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'ONLY GOD CAN MOVE WORLD CUP'

Anna Majavu

Anna Majavu

"Only God can move this World Cup. Only a natural disaster can lead to a move of this World Cup."

This was the message yesterday from Fifa 2010 World Cup local organising committee chief executive Danny Jordaan.

Briefing parliament's sports portfolio committee, Jordaan, pictured, hit out at media reports suggesting that Fifa needed a "Plan B" because of rampant crime in South Africa.

He said the stadiums would be completed on time and three million tickets would go on sale from February 20.

He said the LOC would set up fan parks in host cities to accommodate the many fans with no tickets.

Committee chairman Butana Komphela reminded Jordaan that 47 million people were hoping to watch the matches at the stadiums.

"We must do everything we can to assist," Komphela said.

Johannesburg will have two fan parks as matches will be played at two stadiums.

Fifa will not set up fan parks for the Confederations Cup in June, but host cities are free to do so, Jordaan said.

Public viewing areas are likely to be set up outside the host cities, but these will be the responsibility of the municipalities and provincial governments, not of Fifa, Jordaan added.

Fan parks will also be set up in Lagos, Nigeria, and in Accra, Ghana.

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