Bloemfontein - Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele officially opened the revamped Bloemfontein airport terminal on Friday, in preparation for next year's 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament.
The airport has been revamped under the department's R46 million Terminal Reconfiguration Project to cope with the anticipated influx of passengers during the world sporting spectacle.
Ndebele, who took a tour of the airport, said the development was an indication of how ready South Africa was to provide efficient transport for fans. "This is an assurance to the world that we are ready to provide the facilities."
Linked to the Terminal Reconfiguration Project is a hotel, the road realignment project and the upgrading of road aprons. The project is expected to be completed in January 2010.
The minister said that there was no doubt that Bloemfontein had some of the best soccer fans in the country.
"Here we have the best of what South African fans can become," he said, adding that there were simply no fans anywhere in the country that show such unending support to their team, regardless of whether the team wins or loses.
"If this winning and festive spirit of the Bloemfontein fans were to be transferred to all the games that Bafana Bafana plays, the entire tournament would be a resounding success," he said.
