The anticipated World Football Summit (WFS) that was scheduled to take place on March 17 and 18, 2020, in Durban has been postponed owing to the epidemic coronavirus.

In a statement, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Leader of Government Business, Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube, noted that the outbreak of coronavirus would have a negative impact on tourism.

Dube-Ncube said after closely monitoring the evolving coronavirus outbreak and assessing the risk to visitors, together with the WFS, they decided to postpone the summit.

KZN was the first province to record a patient who had tested positive for coronavirus, after he had travelled to Italy.

To date South Africa has recorded 16 confirmed cases of the outbreak, after the seventeenth, and first case of local transmission, proved not to be positive.

The City of Durban was awarded the right to host the prestigious summit in 2018.

Recently the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak a pandemic and also called on all leaders of the affected countries to work together in combating the virus. 

Major soccer leagues have also been suspended over coronavirus concerns.

WFS is the pre-eminent international event of the football industry, gathering the most influential professionals in order to discuss the most relevant topics and generate business opportunities.

The biggest event in a decade, after the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, was expected to gather together more than 80 countries, over 2 300 attendees, 90 speakers, 160 clubs, leading executives, and more than 100 media houses, with an estimated economic impact of about R800-million.

Dube-Ncube appreciated the support and leadership from President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize during this period and the guidance of South African Ambassador to Spain Thenjiwe Mtintso.

“We recall that on the 4th February 2020, the Premier of the Province of KwaZulu-Natal Sihle Zikalala presided over a media briefing to officially announce the hosting of the World Football Summit – from 17 to 18 March 2020.

“On the day, we were joined by the directors from the World Football Summit Jan Alessie, Marian Otamendi and Marcos Pelegrin from La Liga. We wish to express our appreciation to this great team for their professionalism over the past few months,” she said.

The leader said they are in consultations with the WFS team and KZN Arts, Sport and Recreation MEC Hlengiwe Mavimbela to reschedule the much anticipated event.  

Impact on Tourism

Dube-Ncube highlighted that it had been expected to contribute to the economy using soccer as a catalyst for tourism and socioeconomic development. 

“We recall that the 2010 World Cup generated R93-billion for this country and more than R3-billion for KZN. The global marketing exposure we received from successfully hosting this tournament remains unmatched, “ she boasted.

She said the FIFA World Cup created an influx of tourists from Spain and other European countries.  

“However, we are already discussing a recovery strategy with national government and Brand SA who have been working with us in planning this summit. We will also focus on domestic tourism because figures are showing that KZN is a preferred destination for tourists from different parts of the country and the continent.

“We are also in touch with our ambassadors in various countries where there is an outbreak to share information about the strict health protocol that has been developed following the outbreak, which involves screening at the airport and other points of entry.”