14.08.2009
FIFA to give 120,000 free W.Cup tickets to S.Africans
World football's governing body FIFA Friday launched a fund to give away 120,000 free tickets to poor South Africans for the 2010 World Cup, a first ever initiative for the football showcase.
"The tickets will enable people who would never have had a chance to attend the World Cup games to see the event," said Danny Jordaan, chief of the local organising committee.
According to FIFA, tickets will not simply be given as handouts, but will be a reward or incentive for people involved in social development in the country.
Some 40,000 tickets have been allocated to construction workers who are building stadiums to be used for the tournament.
"I urge those who can afford to buy tickets to go and buy them now, the free tickets are targeted at very specific people," said Jordaan.
FIFA has also created a special pricing catergory for South African residents which allows them to buy tickects at discounted rates.
The second phase of ticket application is closing on November 16.
It will be the first time the FIFA World Cup is played on African soil.
Source: © 2009 AFP - John MacDougall
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