One year from now, the eyes of the world will be on South Africa. On Sunday July 11, 2010 the final of the FIFA World Cup will be played out at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg. It will mark the end of a journey that began in 2004, when South Africa narrowly beat Morocco to win the honour of being the first African nation to host the world's biggest sporting contest outside the Olympics. Hosting the competition will thrust South Africa to the forefront of the world's attention, and put its institutions and infrastructure under the microscope like never before.
Travelling through the country it is impossible to ignore the near-frenetic activity that is taking place to ready the nation for an influx of visitors from across the globe. It is a land of cranes and building sites. Airports, roads, railways and stadia are being built or upgraded. There is an air of optimism, but also one of desire - desire to get the job done before the June 2010 deadline.
