concerned.

Mr Swigelaar explained that new Continental Rotational System whereby only certain countries on a continent were permitted to bid for the event, and other African countries include Nigeria, Tunisia, Morocco and Libya. He said that South Africa was the most technically prepared of the candidates in terms of infrastructure and facilities.

A number of major events like the Cricket World Cup and the World Summit on Sustainable Development had already successfully been hosted in South Africa. The Soccer World Cup would triplicate viewing, listenership and media attention as the magnitude of this event surpassed most other events in this respect. Various government Departments would have to become involved as guarantees were required to indicate readiness and commitment to the staging of the event should the Bid be successful.

The event would involve the issuing of permits, customs duties, media centres, transport, the marketing and ownership of the event as well as the different anthems and flags of participating countries. The Department of Sports and Recreation would play the leading role as the Minister was also required to sign the guarantees.

Mr Swigelaar said that the funds required for previous World Cup Soccer bid had amounted to R50 million, and that the impending bid would exceed that amount. The private sector was eager to lend support and both Anglo Gold, BMW and Phillips had already indicated interest in supporting the event. All South African should be involved in making the bid successful, especially those in the rural areas and at ground level.

Regarding the legacy of the Soccer World Cup, Mr Swigelaar said that future generations would benefit from the facilities left behind after the staging of the event. The National Launch was to take place on 30 April 2003 at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town, followed by the International Launch planned for 2 May 2003 at the Absa Stadium in Durban. A number of strategies were in place, but Mr Swigelaar said that details could not be divulged but would be revealed when the Bid Committee made its presentation to Cabinet. Mr Swigelaar concluded his address by saying that there had been positive responses from the various departments.

Discussion
Ms Lamani (ANC) agreed that people at ground level should be made aware and drawn into efforts to bring the event to South Africa. She also asked about entry into Athlone Stadium on 30 April 2003.

Mr Lee (DP) said that a written presentation would have been ideal and asked that one be distributed in due course. Concerning the funds required, he asked how much more than R50 million would be sufficient. Who would decide where facilities were to be erected or if such information would be included in a complete presentation?

The Chair said that Mr Swigelaar was only to provide an in-house presentation and that the Bid Committee would make a full presentation where further detail could be given.

Mr Swart (DP) said that the media had mentioned a figure of R80 million and asked if Mr Swigelaar could confirm it.

Mr Swigelaar said that a figure in the region of R80 million was predicted. Local Organising Committees had already been set up as the National Launch in Cape Town would be one of the first major events to be hosted at the new stadium. Regarding a written report, one would be distributed.

Mr Ntuli (ANC) asked about tickets for the launches.

Mr Lee said that newspapers reported a launch in Cape Town yesterday and asked the Chair if she had been invited to the event.

Mr Swigelaar explained that the newspapers reported a media launch for the National Launch.

The Chair added that such launches were taking place all over the country and even if not invited, the Committee should remain informed on matters such as these.

Mr Pieterse (ANC) insisted that the bid should be regarded as that which belonged to the people of South Africa and that the Committee should be able to criticise on an informed basis. A great deal would be achieved should the Bid Committee's presentation to Cabinet be successful.

The Committee then adopted the minutes of 11 March, 18 March and 25 March.

Mr Swart raised a concern about the Management Committees looking after facilities. These committees were put in place, but their progress had not yet been followed up. positive message be sent to people in the respective constituencies to generate support and enthusiasm for the bid.

Mr Lee raised the issue of study tours and asked if the scheduled tour to Zambia was still to be undertaken.

The Chair explained that a process was involved whereby the areas were identified at Committee level and skills to be learnt in that particular area were earmarked. Following this, there would have to be an application to Parliament for approval and the country in question was to be contacted concerning appropriate dates for the tour. The Department of Foreign Affairs must then issue clearance. Dates given by the Department of Foreign Affairs often clash with those from Parliament. The tour to Zambia was scheduled for 24 April to 4 May, but these dates fell within Constituency Week and therefore the trip could not be undertaken.

Mr Swart indicated that other Committees went on tours at any time. There should be uniformity of the rule as the study tour to Zambia had been postponed five times before.

Mr Pieterse agreed and said that fairness and consistency should be employed.

The Chair said that the Committee had only travelled to Cuba. With regard to provincial tours, all reports should be discussed and analysed. The purpose of the Public Policy Analysis workshop would be employed here. Study tours were part of the programme of transformation. Regarding uniformity, the issue would be addressed at the following Chairpersons' meeting.

