Good news for South Africa as Durban stadium ahead of schedule

 "We are eight weeks ahead of schedule, the stadium is 65-per-cent complete," said Julie-May Ellingson, who is also responsible for the building of the city's new international airport.

 The news is a welcome boost for South Africa's World Cup organisers in the wake of the news that Port Elizabeth's stadium won't be ready in time for the 2009 Confederations Cup and FIFA boss Joseph Blatter's comments that he has talked to three other countries about hosting the World Cup if South Africa is unable to host the event.

 Tim Modise, Communications Director of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), said that they would be looking for answers from football's ruling body over the issue.

 "Obviously the chairperson and the CEO of the LOC will seek clarity from the president (Blatter) on what he meant," Modise told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

 "As matters stand no such discussions (on contingency plans) are taking place."

   FIFA spokeswoman in Johannesburg, Delia Fischer, played down Blatter's remarks, saying South Africa would only lose the event in the case of a natural disaster.

 "For us it's clear. The president clearly stressed in case of a natural disaster," she told dpa. Fischer would not list contingency countries saying FIFA does not comment on contingency plans for security reasons.

 Jerome Valcke, FIFA general-secretary during an inspection visit to South Africa this week, had indicated "the level of comfort is good enough," Modise said, rejecting that the LOC was operating under a sword of Damocles.

 The fact that the LOC board had taken the decision this week to drop Port Elizabeth from the Confederations Cup in 2009 because of concerns over its readiness "shows how seriously we take the tournament" and had bolstered Valcke's confidence.

 "The LOC on behalf of South Africa is continuing to prepare for the World Cup in 2010 starting with the Confederations Cup."

DPA