US plays down crime fears as 132,000 arrive from Stateside

THE US ambassador to South Africa yesterday downplayed the State Department’s crime alert to Americans attending the World Cup as safety fears rise again.

Ambassador Donald Gips, wearing a US national team road jersey, attended yesterday’s USA training session, which was watched by several hundred children brought by youth groups.

“There is no new concern about violence,” Gips said. “South Africa does have a crime problem they’re addressing, and we want to make sure Americans are aware of that and stay in places that are safe.”

South Africa once projected it would draw 450,000 international visitors to the World Cup, which starts on Friday. However South African tourism minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk, speaking in New York in April, said the figure could be as low as 300,000.

Gips said FIFA estimated 132,000 tickets had been bought in the United States, the most tickets purchased outside South Africa.

Last week the US Department of State said it believes there is no credible threat of a terrorist attack but warned US citizens to be on alert during the finals.

“Large-scale public events like the World Cup may present a wide range of attractive targets for terrorists,” a statement said.

“Be alert and aware of your surroundings at all times, looking out for your own security.”