The English Premier Soccer League (PSL) will pump in over R236m ( 29,5 million euro) to turn the 2010 World Cup Soccer into a world class event.

"We were delighted when South Africa was awarded the 2010 World Cup finals," said PSL chairperson Dave Richards.

"This is a fantastic country with lots of potential and we want to play a part in helping develop soccer, especially at grassroots level, through the build-up to the World Cup finals."

"We believe in South Africa's ability to stage the event. South Africa deserves the chance to produce a brilliant tournament. We would like to be part of it, whether financially or through coaching academies in the UK."

Richards said he wanted South Africa to leave a legacy after 2010 for the children of the country.

(source: News24.com / 06 April 2005)

The German state of Bavaria is encouraging South African companies to attend a real estate trade fair in October 2006, saying it will attract investors in the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

Hans Spitzner, Bavaria's deputy minister for economic affairs said that SA could benefit from experience Germany was gaining in staging the 2006 Football World Cup.

Specific areas of opportunity that could be triggered by the event included the development of shopping malls, entertainment venues and residential developments, he said. The 2010 Football World Cup is expected to generate billions of rands.

Australia is keen as well to share the experience gained in hosting the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

(source: Business Day / Chris Van Gass / 17 February 2005)

The 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup should boost tourism in Southern Africa, which is currently handicapped by its image as a war zone and the difficulties of travel within the region.

Shepherd Nyaruwata, the executive director of the Regional Tourism Organisation for Southern Africa, said: "There is a need to spruce up the image of the region."

Nyaruwata expected tourist numbers to peak from 14 million last year to 20 million during 2010, with some World Cup soccer fans going on from the soccer tournament in South Africa to visit neighbouring states such as Mozambique and Namibia.

(source: Business Report / Alfonce Mbizwo / 17 March 2005)