The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is to host a workshop on Monday to discuss the roll-out its preparations to host successful games during the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup.

The municipality has already approved a number of contracts to allow for the construction of a stadium to commence.

Sport and Recreation Minister Makhenkesi Stofile and the Chief Executive of the Local Organising Committee Danny Jordaan, attended a sod-turning ceremony in the municipality on Friday for the construction of the 50 000-seater stadium.

The duo dismissed claims that the city would not deliver the required infrastructure, especially the stadia, on time ahead of the prestigious event.

Mr Stofile said the municipality had been ahead of other cities in preparing for the World Cup, commending it for taking initiative to start on its preparations for the world's biggest soccer tournament.

"You [the municipality] did not wait for money from national government; you used your own money to speed up the process. That money is not lost, every cent will be returned to you," he said.

The Minister said the municipality had taken into account the international standards required by FIFA when building a stadium, such as providing access for people with disabilities to attend the games.

"It is also of vital importance that the municipality trains young people how to manage a mega-facility such as the stadium, and should not have government officials take charge of that.

"This can be a Private Public Partnership, like the one government has with Holiday Inn. The hotel infrastructure belongs to government and group manages it on the state's behalf," said Mr Stofile.

Mr Jordaan reminded authorities in the municipality that the FIFA inspection team would be back in South Africa in June 2008.

He said the stadium should be finished by December 2008 to allow the municipality to host some games of the Confederation Cup in 2009.

"This means that the municipality can still successfully canvas to host Confederations Cup matches. This is great news as Nelson Mandela Bay considers this event as a curtain raiser for 2010," said the municipality in a statement.

Mr Jordaan once more emphasised the importance of fan parks because the stadium could be packed to capacity during some games.

Fan parks or fan fests were pioneered at this year's World Cup in Germany. They are locations outside of stadiums with big screen televisions allowing thousands of fans without tickets to watch the games and share in the spirit of the World Cup. - BuaNews