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Costs rise for 2010 World Cup in South Africa

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) - The South African government will spend more than $3.7 billion on the 2010 World Cup, in part because of escalating stadium construction costs.

The official report released Tuesday, which assessed progress in preparations, said that so far some $2.5 billion had been allocated for stadium, transport and other infrastructure.

When it bid to host the soccer showcase, estimates made in 2004 for the cost of hosting the event were as little as $370 million.

But since then, plans have become more ambitious—new stadiums are being built in Durban and Cape Town which were not initially scheduled—and the price of cement and other raw materials has risen.

The government has also decided to use the event as a catalyst for massive spending on badly needed transport infrastructure like roads, railways and airports, as well as beefing up police numbers and equipment.

After a slow start, stadium construction is generally on track, although there are concerns that the Port Elizabeth stadium may not be ready in time for the 2009 Confederations Cup.

The lack of efficient public transport remains a big headache.

Authorities are also honing security preparations—another potential source of worry.

The South African government has budgeted $123 million for security for the World Cup. This money will be used to buy additional surveillance aircraft, police vehicles and other equipment, deputy police commissioner Andre Pruis said. More than 40,000 police will be dedicated to World Cup duties.

The police and army on Tuesday wound up a high-profile three-day security operation in the skies above Cape Town, declaring that it proved South Africa would be able to combat threats of terrorism or other violent disruptions to the World Cup.

Air force and air traffic control authorities vetted hundreds of commercial and private flights, staged helicopter maneuvers above the half-built Green Point soccer stadium and simulated a mid-air hijacking.