Songs, balloons, action

Cape Town - Cape Town took a major step forward in its 2010 Fifa World Cup preparedness on Monday when it completed its purpose-built soccer stadium in Green Point, some 32 months after the first sod was turned, according to government news agency BuaNews.

As the sounds of Europe's rock song "Final Countdown" subsided, Mayor Dan Plato addressed a ceremony of more than 200 invited guests and media. He then let loose hundreds of balloons representing the colours of the South African flag.

Plato praised the stadium's contractors and construction workers as well as 2010 Local Organising Committee chief Danny Jordaan and Western Cape Premier Helen Zille. He also thanked the national and provincial governments for their financial support.

The stadium, one of the biggest construction and planning projects ever undertaken by the City of Cape Town, was set to become an iconic image of the city with its backdrop of Table Mountain and Robben Island, Plato said.

Despite a late start, the stadium was finished on time after the original completion date was moved forward from February 15 to December 14.

Mike Marsden, executive director for Service Delivery Integration which is responsible for world cup-related events at the City of Cape Town, said it wasn't always easy going. For instance, the stadium's facade was almost lost when the ship carrying it went aground on a sandbank near Thailand.

Kick-off on June 11

Marsden said the remainder of the stadium precinct and local roads serving it would be completed by March. An additional promenade and athletics track would be finished after the world cup.

At a total cost of R4.5bn, the stadium can seat 68 000 people with the furthest point from the pitch just 187 metres away.

The stadium itself has 750 rooms and 3 000 doors, according to Mike Wylie, chairperson of Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon (WBHO), which together with Murray and Roberts were the stadium's lead contractors.

The concept design was undertaken by GMP Architekten from Germany, and detailed design work was completed by Louis Karol and Associates and Point Architects.

About 2 500 construction workers were employed in the building of the stadium and 1 200 artisans received training from the contractors.

After the world cup, the stadium will be operated by Stade de France and the South African sports marketing company, Sail.

Plato said the stadium was "ready for the world" and to host its first world cup match, which will be between France and Uruguay on June 11.

"In this very arena the best of the world will do battle."

- Fin24.com