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News and media releases: 2009
News and media releases: 2009
| Ellis Park to serve two masters |
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| 29 May 2009 |
Football and rugby: Ellis Park Stadium will host a total of seven games between 30 May and 4 July
Both held every four years, the FIFA Confederations Cup and the British and Irish Lions rugby tour are taking place in South Africa in June this year, with Ellis Park Stadium the key venue for both. The rugby tour runs from 30 May to 4 July, intersecting with the Confederations Cup, which takes place from 14 to 28 June. Ellis Park will host a total of seven games during this time and will have to be transformed from a rugby venue set-up to a FIFA-approved football set-up within a 10- and 11-day period, respectively. It will be an acid test in particular for the City, which will be pushed in terms of its service provision, infrastructure, policing and emergency management services; it will be an opportunity to show that it is able to host the World Cup in 2010. A buoyant executive director of the City's 2010 Office, Sibongile Mazibuko said Johannesburg was very excited to host two such different sporting events and was working very closely with the South Africa Rugby Union, the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa, FIFA and the Ellis Park World of Sport in getting everything ready. "It also gives the opportunity for us to apply our infrastructure and to sweat our asset. We are ready," she confirmed. Major upgradesOver R241-million has been spent on the greater Ellis Park area through the Johannesburg Development Agency over the last seven years. This has included beautifying the whole area with street furniture, art work and lighting; adding additional infrastructure; and bringing in the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit system to service the precinct.
The precinct around the stadium has been beautified, with street furniture, art work and lighting
In addition, the City spent another R230-million to upgrade the stadium's capacity and facilities. This included increasing seating from 59 000 to 62 000 and upgrading locker rooms and ablution facilities. "Seeing this [City] investment used in this way is really the best for us," Mazibuko added. Rugby and soccerThe British and Irish Lions Tour kicks off at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on 30 May, with the first game scheduled at Ellis Park on 3 June.It then moves to various fixtures around the country before returning to Ellis Park for the finals on 4 July. In between the rugby matches, the Confederations Cup takes place - with both the opening match on 14 June, and the closing match and ceremony on 28 June taking place at the stadium. Another three soccer games will be played at the stadium during this month. 
The City welcomes the FIFA Confederations Cup teams and fans
It will have to switch between different advertising materials and infrastructure to accommodate the different sponsors. Advertising applied to the actual pitch will be painted with a special, easily removable material, and the grass will be kept long for the rugby and short for the soccer. Mazibuko stressed that the most important thing was for the different entities and sporting codes to work together to make the switch-over as smooth as possible and to hand back the infrastructure in its original condition. "The City is very clear that it has to protect its infrastructure. It is a collaborative effort." Chief executive officer for Ellis Park World of Sport, Paul Applesamy, said the stadium was now world class from a technical and infrastructure point of view. The company had added space heating to the third level and would install a brand-new big screen for the north side. Only soft infrastructure upgrades such as the electronics still needed to be finalised, and the stadium would be up and ready in time, he confirmed. "From a handing over point of view both we and the City are comfortable with the timelines." |
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The Johannesburg Development Agency, set up as a limited liability company, is an agency of the City of Johannesburg that stimulates and supports area-based economic development initiatives throughout the metropolitan area.