2010: The point of no return

In aeronautical terms, the point of no return is known as the “radius of action formula”. Either way, it refers to the moment beyond which a current course of action must continue because turning back is physically impossible, prohibitively expensive or dangerous.

And so it is with South Africa’s charge towards hosting the 2010 World Cup. February is fast becoming one of the most memorable months since South Africa secured the rights to host the event all those years ago.

Last weekend, a grand lighting ceremony was held at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium to celebrate the completion of the extraordinary 105m high arch that towers over the 2010 semifinal venue. Over the past few days, stadium project managers at other sites around the country have begun signing off some of the venues for June’s Confederations Cup — a key curtain raiser for the world’s biggest single code sporting event. And next week, Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri will demonstrate the state of readiness of the ICT infrastructure at the 2010 stadia.

The launch of the ticketing process for the World Cup this week marks another milestone. 2010 Local Organising Committee CEO Danny Jordaan says this symbolises that the World Cup in Africa is now a reality “and only God can take it away from us”.

Fifa 2010 consultant Horst Schmidt is confident that the launch of the ticketing process will mark the “turning point” for South Africa. He said there was a great deal of concern and trepidation in Germany up to this point in 2005. “But once the ticket sales were launched, it was as if an explosion of interest and enthusiasm took root — and we never looked back.”

The latest market research suggests that three out of four people believe South Africa will be ready for the tournament while 88% of respondents are now proud that the country is hosting the tournament. Almost everyone, it seems, is beginning to recognise the enormity of this event and, perhaps more importantly, to acknowledge that it’s crucial that all the roleplayers as well as every South African — and African — unites for this common cause.