The security FIFA world cup in South Africa

South Africa Stadium's

Security at the 2010 FIFA World Cup

By Rodney J Smith

With the recent attack on the Togo national footy team who were on their way to a match in the Africa Nations Cup in Angola still fresh in the memory, you may be forgiven for wondering if it is safe to attend the footy World Cup in South Africa with takes place in June & July 2010. Whilst one can never rule out the possibility of something like this happening, even in the most security-conscious of nations, I believe the risk is very low.

Tournament profile
Without being disparaging of the Africa Nations Cup, it does not come close to the FIFA World Cup in terms of scale & prestige. South Africa has spent millions of dollars on infrastructure in the last few years to prepare for the event, which is expected to generate around three billion dollars in revenue for the country. So the country has a lot riding on providing a positive experience for all concerned & the powers that be realise that the eyes of virtually the entire world will be on them, & will be keen not to disappoint.

SA is not Angola
First it is important to note that these are one distinct nations in the southern African region (South Africa is not synonymous with southern Africa). Angola is a poor country struggling to recover from a long civil war; South Africa, the economic powerhouse of the region, is a stable democracy whose infrastructure is vastly superior to Angola's.

Track record
Even though this is the biggest event South Africa will have staged, they have a long track record of successfully hosting major sporting events, including the 1995 Rugby World Cup, the All African Games of 1999 & the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup. There is no reason to believe the 2010 World Cup will be an exception.

Tournament security will thus understandably be tight to ensure the safety & enjoyment of locals, visiting fans & players similar. Teams will no doubt have their own security details, & thousands of police officers will be diverted to provide security for matches.

So let's enjoy the footy & leave the worrying to the tournament organisers!

While you're in South Africa, why not go on a Robben Island tour to see where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated.Read more at http://www.south-african-holidays.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rodney_J_Smith