Johannesburg, July 11: The World Cup would have entered African shores four years earlier, if only the New Zealand delegate hadn’t gone against his pact and voted for Germany at the last moment, when the rights for the 2006 World Cup were awarded.
For South Africans, it proved to be worth the wait as the Rainbow Nation left a colourful imprint in the hearts of fans and players.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter thanked the nation for hosting what he termed a “special” event. “It was a World Cup on a new continent with a new culture and therefore it must be analysed on different levels, but if you look at the enthusiasm in Africa and also the repercussions in the world, if you look at the television audiences around the world, if you look to the fan-fests everywhere in the world then I have to say it was a special World Cup.”
Blatter may have been among those who cast doubts over South Africa successfully hosting the event, but the African nation has shown it can stand united and host the biggest events in the world.
What next for South Africa? Organising committee chairman Danny Jordaan has set his eyes on the next big event.
“The World Cup has united our nation like never before. How do we maintain that unity? Perhaps through the hosting of the Olympic Games,” Jordaan said.
International Olympic Committee president, Jacques Rogge will be present at the final in Soccer City and Jordaan said, “I am sure we will be talking to him.”
Blatter also commended the South Africans for world-class infrastructure.
“These stadiums are real jewels from an architectural point of view; they are really, really good stadiums and wherever the spectators are in the stadium they have a complete view of the pitch.”
South African President Jacob Zuma thanked the people of the country for hosting a magnificent event.
“When we won the rights to host the World Cup, we knew that working together we would be able to succeed. But, what has happened so far, has exceeded our expectations,” he said.