Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Hospitality packages to the tune of R1,15 billion have already been purchased for the 2010 World Cup, Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke said.

Valcke was addressing an international media conference yesterday at Safa House on the state of readiness for the 2009 Confederations Cup and World Cup.

Also present at the briefing was the local organising committee chief executive Danny Jordaan and World Cup organising committee chairman Issa Hayatou.

"The majority of packages were sold to South African companies," Valcke said. "It is far beyond what was sold in Germany in 2006."

LOC chairman Irvin Khoza said: "The pace of sales of hospitality packages is remarkable and we are very happy with the level of sales."

Valcke said they were impressed by the presentation made by Minister of Transport Jeff Radebe on the issues related to transport for World Cup.

"There has been tremendous progress," Valcke said.

"Radebe assured us that more airlines would be allowed into South Africa in 2010.

"There will also be special direct flights so that people can access South Africa. For example, people from Brazil will be able to fly directly to South Africa."

On the Gautrain Jordaan said: "It's going very well. The contractors are beginning to build a station at OR Tambo International Airport.

"The train will be in South Africa in January next year."

Jordaan said Fifa had agreed to give the LOC about R1,96billion for the Confederations Cup and World Cup operations.

He said that 30000 tickets were requested online for the Confederations Cup on Sunday after the sales started.