Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Ramatsiyi Moholoa

South Africa is geared up for the 2010 World Cup preliminary draw in Durban on November 25, the Local Organising Committee announced yesterday.

The draw, which is expected to be attended by a record 204 countries, is the first official event of the money-spinning tournament.

The previous record was set by the preliminary competition for the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan where 199 countries registered and 193 teams participated.

For the 2006 World Cup in Germany, a total of 198 teams registered and 194 played in the preliminary competition.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter will be attending.

Tim Modise, the LOC's communications and marketing director, said they have already sent people to Durban to prepare for the draw.

Danny Jordaan, the LOC chief executive , was in Durban yesterday for a meeting with the stakeholders in the city to prepare for the draw.

Irvin Khoza, the chairman of the LOC, was also in Durban.

"Everything is going according to plan. We are quite happy with the efforts put in by our events team of Stephen Watson and Leslie Sedibe," said Modise.

"There will be a lot of soccer administrators and media people who will be coming to our country, we really need to impress.

"The draw will also help in terms of sending a message to the whole world that South Africa is more than ready to host the tournament.

"We have put a team of artists who will perform during the draw. We will also use the opportunity to unveil the 2010 World Cup logo and poster."

Modise, who is in London for a tourism workshop, said they have a team of about 300 volunteers from KwaZulu-Natal who will work during the draw.