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Study pegs Green Point as favourite for 2010

 
A study to determine the most suitable stadium where 2010 soccer matches will be held in the city has identified Green Point as the favourite.

The study, whose results were released by Cape Town Executive Mayor Helen Zille during a media briefing in Cape Town on Thursday, found that given the short space of time in which construction work should be completed, the Green Point was the only stadium that stood a reasonable chance of meeting FIFA's specifications.

The City of Cape Town has been nominated to host the 2010 semi-finals, but only on condition that it provides a stadium which among other things, should accommodate at least 68 000 spectators.

Briefing the media during the tabling of the study's findings, City of Cape Town Executive Director of Sports and Recreation Mike Marsden said other stadiums such as Newlands and Culemborg, were found to be unsuitable.

"Green Point is the only feasible venue for a 68 000 semi-final given the time constraints," he said.

However, he said that developing the stadium to FIFA standards would require an investment of R4,3-billion.

"The maximum capital contribution Council can make towards this is R400 million and the rest will have to come from the national government and other stakeholders," he said.

Marsden said construction work would begin next January - subject to national government fulfilling its financial obligations towards the development of the stadium.

"Once the City gets its grant allocation from the national government in November, we can start construction in January 2007," he said.

According to the study, it will take 35 months for the construction work to be completed.

To ensure the stadium was financially sustainable after 2010, Mr Marsden said the City would enter into discussions with local professional rugby and soccer teams in a bid to convince them to use the venue as their home ground, post 2010.

Zille said the City would be bidding for the opening game of the tournament to be held in Cape Town. "We are of the view that during the first games, spectators won't only be focusing on soccer, they will also want to explore the City where the match is being held.

"We believe hosting one of the first games will give Cape Town maximum exposure." - BuaNews