Orlando, Dobsonville and Rand stadiums will be training venues for the World Cup, and the City is looking at more facilities to add to the list.

THE City has set aside three stadiums as venue-specific training sites for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ - Orlando Stadium and Dobsonville Stadium - both in Soweto, and the Rand Stadium in Pioneer Park.

Rod Pearce, the deputy director: project management (legacy) in the City's 2010 Office, says Ruimsig Stadium in Roodepoort is being investigated as a fourth training venue for the FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009™ and the World Cup.

"FIFA requires that there should be two venue-specific training sites per match venue for the exclusive use of the international teams based locally. Since Johannesburg hosts two match venues - Soccer City and Ellis Park Stadium - FIFA requires that we have four venue-specific training grounds."

There is also a possibility that Cecil Payne Stadium in Rabie Ridge, Midrand, will be upgraded to be a base camp, adds Pearce.

Orlando Stadium has been rebuilt from scratch and will seat 40 000 people when it is finished, scheduled for October 2008. The new stadium boasts 120 suites that can be turned into hospitality venues, conference facilities, meeting rooms, a gymnasium, a fan shop and offices.

It also has two VIP and one VVIP suites, a 200-seat auditorium and 60 concession kiosks. A new underground parking facility will accommodate 2 500 cars and a parking area for buses will be built at an open area to the north of the stadium.

Dobsonville Stadium and Rand Stadium are being upgraded to meet FIFA requirements.

Dobsonville Stadium will have a new synthetic athletics track, while new suites, media facilities, change rooms, gymnasium and lights will be installed. The precinct area will also be upgraded to meet FIFA requirements.

Rand Stadium will have a new grandstand, change rooms, media and VIP facilities, and management facilities when its upgrades are complete. New lighting will be installed and the fields will be redeveloped. Ablution facilities will be upgraded, along with the development of the precinct.

The stadium will seat 28 000 people once it is complete in October 2008.

At present,Orlando, Dobsonville and Rand stadiums all meet FIFA's minimum technical requirements for venue-specific training sites. "At the moment, we are building towards meeting all FIFA's requirements, especially those concerning the pitch," says Pearce.

FIFA requires that the pitch at venue-specific training sites must be the same size and quality as the pitches at World Cup match venues, he explains.

"There are general conditions concerning the size and number of change rooms, security around stadiums and accessibility. The training venue must also be located within a specific distance from the hotel where the respective team stays."

During the Confederations Cup and the World Cup, Pearce says the training venues will be operated by FIFA and the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa. However, the responsibility of maintenance and repairs will remain with the City of Johannesburg during this exclusive use period.

During the two football tournaments, each team may choose to have its "own" training venue or base camp, especially after their group and match venues in the knockout stages of the tournament are known.

These base camps may be within or outside the borders of South Africa.

"For example, an international team may choose Alexandra Stadium in Alexandra township as its base camp, provided the stadium meets all FIFA requirements," Pearce says.

Related stories:

Orlando Stadium nearly complete

Ellis Park is 'first class'

Blatter impressed by Soccer City

Related links:

2010 FIFA World Cup™