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World Cup 2010: German security expert hails South African effort
Host nation seems to have everything in hand...
15 Apr 2010 16:40:00
By Peter Pedroncelli
The security precautions taken by South Africa in the run-up to the football World Cup meet the highest standards, a security expert from Germany's parliament said this week.
Frank Hofmann, acting chairman of the parliamentary committee on home affairs in Berlin, was speaking to the German press agency DPA after an information-gathering visit to South Africa.
"We are very impressed by the professionalism of the security forces, especially at the leadership level, as well as by the preparations for the World Cup in general," Hofmann, an MP for the official opposition SPD, said.
German football fans who want to visit South Africa should not be put off by "sensational headlines", according to Hofmann, concerning the reported high security threat to visitors, which, in his view, has no factual basis.
Many of these headlines have come out in the past year with Danny Jordaan asking the media to only report facts, and not rumours which have no basis. The sensational headlines and stories are hurting ticket sales in Europe, coupled with the economic downturn, but unfounded reporting should not be having such a negative effect on the sales.
Hofmann said British tabloids were particularly to blame. The politician was impressed by South Africa's close co-operation with security forces from participating countries, including Germany, and international agencies such as Interpol, on its security arrangements.
"The South Africans have every reason to be confident, given their World Cup preparations," he said.
Out of the 2.2 million tickets sold so far, Germans, who are normally among the most enthusiastic supporters, have bought only 32,269 to date. By comparison, fans in the United States, where football is a marginal sport, have bought 118,945. British fans have bought 67,654 tickets, while South Africans have bought nearly one million.
www.fifaworldcup.durban.gov.za
Frank Hofmann, acting chairman of the parliamentary committee on home affairs in Berlin, was speaking to the German press agency DPA after an information-gathering visit to South Africa.
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"We are very impressed by the professionalism of the security forces, especially at the leadership level, as well as by the preparations for the World Cup in general," Hofmann, an MP for the official opposition SPD, said.
German football fans who want to visit South Africa should not be put off by "sensational headlines", according to Hofmann, concerning the reported high security threat to visitors, which, in his view, has no factual basis.
Many of these headlines have come out in the past year with Danny Jordaan asking the media to only report facts, and not rumours which have no basis. The sensational headlines and stories are hurting ticket sales in Europe, coupled with the economic downturn, but unfounded reporting should not be having such a negative effect on the sales.
Hofmann said British tabloids were particularly to blame. The politician was impressed by South Africa's close co-operation with security forces from participating countries, including Germany, and international agencies such as Interpol, on its security arrangements.
"The South Africans have every reason to be confident, given their World Cup preparations," he said.
Out of the 2.2 million tickets sold so far, Germans, who are normally among the most enthusiastic supporters, have bought only 32,269 to date. By comparison, fans in the United States, where football is a marginal sport, have bought 118,945. British fans have bought 67,654 tickets, while South Africans have bought nearly one million.
www.fifaworldcup.durban.gov.za
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