South Africa has been tapped to host the 2010 World Cup, and though th event is three years away, preparations are already underway -- and progressing at a strenuous pace to try to stay on schedule.
"A giant race is on to renovate airports, build a high-speed rail link from Johannesburg's airport to the suburbs and erect or renovate stadiums here and in eight other cities. Thousands of new police officers must be hired and trained; hundreds of buses purchased; an untold number of bed-and-breakfast inns rated and registered. It is at once nerve-racking and exhilarating, South Africa's own slow-motion, nail-biting contest with itself."
"As the first Africans to stage one of the world's most popular sporting events, people here are exquisitely aware of their chance not merely to burnish their image as the continent's leader, but also to erase a whole host of stereotypes about Africa and its people."
"Work has now started on all five new stadiums, after a series of legal challenges and budget problems. Renovations of five existing stadiums are either under way or imminent. Still, South Africa's organizers say that the timetable is so tight that even a three-week rain delay could wreak havoc."
"Building a modern transportation system almost from scratch in three years may be even more difficult, analysts say."
FULL STORY: South Africa vs. Itself, in Race to Get Ready for World Cup
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