Danny Jordaan, the chief executive of South Africa 2010, said that Confederations Cup, which was held in June and which was a dress rehearsal for next year's event, had seen whites and blacks, rich and poor, mixing and sitting together at matches.

 

 

He said: "It is an experience that many people never had in this country.

 

"All of those things convey the kind of images and the mood we want the world to see of a country of both black and white celebrating football."

 

Jordaan said the success of the Confederations Cup had changed the atmosphere ahead of 2010 from doubt and questioning to anticipation and excitement.

 

He said: "The doubting Thomases are now believing Thomases."

 

Jordaan believes that the improved infrastructure in South Africa will be one of the biggst benefits of the country hosting the tournament.

 

The World Cup had brought a top international airport in Johannesburg, a high speed train to the city from there, an improved road infrastructure, 25 new hotels, new sophistication in banking and significant investment in telecommunications, technology and broadcasting.

 

He said: "These are all the things you need to create the kind of investment environment for further investment growth, increased trade and of course job creation."

 

Jordaan said the current 15,000 shortfall in rooms needed for the estimated 450,000 fans expected for the World Cup would be met by smaller hotels, guesthouses, hostels and private homes that had not previously been included in planning.

 

Jordaan said South Africans were expected to buy around 800,000 of the 3.2 million match tickets.

 

Authorities are trying to ensure poorer South Africans bring their unique and noisy atmosphere to matches by providing cheap tickets and giving away 120,000, some 40,000 of them to workers who built the stadiums.