Pretoria - The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry has congratulated the people and organisers of the successful hosting of the first Soccer World Cup on African soil.
"This event has provided a positive impetus to economic trends which may not have otherwise have existed. Visitor arrivals exceeded expectations and despite some minor hiccups, the event has given South Africa the potential to overcome the hesitancy it was experiencing in its recovery from the recent global downturn," Sacci said on Monday.
From 11 June to 11 July South Africa hosted various nations for the biggest tournament in the world. The World Cup saw Spain crowned as the champions of football last night.
Sacci said South Africa should build on the positive outcomes experienced. This includes the efficiency and effectiveness of the security and justice systems as well as the transport system.
"The country should be proud of the uniqueness of the stadia and of the global acclaim they generated. A true legacy for South Africa lies in the fact that architects and construction companies will be involved in the design and construction of stadia in Brazil for the 2014 world cup," said the chamber.
"South Africa has shown that it can successfully host major events, and must boldly pursue other opportunities as they present themselves. Already there are signs that business and consumer confidence have been boosted, as seen in the June Business Confidence Index which registered an increase of 2.8 index points over May 2010," said Sacci executive advisor to the CEO, Peggy Drodskie.
"We need now to turn our focus from Soccer World Cup 2010 to Opportunities 2010 wherein we harness the impact of the World Cup toward the generation of viable economic and business opportunities which will provide a sustainable, real economic return," she added.
Brazil will be the next host of the Soccer World Cup in 2014.
