Hani Abou-Rida:We are working to ensure the organisation of the tournament is perfect - 2009

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Hani Abou-Rida:We are working to ensure the organisation of the tournament is perfect

09-23-2009

Hani Abou-Rida:We are working to ensure the organisation of the tournament is perfect

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Hani Abou-Rida, is a member of the Executive Committee of both FIFA and CAF and the Director of the Local Organising Committee of the World Under 20 Championships. In interview with Egyptian paper Al-Haram he talks about the competition that Egypt is about to host and the enabling environment prepared for the competition…

cafonline.com: As the Director of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) how prepared are you to host the World U -20 Championships barely hours to the start of the competition?
Hani Abou-Rida : « We have finished the rehabilitation of the various stadiums to host the event like the Cairo International Stadium, the Al-Salam Stadium in Cairo the Borg Al-Arab Stadium in Alexandria, the stadium in Ismaïliya, that of Port-Saïd and the Moubarak Stadium in Suez ».
The Al-Salam and Suez stadiums were inaugurated respectively by Hassan Saqr, President of the national sports committee and Dr Ahmad Nazif, Prime Minister.
All the stadiums have been raised to the level in accordance with FIFA norms. New seats which are more confortable and numbered have been installed and new giant screens have been placed in stadia.
The playing grounds have all been refurbished and we have finished the design of tickets for games which could be sold at points of entry or through the internet.

cafonline.com: Don’t you think the sale of tickets started late compared to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa which is already selling tickets?
Hani Abou-Rida : « This is a very pertinent question and you are providing me an opportunity to through more light on the issue. You can only compare what is comparable. The Senior World Cup is different from the Junior World Cup. For the seniors, certain organizational aspects are carried out it is true early enough for example sale of tickets. For the World Under 20 championships we do not really need that much time to sell tickets. However millions of tickets have already been sold to the army, ministries, and big companies».

cafonline.com: Apart from the issue of tickets, one has the impression that the World Cup shall take place in the days ahead. Whether it is along the streets, on the television, we have noticed a marked mediatisation of the event. What is your take on this?
Hani Abou-Rida : « It is true that we have been a bit late on some aspects of the organisation but it was beyond our control. We are advancing slowly but surely and we have already been working in the streets. The remaining part is already taking place as we are leaving no stone unturned. Our intention is to organise the event to the best of our ability. In summary we are respecting the deadlines set by FIFA and we are working day and night so that the organisation is perfect».

cafonline.com: During the handball World Under 20 « Egypt 2009 » which ended some weeks back, the organising committee had to allow free access to stadiums so that matches do not take place in empty stadia. Are you worried that this might replicate itself during the Junior World Cup?
Hani Abou-Rida : « Absolutely not. Football is something else which cannot be compared to another discipline. In Egypt we cannot compare this discipline with others as it is the number 1 sport of the country. It is a very popular sport. What I can say with certainty is that we have already sold over 35 percent of the tickets. You have to also take into account Egyptian and African supporters who often buy tickets just before games. We remain confident that the stadia shall be full like during the 2006 African Cup of Nations. I am not really bothered about that on the contrary I am looking at how the media shall cover the event. I have some apprehensions and I expect the media to do all to mobilize the public and fans of the game that they are needed to make the event a memorable one. They have to generate the passion and fair play is important. People should not contest the decision of referees no matter what. We really like that Egypt win the competition or go as far as possible but we also have to understand that defeat is also part of the game».

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