The eThekwini Municipality (Durban) will host the first official FIFA event ahead of the games - the preliminary draw to pick which teams will face each other in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Irvin Khoza, Chairman of the 2010 Local Organising Committee (LOC) announced the coastal city would host the first official FIFA event, due to take place on 23 November 2007.

Mr Khoza made the announcement on Wednesday at the LOC's final media briefing this year.

The preliminary draw will attract various world cup qualifying countries to Durban to see in which team grouping they will play.

Normally each group is formed by four teams who play against one another until only two of them qualify for another round.

"The event will be held at the Durban International Convention Centre and will be attended by up to 3500 people," LOC's Chief Executive Officer Danny Jordaan said.

"For the first time six teams from African countries will be participating in the 2010 World Cup. It is going to be tough," Dr Jordaan said.

eThekwini's executive mayor Obed Mlaba said the city had already begun with renovations at the ICC in preparation for the draw.

Mr Mlaba committed to make the event one with a continental flavour.

"We would like to commit that we will make the event an African experience. We will invite all our sister cities in other African countries....indeed it's a wonderful feeling that such an important event will happen on our doorstep, we are humbled."

Mayor Mlaba also announced the city would reveal which company had won the tender to construct King Senzangakhona stadium.

The LOC had given all host cities a deadline of December to finalise the tender processes to allow the construction of stadiums to begin as scheduled, in January next year.

"We gave all host cities until December to finalise tender processes so that construction may begin," LOC chairman Mr Khoza said.

Mr Khoza further indicated that while some cities had already appointed contractors, many were still finalising their tender processes to have constructors on site in January.

"Two of the cities, the Port Elizabeth and Mbombela [in Mpumalanga] have even conducted the sod turning ceremonies," he said.

"We are now happy with how things have gone up to this far but now we want to see the pick-axe and shovelling begin," Mr Khoza said.

Regarding Cape Town's 70 000 seater Green Point Stadium, the LOC chairman emphasised that alternative measures would be in place, should any delays occur.

The Green Point stadium has been earmarked for one of the semi-final games, but objections have been raised regarding the construction by some groups.

Mr Jordaan made assurances however, that the LOC had been in discussions with Cape Town Mayor Helen Zille, who had voiced the city's commitment to delivering on its obligations for the tournament.

In addition, the LOC also took the opportunity to unveil the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa's mission and vision statements.

"We thought it was important that to host this event, we must have an agenda and an image," Mr Khoza explained.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa's Vision Statement is "To strengthen the South African and African image."

This entails promoting new partnerships with the world in staging a unique and memorable event that will inspire South Africa to be a significant global player in all fields of human endeavour.

Germany's 2006 FIFA World Cup vision was "It's time to make friends."

The 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Mission Statements reads: "The FIFA World Cup South Africa presents the ideal stage to extend an unforgettable South African welcome to the world; to organise an African FIFA World Cup with precision, innovation and flair; and to collaborate with all stakeholders in dynamic partnerships, based on integrity and excellence." - BuaNews