World Cup Footballopens in Japan and Korea Cayman Reps will be there
By JONG-HEON LEE,
UPI Correspondent
SEOUL, South Korea, (UPI) -- On the eveof the kickoff of the new century's first World Cup, soccer feverwas sweeping across South Korea on Thursday -- from elementaryschools to prisons to frontline military units.
Hundreds of thousands of fans were celebratingnear the main stadium in Seoul with fireworks, dancing and singing.
At the stadium, thousands of performerswere preparing for the opening pageant that organizers say wouldbe marked by an appeal for world peace, harmony and fraternity.
The Seoul stadium hosts the opening ceremonyon Friday night and the first match of the World Cup games, between1998 champion France and first-time finalist Senegal.
Hundreds of students who painted their facesto resemble the national flag or a soccer ball and wore a replicaSouth Korean jersey gathered under the jumbo screens erected ina plaza to practice organized cheering for the South Korean team.
Organizers said some 100,000 supporterswould be mobilized to cheer on foreign teams in order to turnthe soccer tournament into "the world's most festive event."The volunteer fans will support visiting teams by wearing shirtswith team symbols, flying their national flag at home and on carsand holding celebratory events on match days.
Upbeat over the rising soccer fever, ChungMong-joon, the head of the Korean Organizing Committee for the2002 FIFA World Cup, said the sports event, apart from its boostto the country's economy, would help raise the South Koreans'morale and confidence.
"The World Cup will make Korean peoplefeel Korea is important, Korea is successful," he told journalists.
President Kim Dae-jung, who won the NobelPeace Prize in 2000, named this year's tournament "the WorldCup for peace and harmony."
South Korea and Japan will each host 32of the 64 matches of the May 31-June 30 tournament. An estimated3.5 million spectators will enjoy the games at stadiums whilesome 6 billion fans around the globe are expected to be gluedto television sets during the month long competition, organizerssaid.
But concerns were lingering over securityprecautions for the event, which is considered a potential targetfor terrorism.
Security has become a major concern forthe World Cup since the 9/11 terrorists attacks on the UnitedStates as well as South Korea's first encounter with hooligansfrom Europe and South America.
The government has banned more than 9,200suspected terrorists and soccer hooligans from entering SouthKorea.
"The government is also closely monitoring2,902 foreign residents who hail from countries listed by theUnited States as terrorism-sponsoring states," Justice MinisterSong Jeong-ho said.
To cope with possible biological attacks,the government has kept in stock vaccines and other materialsto counter and treat diseases such as anthrax. The military andpolice have closely cooperated to thwart terrorist acts with measuresincluding enhanced surveillance over stadiums by high-tech radarand military aircraft.
The Defense Ministry said F-15 fighter jets,anti-aircraft missiles and anti-terror units would be deployedaround World Cup venues to counter any assaults from the air.The country will also impose no-fly zones over all the stadiumsand nuclear power plants during the tournament.
The country has also intensified checkson overseas mail to prevent import of any deadly substances afterthe anthrax-laden mail incidents in the United States. "Safetypreparations are complete," said Park Sang-hwan, deputy directorof the World Cup Security Control Headquarters. "It's timeto get ready to welcome our guests," he told United PressInternational.
Despite the tight security measures, however,loopholes are emerging in the credentials process, setting offalarm bells. A German man was mistakenly issued a World Cup pressaccreditation that should have gone to a British journalist. Thesuspect left for Japan on May 20 on a bogus passport, police said.
A man in Seoul was arrested for buying credentialsand smuggling fans into a stadium during a warm-up match betweenFrance and South Korea. A Senegal player is under investigationfor stealing a gold necklace in Taegu, south of Seoul.
Political strife and labor disputes alsomay dampen the World Cup euphoria. In a rare show of bipartisancooperation, rival political parties had agreed on a truce inpolitical infighting during the World Cup. But the parties soonresumed strident rhetoric against each other, which led to paralysisof the National Assembly. The parties have failed to form a newleadership.
Official campaigning began this week forthousands of candidates running in the June 13 local electionswidely seen as a bellwether for presidential voting in December,which will fuel political infighting in the midst of the WorldCup.
South Korea's second-largest labor grouphas been staging a nationwide strike by thousands of workers,calling for the government's pledge to increase wages before theWorld Cup.
Foot-and-mouth disease, which is contagiousand can be fatal to animals with cloven hooves, is still persistingin the country, casting a shadow over World Cup preparations.The European Commission told soccer fans traveling to South Koreafor the World Cub to leave all food behind when they return home.
South Korea's hopes to use the World Cupto promote reconciliation with rival North Korea were dashed asthe communist neighbor refused to send a delegation to the openingceremony.
Instead, the North has accused the UnitedStates of beefing up its military presence on and around the Koreanpeninsula "under pretext of surveillance during the WorldCup."
"The World Cup is not only a soccercompetition, but also provides the host with a golden opportunityto show its strength to the whole world," said Han Soo-san,a novelist and university professor. "We should make all-outnational efforts to ensure a successful World Cup."
South Korea is doing its best to make thathappen.