Zurich:
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has rejected the security fears surrounding the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, saying the showpiece event will be safe and secure.
Blatter said that the rainbow nation has staged global events like the 1995 Rugby World Cup and the recent Confederation Cup without any security issues and it is geared up to provide top class security arrangements.
"There was not one single incident in security (at the Confederations Cup) and still questions are coming 'what about security'," said Blatter with a tinge of irritation.
"Let's go there and be in a hospitable country which is saying 'please come to South Africa and we will receive you well'. This is what you should expect and this is what we expect.
"Please support us by saying let's go there and trust the South Africans and South Africa. They are ready to organize the game and your security. But 100 percent security you will never find it anywhere in the world," Blatter said after the ceremonial start of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour.
Asked if South Africa 2010 had been the most difficult tournament to organise, Blatter said FIFA raised the bar with each World Cup and admitted that preparations were more difficult than Germany 2006.
"But, it is easier to organise in South Africa than when we had a combination in 2002 in two different countries (Japan and South Korea)," he said.
Blatter said that the rainbow nation has staged global events like the 1995 Rugby World Cup and the recent Confederation Cup without any security issues and it is geared up to provide top class security arrangements.
"There was not one single incident in security (at the Confederations Cup) and still questions are coming 'what about security'," said Blatter with a tinge of irritation.
"Let's go there and be in a hospitable country which is saying 'please come to South Africa and we will receive you well'. This is what you should expect and this is what we expect.
"Please support us by saying let's go there and trust the South Africans and South Africa. They are ready to organize the game and your security. But 100 percent security you will never find it anywhere in the world," Blatter said after the ceremonial start of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour.
Asked if South Africa 2010 had been the most difficult tournament to organise, Blatter said FIFA raised the bar with each World Cup and admitted that preparations were more difficult than Germany 2006.
"But, it is easier to organise in South Africa than when we had a combination in 2002 in two different countries (Japan and South Korea)," he said.
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