A delegation from FIFA, the world controlling body, is coming next week to review progress, but it is unlikely to find much on which to report.

The Local Organising Committee (LOC), the body which will stage the entire World Cup, has not yet been established, although this is expected to be done by the end of this month.

Without the LOC, the World Cup cannot be organised - and venue upgrading and construction deadlines are looming.

Compounding this situation is that two vital laws - including the governing of finances and infrastructure - will be passed only in December.

The country has committed itself to finalising the building and upgrading of stadiums before the end of 2007. FIFA's deadline for the final assessment of readiness is June 2008.

The promised end-of-April deadline for upgrading one of the main venues, the Loftus stadium in Tshwane, with additional turnstiles and modernised electronics, is only five days away.

Upgrading and construction work on the country's 12 other premier venues such as Soccer City (popularly known as FNB stadium) and Ellis Park - also appears to be behind schedule.

FNB stadium manager Dennis Mumble has confirmed that plans to renovate it are months behind schedule.

"We wanted to have the new stadium up and running from the beginning of 2007 but now it looks like the upgrade will not be completed until after the first quarter of 2007. Our objectives are behind, but the deadline is not until June 2008.

"We were looking to get this thing off the ground last September, but we had to shift that because of something to do with the government guarantee."

As part of the process of getting the World Cup, the government had to provide a guarantee to FIFA that they would cover any developments required on stadiums.

"We're waiting for SAFA (the SA Football Association) to find out how to access the guarantee. We can raise money for rebuilding in the private sector if we can get the government guarantee.

"Hopefully now, with Danny Jordaan working on the Local Organising Committee, these things can be fast-tracked."

Probably the most pressing problem of all - getting local municipalities on board and assessing their capacity to deliver on infrastructure needs - cannot start until the LOC is launched.

Jordaan said last week that preparations were on track, though it might appear as if nothing had happened.

"We will meet our target. People should remember that for any major event to be successful, you need to establish a legal framework, and that takes time.

"The period between 2004 and 2006 is for compliance and making sure that what we presented in the Bid Book, including the infrastructure, is in place.

"The next World Cup is in Germany, and that's where the focus is. We don't want to be seen to be competing with Germany for media attention. Our turn will come after 2006," he said.

Jordaan added that nothing could be done before the LOC was set up.

"Parliament will on December 15 this year pass two acts - the 2010 FIFA World Cup Special Measures Act and the 2010 FIFA World Cup Financial Measures Act.

"We need to find out from municipalities how they plan to meet the targets. There are 13 stadiums envisaged for the World Cup, but it is the responsibilities of municipalities to build, renovate and prepare them.

"They need to convince us they will be able to provide services like telecommunications, electricity, a disaster-management plan, security, water and hospitals.

"These games are going to be broadcast worldwide, and cities must prove they have the capacity to provide the best technology.

"Cities must also explain what they will do with improved infrastructure, like the airports and stadiums, after the World Cup to avoid a situation similar to that of Japan, where they built a state-of-the-art stadium which became useless after the tournament," Jordaan said.

"It is also very important for businesses to partner municipalities and to help them with their challenges. Safa's money is to stage the event, and we cannot be expected to provide services like electricity to cities."

Source: IOL