Gert Bam, the council's director of social development, was speaking to more than 1,000 people at the BOE building at the V&A Waterfront yesterday.

His presentation was hosted by the provincial investment and trade agency Wesgro.

The guests included business people and entrepreneurs who had an opportunity to identify business opportunities that will come up during the tournament.

Bam said the event would be the best opportunity to fast track infrastructural development, grow the city's economy and create employment opportunities.

"About 122,800 jobs would be created and about 500 000 visitors would visit the city."

But he also warned that there would be global competitiveness.

Bam said they had identified the N2 housing project, the upgrading of the Athlone stadium, Klipfontein Corridor and urban renewal project as major developments or catalysts for the soccer showpiece.

"We want to change the undignified houses of Joe Slovo informal settlement and others."

The corridor's development and a convenient transport system were of critical importance for the event.

"You can have an ambitious plan but if you don't have an ... effective transport system, your plan won't work.

"The city can work effectively if it has a convenient transport system for the event."

He said the national, provincial and local governments had discussed and agreed on an implementation framework for the city.

"We agreed that there should be a developmental impact, infrastructural improvements and sport event arrangements."

The city has also taken into account people's concerns such as safety and security on trains.

Bam said agencies were dealing with the issue of safety and security.

He said they had agreed that Athlone stadium would be used as the venue for matches. It would be further upgraded and the work would start in June.

The city has identified Swartklip soccer field as a training venue for the teams. The field would also have two basketball centres.

Bam said they had also identified other facilities as practise venues for the world cup event.

He said (the supply of) water, electricity, transport, telecommunications, television were crucial to ensure the success of the tournament.

About 32 teams would visit and play matches in the city.

Bam said people should give much thought to ambitious plans because the government wanted the the event to be a success.Cape Argus