体坛英语新闻：All set for 2013 football festival in Africa: official

JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- South Africa will successfully host the biggest African soccer festival, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), like they did with the 2010 World Cup, a government official said on Wednesday.

Briefing the media in Pretoria on the upcoming tournament, Fikile Mabalula, the Minister of Sport and Recreation, said that all systems are ready and geared to commence AFCON on Saturday.

South Africa will host the event from January 19 to February 10.

"South Africa is ready more than ever before to welcome all our guests and visitors to the borders of the Republic for this edition of AFCON. It will live behind the same feeling that was felt before, during and after the 2010 FIFA World Cup in our country. Our infrastructure is more than adequate to host the 2013 AFCON tournament as we boast 10 world class stadiums to host a competition of this magnitude.

"South Africa boasts itself with the 2010 FIFA World Cup infrastructure through road and rail infrastructure, aviation, the stadia, information and communications technology, safety and security including criminal justice system, transport, and many more organizational advantages."

Mbalula stated that most of the infrastructure and the transport system put in place for FIFA World Cup are still intact. South Africa introduced the underground fast trains for 2010 World Cup. The Rapid Bus System and roads to the stadia are still in place.

Mabalula said there were few renovations done for the African soccer extravaganza.

The minister added that the broadcast infrastructure will allow for the tournament to be shown all over the world with no additional cost, and that the tourism facilities are ready to accommodate the expected 100,000 to 150,000 visitors during AFCON.

During the World Cup, 3.1 million spectators watched the 64 matches in 10 stadia.

AFCON 2013 was supposed to be hosted by Libya but was moved to South Africa because of civil war in that country.