The 2010 Soccer World Cup Local Organising Committee (LOC) today began proceedings to evaluate bids to host the international broadcasting centre (IBC). The IBC will serve as the broadcasting hub for the world's largest sporting event.
Tumi Makgabo, LOC communications manager, says the three competing cities - Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban - submitted their written proposals late last week and the process has begun to evaluate them.
"We have started the process and we hope to make a final decision within the next two months," she says.
Makgabo would not detail the requirements the LOC would need the cities to cater for, but says the proposals would have to meet broadcasting and technical requirements.
In February, government issued a statement saying it would determine where the IBC would be located. However, Makgabo says the final decision rests with the LOC.
"We have, however, engaged fully with the relevant government departments, including the Department of Communications, in the matter," she says.
Hosting the IBC would provide a fillip for the chosen city. The centre is expected to run 24 hours a day for the entire six-week period, and thousands of journalists and technical people will reside there during the event.
During the 2006 World Cup in Germany, 46 000 broadcast hours were televised from the Munich IBC, placing great demands on ICT infrastructure.
Johannesburg's bid centres on locating the IBC at the Nasrec showgrounds. Durban proposes it be positioned at its International Convention Centre, and Cape Town hopes it will be hosted at an extension to be built on its foreshore.
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