FIFA to ratify Cabinet's approval of IBC location
Johannesburg is awaiting FIFA's ratification of Cabinet's approval of the city to be the venue for the World Cup International Broadcast Centre (IBC) during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Last week Cabinet announced the approval of the Local Organising Committees recommendation that Johannesburg be the host of the IBC's state-of-the-art broadcast hub of the world cup.
“FIFA now has to ratify this decision,” LOC's CEO Danny Jordaan said, after writing to FIFA informing the world football body of the country's decision.
The IBC will be the nerve centre for the world cup and media streaming would be organised, packaged and sent out from the facility to over 30 billion viewers worldwide. The centre will enhance South Africa's migration into the new model of high definition television and new broadcasting technology.
The decision into the location of the IBC ended the selection process which commenced in November 2006.
Three cities
Jordaan, however, commended the three cities, Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg, which had been bidding to host the IBC for the quality job. “We are satisfied that the process followed was very thorough. The quality of all the cities' submissions and presentations gave us further assurance that we will have a world-class world cup in our country in 2010,” he said.
To Cape Town, he said, the mother city remained an important part of the world cup. “The awarding of the IBC to Johannesburg is but one of the many activities of the Organising Committee.
“We still have to award the venue for the World Cup Final Draw, the FIFA Congress and many other events. So it's not the end of the world for Cape Town,” said Jordaan.
The two world cup host cities were at the final stage process where they were asked to submit their best final stroke on 18 May 2007. They were further called to a second presentation and their final work was scrutinised on 21 May 2007.
This led to a second evaluation of the two bidders and a verification process on 1 June and the subsequent submission of the report and recommendation to the LOC's Board on 18 June. The board accepted the report and designated Johannesburg as the preferred bidder and Cape Town as the reserve bidder.
On 25 June 2007, the LOC informed the country's Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, of the recommendation of the LOC.
About Themba Gadebe
Themba Gadebe writes for BuaNews, a South African news service which provides quick and easy access to articles and stories aimed at keeping the public informed about the implementation of Government's mandate.
