SA's R15m 2010 World Cup project basks in Beijing dust

Beijing is South Africa's Games of shame.

The latest embarrassment is government's exhibition of R15m in the host city of the Olympic Games, which appears to be nothing more than an expensive flop.

They were supposed to use the ball room of the Westin Chaoyang, one of China's most luxurious hotels, to promote SA.

Millions were spent on hiring the venue for the duration of the current and Paralympic Games, booking 20 hotel rooms at almost R10 000 a night and specially made exhibition material. But the official who was in charge of SA's Ekhaya Olympic hospitality centre only arrived in Beijing three days before the start of the Games.

The imposing Jinmao ballroom where Ekhaya was supposed to be held, appeared largely empty on Saturday. The exhibition material was not delivered. It was stuck at Chinese customs.

The R15m bill for the huge marketing campaign is bigger than government's contribution for a year to the South African Sport Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC).

The Games have so far been an embarrassment for SA sport. The country has been unable to win a single medal - something that has never happened before.

SA's R15m project basks in Beijing dust

Sport Minister Makhenkesi Stofile has asked his staff to explain why the Ikhaya Hospitality and Marketing Centre in Beijing has not been operational, when it was supposed to have opened 10 days ago. The centre, with a budget of R15 million is supposed to showcase the country and the 2010 Fifa World Cup throughout the games.

The Centre is South Africa's hospitality suite in Beijing, it is at one of the newest and trendiest hotels in the city. South African Olympian George du Rand says they were curious to find out what was going on. He says he’s heard that normally the SA house is an interesting place.

Despite all the money invested in Ikhaya, which was meant to promote the country for the Olympians in Beijing, so far very little has been done to make them feel at home. Merchandise worth millions has not arrived, and of 20 rooms at R8 500 per room per day , only nine are being occupied and it is costing R12 500 per day for an additional executive suite.

Manase Makwela, Spokesperson for the Department of Sport and Recreation confirmed that the Centre is not occupied. He said they've been liaising with the hotel to see if they can’t take back rooms that have not yet been used.

With only a week left before the Olympics are wrapped up, various international guests have been enquiring about the activities at the Centre. Some are of the opinion that the whole idea has been a waste.

The Ikhaya Centre is also supposed to be operational during the upcoming Paralympics. Meanwhile the department has admitted that millions of taxpayers money has been wasted. Only time will tell if action will be taken against those responsible.