Ernie Els: World Cup safety fears over-played
Reuters - Friday 29 January 2010, 20:36
SAN DIEGO - Concerns over safety at the
World Cup in South Africa have been over-played, according to
former world number one golfer Ernie Els.
Several media reports have slammed the host country's high
levels of crime but Els, one of South Africa's best-known
sporting figures, felt security had improved considerably in the
last decade.
"There are always safety concerns in any country but I don't
believe it's to the point where it was (in South Africa) 10
years ago," Els told Reuters at the PGA Tour's San Diego Open on
Friday.
"Ten years ago I would have been a little bit worried but I
believe South Africans are standing together now and I think
it's going to be one of the best ever (football World Cups).
"I was in South Africa for a month's holiday in December and
for the first time since the changeover really, I felt the
positive vibe," added the globe-trotting Els, a keen sports fan
who also has homes in United States and Britain.
"I feel that black people, white people, Afrikaans speakers,
English speakers, Xhosa speakers, everyone ... we have all
become a nation now. It's just the spirit of the country right
now. I've never seen it better.
VIOLENT CRIME
"It's almost a generation now since the (democratic)
elections in 1994 so South Africa has come a long way and people
realise how big economically this World Cup is going to be for
the country."
South Africa has one of the highest rates of violent crime,
with 50 murders a day, more than the U.S. which has six times
the population. More than 40,000 police are being mobilised to
protect the World Cup tournament.
Els, a three-times major champion who has won more than 60
tournaments worldwide, felt spectators at June's football
spectacular would be impressed by South Africa's infrastructure.
"The venues and the stadiums are unbelievable and all the
airports have been redone," the 40-year-old said.
"Rugby is our number one sport for the whites but I think
some of the rugby supporters don't know the scale of the
football World Cup. This is almost as big as the Olympics.
"A lot of South Africans will be surprised by the mass of
people coming down there. The only problem is the World Cup is
being played in the winter so people aren't going to really see
South Africa in all its glory," Els added with a smile.