At a ceremony in Cape Town’s nearly completed Greenpoint stadium, Zuma booted a FIFA-approved soccer ball off a stand, as VIPs and stadium workers looked on.

“We have proved to the world that South Africans are special people. When we have challenges we always rise to the occasion,” Zuma said

The President hailed the ongoing construction, terming it as state-of-the-art. He paid particular tribute to the workers, who had been given a day off, saying that they had made history.

“You construction workers are the bottom line in this project. When all the paper work is done in the offices, you are out there in the sun or chill, ensuring that every hole is drilled properly. I am optimistic that you will put your strength in an amazing finish,” said Zuma.

The 2010 Organising Committee CEO, Danny Jordaan, said South Africa had reached an important milestone.

“With a year to go, our host cities have done extremely well, getting first into infrastructural and now operational readiness. South Africa has never experienced an event requiring such co-ordination. As South Africans and Africans, we are undoubtedly in the process of delivering.”

South Africa begins the most important test of its ability to host the 2010 World Cup, exactly one year away, as the games for the curtain raiser Confederations Cup kick off on Sunday.

According to media reports, the two-week competition will test whether the country can deliver on its World Cup goals of delivering sparkling new stadiums, beefed-up security, an overhaul of the transport system and a big new supply of accommodation.

The government is banking on the games to transform the image of the country and the continent, and is spending about $63 billion to modernise its infrastructure, said Rich Mkhondo, spokesman for the LOC.

South Africa’s Bafana Bafana players will each be R650 000 richer if they win the Confederations Cup - and if they don’t, they’ll be able to drown their sorrows with a good red wine.

Changing perceptions

South Africa is working furiously to convince the rest of the world that it can host such a massive event and keep fans safe from violent crime. ’Hitherto, the country’s image has been tainted by crime and this is the time to prove the world wrong.

“South Africa will deliver a world-class event that will forever change the perceptions of the international community, and also ensure a lasting legacy for the people of Africa, said Zuma echoing his own words during his inauguration last month.

Already, word has it that organisers are spending $162 million on security, including 40,000 officers (700 at most games), surveillance cameras and even unmanned drones.

At the OR Tambo international airport in Johannesburg, all looks set as the airport has already started welcoming the seven foreign teams and close to 5000 fans into the country.
Giant car manufacturer Hyundai has donated 66 cars and 12 luxury buses to the organising committee for the Confederations Cup and 2010 World Cup. The cars will be used to transport the eight participating countries in the Confederations Cup and 32 in the World Cup.

“The truth is, 2010 could actually become South Africa’s annus magnificus,” said a foreign dignitary at the forum.