With the first game of the 2010 World Cup exactly two years away, many in host country South Africa are concerned about rising inflation, increased violence, and skyrocketing costs of stadium construction.
"Organising committee chief executive officer Danny Jordaan told Reuters he expected the final cost for the construction and renovation of 10 venues for the finals to finish well above the current budget of 9.8 billion rand ($1.24 billion)."
"'It will probably be over 10 billion rand,' Jordaan said, adding that the financing of the venues remained a challenge."
"'We are dealing with now with final costs of the stadiums, which are soaring as a result of the downturn in the world economy and rising fuel prices,' he said."
"South African inflation hit a 5-1/2 year high of 10.4 percent in April. Rising fuel prices and likely electricity price hikes to address a dire power crisis mean it could go higher."
"Jordaan said recent attacks on African immigrants, accused by poor South Africans of taking jobs and fuelling a crime wave, also had a potentially negative impact on the tournament. At least 62 people were killed and nearly 100,000 displaced."
FULL STORY: S.Africa braced for soaring construction costs
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