2022 FIFA World Cup: Qatar to Spend US $80-100bn Over the Next Five Years on Road and Rail Networks
According to Business Monitor International (BMI), Qatar is expected to spend US $80-100bn over the next five years to prepare and deliver the infrastructure required to support the huge influx of visitors forecast to attend the 2022 FIFA World Cup. BMI expects to see a sharp growth of 11.6% to QAR27.4bn (US$7.5bn) during 2011 and continuing in an upward trajectory to the end of our forecast period to 2015.
The large investments to develop the transportation networks have been allocated, including a combined budget of US $45bn on developing the country’s rail and road networks and US $1bn on a proposed crossing between the airport and Northern Doha. Existing project timelines are also likely to accelerate to meet other infrastructure requirements.
The Qatari government has agreed to invest QAR3bn (US $824mn) in 13 large infrastructure projects across the country through the Public Works Authority, Ashghal. Key road projects include a 3-lane highway in Barwa City, the reconstruction of the Najma road and the development of the Doha Expressway, valued at $27 million. Read more
FIFA launches 2010 FIFA World Cup Legacy Trust for South Africa
Following a meeting with the President of the Republic of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter presented the 2010 FIFA World Cup Legacy Trust at Soccer City in Johannesburg.
This trust will support a wide range of public benefit initiatives in the areas of football development, education, health and humanitarian activities in South Africa. The trust forms part of FIFA’s 2010 FIFA World Cup™-related legacy programmes and delivers on FIFA’s pledge to ensure that South Africans will continue to benefit from the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.
The trust amounts to USD 100 million, USD 80 million of which is being allocated directly to social community projects. The remaining USD 20 million was already provided to the South African Football Association (SAFA) in the build-up to the event for preparations and for the construction of SAFA House. As a first project financed by the trust, FIFA purchased 35 of the team buses and a fleet of 52 cars, which were handed over to SAFA today for transport of their regional teams.
The trust will be administered by international auditing company Ernst and Young while the trustees, consisting of a representative each from FIFA, SAFA, the government and the private sector, will evaluate into which public-benefit projects the money is invested. All projects must be submitted to the trustees for review with one of the decisive conditions being that they must be for public benefit only. Read more
More protection announced for 150,000 US citizens visiting South Africa for Soccer World Cup
Americans can now access International Rescue from Trafficmaster and Teletrac, first ever smartphone-based international travel emergency and concierge service
Trafficmaster and Teletrac, global leaders in GPS “location intelligence” services, today announced availability of a smartphone-based service designed to help protect Americans traveling to South Africa for World Cup 2010. South Africa is reported to have the 10th highest crime rate per capita across 60 developed and developing countries. Reports of muggings, pickpockets and even car hijackings are common place. Consequently many World Cup visitors will understandably be wary of travelling to and across South Africa to watch the USA play. This new smart phone service from Trafficmaster and Teletrac, provides 24 hour security, helping you in any emergency.
International Rescue is the first ever smart phone emergency and concierge travel service in the world. It is supported by round the clock teams of travel experts in the UK, as well as travel teams located in over 40 countries and staffed 24/7.
The South African service partners with a specialist security and emergency response company that is used to dealing with crime and emergencies in this part of the world. They even have a fleet of armed helicopters that can provide immediate emergency response. So whatever the crisis, whether it is a medical emergency, a bus crash in the bush, a mugging in Port Elizabeth or a car theft in Cape Town, International Rescue is on hand to help.
Comprehensive International Rescue also handles less dramatic situations for subscribers. Its concierge service is staffed by personal assistants with deep knowledge of South Africa. Need to find a pub on the spur of the moment that serves American food? Hotels nearest the soccer stadium that have vacancies? The concierge team can direct you anytime day or night. “So whatever the need,” says Drew Hamilton, executive vice president, Teletrac, “whether it’s a medical emergency, a bus crash in the bush, a mugging in Port Elizabeth or a car theft in Cape Town, International Rescue is on hand to help via your smartphone.” Read more
2010 FIFA World Cup LIVE: SIRIUS XM to broadcast all 64 matches
SIRIUS XM will broadcast every match in its entirety International soccer legend Giorgio Chinaglia will offer exclusive analysis on “The Football Show” throughout the tournament.
