Durban unveils design of its new 2010 World Cup Soccer Stadium

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This morning the design of the new Moses Mabhiba World Cup 2010 Stadium in Durban was unveiled by KwaZulu-Natal's Premier Sbu Ndebele and eThekwini Mayor Councillor Obed Mlaba.

The new 2010 Moses Mahiba Stadium will be built on the site of the existing King's Park stadium and has been designed as a first-class multi-purpose sporting facility. The 2010 stadium will be built to comply with international safety and security standards.

The project has been awarded to the Ibhola Lethu consortium and it is estimated it will cost R1,6 billion, making it the most ambitious soccer construction project undertaken in South Africa to date.

The world cup stadium will have a seating capacity for 70 000 people, the arches will be 100m high and the stadium will cover 320 x 280 square metres and will be 45m in height. The physical demolition of the existing King's Park stadium will take place end and building will begin towards the end of the year.

Source: City of Durban / June 15 2006

The German state of Bavaria is encouraging South African companies to attend a real estate trade fair in October 2006, saying it will attract investors in the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

Hans Spitzner, Bavaria's deputy minister for economic affairs said that SA could benefit from experience Germany was gaining in staging the 2006 Football World Cup.

Specific areas of opportunity that could be triggered by the event included the development of shopping malls, entertainment venues and residential developments, he said. The 2010 Football World Cup is expected to generate billions of rands.

Australia is keen as well to share the experience gained in hosting the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

(source: Business Day / Chris Van Gass / 17 February 2005)

The 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup should boost tourism in Southern Africa, which is currently handicapped by its image as a war zone and the difficulties of travel within the region.

Shepherd Nyaruwata, the executive director of the Regional Tourism Organisation for Southern Africa, said: "There is a need to spruce up the image of the region."

Nyaruwata expected tourist numbers to peak from 14 million last year to 20 million during 2010, with some World Cup soccer fans going on from the soccer tournament in South Africa to visit neighbouring states such as Mozambique and Namibia.

(source: Business Report / Alfonce Mbizwo / 17 March 2005)