Media "walk out" as WC Organiser fail to arrive on time

[kingmonty]

Bwahahahahahahahaha. Bwahahahahahaha. This is so funny, but actually also so embarrassing:

http://www.news24.com/News24/Sport/Soccer/0,9294,2-9-840_2033808,00.html

The media, including numerous representatives of the international press and television, walked out en bloc from a briefing due to be staged on Tuesday afternoon by the Board of Directors of the local 2010 World Cup Organising Committee.

The walk-out, which will impart embarrassingly world-wide on the Organising Committee's ability to organise without glitches the 2010 tournament, was agreed on when none of the Board members had arrived for the briefing a matter of 70 minutes after the stipulated "1pm sharp" starting time at the plush Westcliff Hotel in Johannesburg.

Local Organising Committee Communications manager Tumi Makgabo said she had made three attempts to establish the reasons for the non-appearance of the Board members, who included chair Irvin Khoza, CEO Danny Jordaan and Fifa secretary-general Dr Ernst Linsi, but had only learnt "they were involved in a meeting of their own at the hotel."

 

[Debbie]

I'm amazed they bothered to wait that long.

At uni the 'unwritten rule' was 15mins..... cheers.

 

[TELESPHORE]

Hope they see that as a wake up call. 2010 WC is not going to happen by iteself. The top dogs must lead by example and not disgrace.

 

[IamCanadian]

Bwahahahahahahahaha. Bwahahahahahaha. This is so funny, but actually also so embarrassing:

http://www.news24.com/News24/Sport/Soccer/0,9294,2-9-840_2033808,00.html

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!!!!!!!!!!!

Since winning the right to host the tournament, South Africa has struggled to reassure FIFA officials that it can modernize a decrepit public transportation system, build new stadiums and hotels and provide security in a nation with one of the world's highest crime rates.

There have been rumours that the world governing body might move the tournament, the first World Cup to be held in Africa, to Australia if it appeared that South Africa was not making sufficient progress.

Above on ESPN:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=393214&cc=5901

 

[nocilah]

you cant rely on africa for much.

 

[icyrus]

chair Irvin Khoza, CEO Danny Jordaan and Fifa secretary-general Dr Ernst Linsi, but had only learnt "they were involved in a meeting of their own at the hotel".

What was that - strippers and booze?

 

[IamCanadian]

you cant rely on africa for much.

I disagree.

You can rely on Africa for one thing, and that is that you cannot rely on Africa for much.

This spectacle is far from over.

 

[bekdik]

Just another example of typical South African disrespect. No doubt the same directors are going to scream like stuck pigs when the media takes no interest in their future press conferences.

As they were at the hotel, why the hell could Jordaan not have gone to the conference, offered an apology and postponed the release?

What is it with South Africans that once elected to some position, they forget that they are REPRESENTATIVES and not the owners?

 

[BTTB]

Yep, 70 minutes is a very long time when one has deadlines against which to work, considering that it's 1 hour and 10 minutes, I would hardly call it a 'walkout' but rather an extraordinary test of patience...

Agreed.

 

[Syndyre]

Soon they'll be complaining about how the media coverage is inaccurate, prejudicial etc. Wonder why? Idiots.

 

[Cara]

If they can't hold a press conference on time just wondering what will happen to the other more important deadlines? Starting times for games etc. are not negotiable nor infrastructure development.

 

[telkomsuig]

Where are all the viva South Africa poster now? The world is waiting for Africa to fail...and SA seem to be oblige every step of the way.

The Aussies have now formally said now that they are willing to host the WC
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=4&art_id=qw1164174660394S163

 

[DigitalSoldier]

This would be funny if it wasnt so sad

Atleast with the 2010 world cup the government started to do something.

 

[Leitmotif]

This would be funny if it wasnt so sad

Atleast with the 2010 world cup the government started to do something.

They did? Where?

 

[Syndyre]

They did? Where?

They hosted a mean cocktail party.

 

[DigitalSoldier]

They did? Where?

This last 2 years we have heard more from minister Charles Nqakula than ever before mostly thanks to the 2010 bid.

Also the Gautrain that will someday get finished if it wasnt for the 2010 bid there would be NO improvement to public transport, not that I am saying the Guatrain will really improve public transport at all but I guess its a step in the right direction.

 

[BTTB]

One of the biggest obstacles ironically enough is Government.
Government may be the one that hands out the cash for these events, but how sound are the business plans? Having a Budget but with no inclination of how to apply it is a recipe for disaster.
It is easy enough to make plans and talk billions, our Government are so well known for, but to actually apply that in the form of infrastructure and stadiums on the ground is another matter.
The planning can take up to a year or more, before one spade can be put in the earth. With this in mind why now in 2006, almost 2007 are we only getting the funding from National Government. Funding of stadiums etc should have started 2/3 years ago.

In the case of Cape Town no planning could really take place while The City Council were not even sure what quantity of money they would be getting from National Government. This has only come to light in this year.
IMO, if Zille had not made a lot of noise about the funding issue the previous ANC Mayor would have probably let Cape Town foot the bulk of the bill and to heck with all the housing. Lets play soccer rather.

Why am I posting in this thread. I don't even like Soccer.

 

[Syndyre]

This last 2 years we have heard more from minister Charles Nqakula than ever before mostly thanks to the 2010 bid.

Also the Gautrain that will someday get finished if it wasnt for the 2010 bid there would be NO improvement to public transport, not that I am saying the Guatrain will really improve public transport at all but I guess its a step in the right direction.

We've heard a lot sure, but has there really been any concrete action?

 

[DigitalSoldier]

We've heard a lot sure, but has there really been any concrete action?

Not afaik but thats why I said somethings

But just another example look at some of the buildings in the jhb cbd being refurbished that would never have happened if it wasnt for the world cup 2010.

 

[jontyB]

Not afaik but thats why I said somethings

But just another example look at some of the buildings in the jhb cbd being refurbished that would never have happened if it wasnt for the world cup 2010.

I agree - any impact the SWC has on infrastructure is good, however, why did we need a SWC to come along for the Government to actually get off its arse and do something?