SIRIUS XM Radio will broadcast all 64 matches of the 2010 FIFA World Cup live from South Africa from June 11 through July 11.
English language broadcasts of every World Cup match, produced by ESPN Radio, will be available nationwide on SIRIUS XM. When multiple matches are played simultaneously, additional SIRIUS XM channels will be devoted to play-by-play, allowing listeners to hear every match in its entirety.
SIRIUS XM listeners will hear ESPN broadcasters JP Dellacamera and Tommy Smyth. Dellacamera has called the last six FIFA World Cups for a variety of television networks as well as the past two Summer Olympic Games. Smyth has called more than 2,500 international matches from leagues all over the world and has worked three FIFA World Cups.
In addition to live play-by-play of every match, SIRIUS XM will offer exclusive analysis throughout the tournament from international soccer legend Giorgio Chinaglia and Charlie Stillitano, who will host special World Cup editions of their SIRIUS XM program, The Football Show. Chinaglia, one of the game’s most prolific goal-scorers, played for Italy in the 1974 FIFA World Cup and earned international renown as a striker for the Italian club Lazio and the New York Cosmos. Stillitano is the former general manager of the NY/NJ Metrostars and a U.S. Soccer Foundation founding board member. Read more
Fans can Tweet teams to victory in Sony Ericsson Twitter Cup
With everyone gearing up for the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM), Sony Ericsson is offering fans exclusive and exciting ways to support their team online
As excitement builds in anticipation of the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) in South Africa, Sony Ericsson, the Official Mobile Handset of the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM), introduces a new way for soccer fans in the Unites States to get behind their team online through a unique social networking initiative.
The Sony Ericsson Twitter Cup will see the 32 teams competing in the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) in South Africa, battle it out in an online tournament where the fans decide who will win. Fans will be able to participate in this exciting competition either online or via their mobile handset(1).
The tournament kicks off on December 4th 2009, coinciding with the draw for the group stage of the official tournament. To get team U.S.A. through each round, fans need to show their support by Tweeting (#TWCUSA). The team with the most Tweets in each round will prevail and go on to the next stage, regardless of how the real team fares in South Africa.
“Sony Ericsson is dedicated to providing soccer fans with the best experience of the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM), giving them more ways to support their team and get involved with all aspects of the game,” said Karen Morris, vice president of Marketing for Sony Ericsson North America.
Tweets about the U.S. team are represented by the colors of the national flag in the virtual stadium – the bigger the U.S. flag becomes, the more popular the team and the closer they are to being crowned the winner of the Sony Ericsson Twitter Cup. The wall chart view will let fans see the progress of their team and who’s playing who in the knockout stages, so it’s easy to compare the results with the real 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM).
The Sony Ericsson Twitter Cup rules are as follows:
– The Sony Ericsson Twitter Cup follows the same format as the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM). There are group and knockout stages, including quarter finals, semi finals and the final itself
– However, unlike the physical tournament, teams’ success in the Sony Ericsson Twitter Cup depends on how many Tweets they get
– The more Tweets a country gets, the more fans they have and the better chance they have of progressing to the subsequent rounds
– Sony Ericsson will monitor all the activity on Twitter – from the first round draw on December 4th 2009 through to the final on July 11th 2010
– A general Tweet about the U.S. team will win the team one point; a Tweet with (#TWCUSA) is worth five points for the team
Sony Ericsson is uniquely placed to be a champion of soccer fans worldwide. Mobile communications is an integral part of the fan experience – whether watching in the stadium, at home or at a fan park, fans bring their handsets with them. Sony Ericsson will use its soccer partnership and expertise in mobile phone entertainment to energize and enrich the experience of consumers worldwide.
Sony Ericsson is the Official Mobile Handset of the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM), which arose through Sony Corporation, as the Digital Life Partner of FIFA. Sony Ericsson agreed to sub-license the category from Sony Corporation and the agreement includes all FIFA events until 2010 including the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) in South Africa. The Digital Life category includes mobile handsets as well as consumer electronics, professional and broadcast AV and other equipment, personal computers, movies, music and gaming.
Source: Sony Ericsson