Mr Lee said that he would make a concerted personal effort to assist in this area.

The Chair said that the tour to Zambia had not been approved.

Mr Simmons (NNP) asked why the tour could not take place during the recess period.

Mr Swart asked why the Chief Whip from one party was given veto powers.

Mr Pieterse pointed out that the same process had allowed the trip to Cuba and that the process should not come under fire only when it disallowed certain things.

Mr Mbadi asked where the information went after the meeting of the Chief Whip's Forum and the Programme Committee.

The Chair said that she did not know but for follow-ups, either Mr Dodge or Mr Carsens could be contacted.

Mr Mlangeni urged that the matter not be debated in the meeting as rules and procedures had been decided upon by a number of different parties.

The Chair agreed with Mr Pieterse, but said that the process had had a negative impact. Rules were to ensure the smooth running of institutions as well as maintaining certain standards. She asked the Committee about the most suitable structures with which to lodge a complaint. A letter would be the most effective method. The issue at hand was whether the Chief Whip was the presiding officer or not.

The meeting agreed that a letter would be the best form of communication concerning the lodging of a complaint. The Chair said that she would study the rules as to who was in charge.

The meeting was adjourned.

Appendix
PRESENTATION BY MR R SWIGELAAR (SRSA) TO THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON SPORT AND RECREATION ON THE 2010 SOCCER WORLD CUP BID

15 APRIL 2003

Introduction
Honourable Members, I am sure that we are all familiar with the issues involved in bidding for an event of this magnitude as we have been down this path before, not only for other bids such as Cricket World Cup, but for those of the previous soccer world cup bid in particular.

The Bid Committee, led by Messrs Irvin Khoza and Danny Jordaan and the Minister of Sport and Recreation will be making presentations on the bid to Cabinet in due course. As such, this presentation is intended to give Members of the Committee a brief overview of where we are with the bid and the processes that would be followed in due course.

What are our chances to win the bid to host the event?

According to the Bid Committee, South Africa stands an excellent chance of winning the bid because of the following reasons:
We lost the 2006 Bid by only one vote;
Africa has been guaranteed the event based on FIFA 's new rotational system;
South Africa is technically better prepared than the other bidding countries on the continent to host the event; in particular we already have the necessary facilities, the most expensive item on the budget;
South Africa has a good, recent track record of hosting major international events.

Who are we up against?
Other countries that have indicated their intent to bid are;
Libya
Morocco
Tunisia
Nigeria

What is expected of Government?

FIFA requires the Government of South Africa to submit a declaration signed by the President and the Minister of Sport and Recreation in which government's full and active involvement in the process is underscored.

Different Government departments will also be requested to give certain guarantees through which to ensure that all special laws and regulations necessary to establish the conditions required for organizing and staging the 2010 FIFA World Cup.


The guarantees are required for, amongst others, the following areas

Entry and Exit permits
Customs Duties and Taxes
Safety and Security
Telecommunications, Information Technology
International Broadcasting Centre
Transport
FIFA's ownership of media and marketing rights
Medical Care

These guarantees will be included in the 2010 Bid Book due to be submitted to FIFA during September 2003.

What are the financial implications of the Bid?
The 2006 World Cup Bid cost the Bid Company in the region of R50m and it is expected that the current bid would cost more than that. The private sector (Anglo-American, BMW, Phillips) has already come to the party and a sizeable portion of the required finances for the bidding stages would be raised from this sector

Legacy projects
As was the case during the recently-held Cricket World Cup, the Bid Committee is in the process of finalizing a similar programme through which to build or upgrade soccer facilities around the country. This will ensure that a lasting legacy is left behind long after the bid and the event have passed.
The Bid Committee would be able to shed more light on this aspect when they present to the Portfolio Committee.

The role of SRSA in the process
The fundamental role of SRSA during the bidding phase would be to facilitate the role of government in the process. In this regard we have already liaised with a number of government departments on the process and will continue, as the lead department in this regard, to facilitate and coordinate the role of government.

Important Dates
30 April 2003- National Launch- Cape Town- Bafana-Bafana vs Jamaica
22 May 2003- International Launch- Durban- Bafana-Bafana vs England
September 2003- submission of Bid Book to FIFA