Countdown to kick-off

SOUTH AFRICA: With less than four months until the World Cup 2010 begins in South Africa, a million tickets are still available. A representative of the city of Johannesburg says an exaggerated fear of crime is keeping some tourists away.

The World Cup 2010 football tournament begins with a match between Mexico and South Africa on 1 June, but it is not yet sold out. It is the first of 15 matches that will take place in Johannesburg. A total of 64 matches will be played in nine South African cities. Prices range from R140 (€13.50) for a seat with a poor view in a group match to R6300 (€600) for a good seat in the final. About a third of the three million tournament tickets have not been sold.

"Crime is one of the big problems for us in Johannesburg,“ said Lael Bethlehem, the chief executive of the Johannesburg Development Agency. "People do worry about safety and security, but there has been a great deal of preparation — we're very determined," Bethlehem told the BBC. The threat is not nearly as great as many people believe, she added.

 Lael Bethlehem, Johannesburg "Our cities are interesting, modern, fun places to be" 

Bethlehem encourages visitors to look at positive developments the World Cup is bringing to South Africa, including better public transportation and investment in city renewal. "We want to be able to share our culture and show our competence. We want to be able to demonstrate that our cities are interesting, modern, fun places to be."