We're getting closer. Just 367 days away ...
And today, the first stadium built exclusively for the World Cup opened. The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth, South Africa is now open for business, a year ahead of the 2010 World Cup.
The 48,000-seat stadium will host eight games at the World Cup, including a quarter final and the third/fourth place play-off.
"For us today's first opening of a newly-built 2010 FIFA World Cup stadium is a huge boost. It demonstrates the capacity of SA's (South Africa) construction industry and our commitment to deliver on all our 2010 FIFA World Cup promises," said chief executive of the organizing committee Danny Jordaan.
The 2010 curtain-raiser Confederations Cup starts next Sunday at four refurbished stadiums in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Bloemfontein and Rustenburg.
Jordaan added that the five additional new stadiums that will also be used in the World Cup were "shaping up nicely" to be ready ahead of 2010.
MY POV: I'm happy to hear SA's getting the stadiums operational a full year before the Cup. It's an important first step and shows the world how serious and committed South Africa is to being ready for the first African World Cup.
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