WC 2010 enters operational phase

Preparation for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa has entered its "operational phase", the chief executive officer of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Dany Jordaan, said on Thursday.
"The 1,000 days countdown signals to us now the beginning of the operational phase"; he told a press conference ahead of the symbolic September 15 date marking 1,000 days to the start of the world soccer fiesta.
He enumerated LOC's achievements so far: "selection of nine host cities, signing of contracts with cities, finalisation of legislation, establishment of right committees, finalisation of match schedule, selection of management team and start of construction site.
"The first thing to deliver is preliminary draw for the qualifying phase", scheduled for November 27 in Durban, he added.
More than 3,000 officials of the LOC, FIFA, national coaches, notable names in football and media are expected at Durban ceremony.
Then, the "Confederation Cup", will follow in 2009 in five South African stadium which should be ready "in December 2008", he also said.
"To build all our stadium on time is a huge challenge ... we believe we have the winning formula."
"Yes, we will have difficulties in stadium construction, but we are confident in the capacity of the construction industry in this country."
To mark the "countdown to 1,000 days to the competition", the LOC has planned series of events, especially in capital Pretoria, for September 15.
"We would like to assert to the world and South Africans that the different institutions involved in the organisation are confident that we are on course that we will host a wonderful World Cup," said Jordaan without giving further details on the programme of activities.