2010 FIFA World Cup Transport for persons with disabilties

The build up to the FIFA 2010 World Cup has been exhausting for APDNMB. We are thrilled that the partnership between APDNMB and the various stakeholders will ensure that the sector that we serve get the maximum benefit when attending this event. The Mandela Bay Stadium, Transport System and Accommodation will, in our opinion provide the most comprehensive service for Persons with Disabilities nationally. 

Under the capable management of stalwart Willie Bosch, our 2010 Operations Director, we will have 10 specially adapted buses servicing all routes to the games and the fan fest. The buses will operate from 08h00 to midnight for the full 25 days. Each bus will be manned by 2 carefully selected caregivers. 2 Caregivers will also do duty at the Airport on a 24 hour basis. All these operations will be controlled by our Controller who will be based in the main FIFA 2010 TOC (Transport Operating Center) with all the other key services like fire, traffic, airport, police and ambulance services etc. 

Soccer Fans with disabilities will be transported from Airport to Accommodation to Fan Fair to Stadium back to Accommodation and back to Airport. In total we will employ and train by way of our Sensitization Programme under the management of Brett Marshall one of our APD Managers: 40 Bus Caregivers, 20 Drivers , 6 Airport Caregivers and 2 Controllers. 

Other back-up services like our Mobile Wheelchair Workshop that will attend to any wheelchair breakage and we have medical services on standby from Aurora Hospital to attend to any medical emergencies a person with disabilities might have.
 
24 hr HELPLINE: We have a 24 hr Hot line number that will deal with any issue that concerns a 2010 World Cup Soccer Fan with Disabilities and will be featured on the 2010 promotional material. That Helpline number is 0822006393. 

Operation Accommodation: Nelson Mandela Bay Nelson Mandela Bay is poised to become the city of choice for persons with disabilities. APD and Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism have joined forces in preparing about forty accommodation establishments to become disability friendly for the upcoming FIFA World Cup and beyond. 

Up until now, a number of accommodation facilities have been listed as accessible. However, experience has taught us that this is not necessarily the case. Accommodation listed as ‘accessible’ has been found not to measure up to the stipulated disability standards. 

In order for an establishment to qualify as accessible, the following criteria is used: 

• The establishment must have disabled parking facilities. 
• It is important for there to be a suitable access pathway to the building.
• There must be a suitable entrance and access to the reception area.
• The designated room(s) must have reasonable space to man oeuvre a wheelchair as well as a roll-in shower. 
• Access must be provided to all public areas 

APD has provided establishments with a comprehensive report detailing what must be done to meet the minimum requirements. A follow-up visit will then be conducted to evaluate the establishment’s implementation of the report. Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism will then promote the approved establishments as accessible on their website.