Mr. Schmidt, representatives of the South African Local Organising Committee (LOC) headed by its Chief Executive Danny Jordaan were at the European Football Championships advertising the 2010 FIFA World Cup and painted a very positive picture of the preparations. But it’s no secret that there are still some difficulties.
It’s fine that these gentlemen drew attention to the special features of their country and talked to journalists about their objectives for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. But what was more important was that a large group of observers from South Africa followed the whole European Championship tournament. Many members of the LOC Board, as well as the LOC directors and department heads, were on the spot. After all, Euro 2008 was the last major football event that gave them an opportunity to see how others handled the organization before things really get going in South Africa in 2009 with the Confederations Cup.
What did they look at?
Everything: the practical organizational procedures at the stadiums, the team service, ticket management, last-minute ticketing systems, how the protocol functioned, media work, accreditation, hospitality facilities in the stadiums and the volunteer programme.
Did they gain any special insights?
Well, it’s not exactly a new insight that such a major event requires a lot of flexibility. For example, in Basel the turf had to be replaced at short notice just before the quarter finals. After the Euro 2008 finals an evaluation conference was held at FIFA headquarters in Zurich; its conclusions now have to be rapidly implemented.
An interview with FIFA President Blatter caused a big stir recently. He spoke of a Plan B and confirmed for the first time that the idea of relocating the World Cup to another country had been considered.
Please note the context: the FIFA President said that in the event of a natural disaster, he would be quite negligent as president if he didn’t have a plan B tucked away at the back of a drawer. I’m still confident that the ongoing World Cup process in South Africa is irreversible. The recent violent incidents will ensure that even greater attention is paid to the security strategy. In the face of all these reports we should remain fair and not attach too much importance to negative reports of the kind we also heard in the run-up to the tournament in Germany.
What work priorities do you have this year?
The issue of team accommodation is high on the priority list at the moment. The LOC will be completing its list of over 80 potential hotels. The problem isn’t the hotels themselves – there are enough of them. But there also have to be appropriate training facilities nearby, and most of those haven’t been built yet. All this has to be ready by early 2009 at the latest, because various countries want to look around and do their planning before the qualifying matches are completed in October 2009.
I read recently that teams are to be accommodated in neighbouring countries to underline the character of a World Cup for the whole of Africa.
The idea was floated that teams might be accommodated in Namibia, Lesotho, Mozambique, Botswana or Zimbabwe. In the meantime, FIFA has decided that all the participants have to be on South African soil throughout the entire tournament period. This decision is understandable, because the teams have to be guaranteed absolute security. This is easier to achieve centrally than if things are decentralized.
What is your precise task as FIFA advisor for the 2010 World Cup?
It’s all about the comprehensive transfer of knowledge gained during the 2006 World Cup on virtually all important organizational and financial issues, and developing the right concepts for 2010. But don’t forget that the decisions on the basic planning always lie with FIFA and the LOC – the advisor then takes a step back.
How much time do you spend in South Africa?
On average I spend one week a month in South Africa.
Will you move there permanently in 2009 or 2010?
No. After all, I’m treasurer of the German Football Association and have commitments in Germany. But it’s quite possible that I’ll be staying there for longer than a week every month in the future.
Can you already feel something like World Cup fever in South Africa?
I know from my conversations with lots of people that expectations are running high and there is lots of support among all sections of the population. This will increasingly be expressed in public opinion as the event approaches. It’s the way things develop at all major events, also on other continents.
LOC Chief Executive Jordaan has said it’s his dream that every African will use the World Cup as an opportunity for the purpose of unity, for stability, for tolerance and economic development. Big words – but are they realistic?
I can fully understand the visions that the people responsible have developed for the World Cup in South Africa. When you see how comprehensively South Africa is being supported by the continent’s other nations, these visions are certainly not utopian.
If you could make a wish relating to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, what would it be?
My wish is very simple: some great matches and an exciting but peaceful World Cup tournament that radiates the kind of fascination and atmosphere that everyone involved is hoping for.
