Keeping it fresh

We made a promise to provide the most up to date images and we hope to keep our promise. Our previous update for the Athlone stadium included images taken over a month ago. Athlone Stadium, a proposed 2010 FIFA World CupTM training venue now has its first crane on site and work seems to progressing well. Photographer: N/A, 23 June 2007, Cape Town

March, April, May, June

The Nelson Mandela Bay stadium designed by german architects GMP in association with four local architecture firms is well on its way to be completed by May 2009. The stadium is the only new venue that will be used during the 2009 Confederations Cup in June of that year. Work on the stadium columns and pre-cast seating structures are set to begin soon, since bulk works and all earthworks were completed at the end of May.
Photographer: MyPe.co.za, March - June 2007, Port Elizabeth

A "fresh" update

Our previous post regarding the Orlando Stadium included some "older" images by our standard. We'd like to keep the images fresh and as up to date as possible. The Orlando stadium seems to have risen slightly since the last post and an extra crane has gone up at the Green Point Stadium. The Green Point stadium we can now confirm will also see some 12 cranes on site simultaneously and work remains five weeks ahead of schedule.
Photographer: 1. Puleza, 23 June 2007, Soweto 2. Kapenaar, 24 June 2007, Cape Town

A Soweto Icon

Orlando stadium has long been an iconic football venue for all the communities of Soweto for close to 50 years. Its complete makeover will provide a lasting legacy for football and will live up to its iconic status. The old stadium was demolished and will make way for a 40,000 seater world class venue which will be complete by 2008. The picks and shovels team can confirm that the cows in the image are in fact real. Photographers: Evelyn Rusita and Puleza, Soweto, Johannesburg, May 2007

To get an idea of the transformation.Before
After

Not 1 but 2

While the Green Point Stadium and its construction has flooded local and international news sources for many reasons, Cape Town is in fact currently constructing two stadia. Work at Athlone stadium is entering its final phases to complete the stadium behind the goal areas. The initial phases included constructing the two main grand stands. Athlone stadium will seat 40,000 on completion and will act as a 2010 FIFA World CupTM training venue as well as a fan park. Photographer: Jens Albat, Athlone, Cape Town, 10 May 2007

World's largest calabash

Soccer City, the venue to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup FinalTM will most likely become the world's largest calabash by 2009. The venue is expected to seat a minimum of 95,000 and has long been the heart of South African Football. The venue received a thumbs up from FIFA President Sepp Blatter on his visit to the site yesterday.
Photographer: Puleza, Soweto, Johannesburg, 30 May 2007

About to rise

Construction at the Peter Mokaba Complex in Polokwane is going well. Our friend in Polokwane says that the foundation is almost complete and the stadium can soon rise. The strong rock at the site meant that no piling was needed and the stadium bowl and columns can now start to rise. The good news is that the 45,000 seater is well on track to be completed by 2009.
Photographer: Hanno Steyn, Polokwane, 16 June 2007

12 of the best

Construction at the Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban has been in full swing since late 2006. Currently 9 cranes are up, while cranes 10 and 11 rise slowly. The city expects 12 cranes on site by July and is leading the way in terms of the construction of new stadia to be built for the 2010 FIFA World CupTM.
Photographer: Mike, Durban, 7 June 2007

A Robben Island Backdrop

Construction for the Cape Town World Cup Stadium is five weeks ahead of schedule and has five cranes on site. We think this image with its Robben Island backdrop, taken on Youth Day, is a great start to our blog.
Photographer: Andre Dewas, Cape Town South Africa, 16 June 2007