May 02, 2007	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 14, 1428

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TOKYO, May 1: Japan's chance of hosting the 2010 World Cup should South Africa fail to meet organisational deadlines is ‘less than one in a thousand,’ Japanese football chief Saburo Kawabuchi said on Tuesday.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) that Japan and other countries are ready to organise a World Cup at short notice as they have enough stadia.

“If we are ordered to consider organising one, we will be happy to accept it. But such a possibility is less than one in a thousand,” Kawabuchi, the head of the Japan Football Association, told reporters.

“I believe he made the comment as he appreciated Japan's organisational ability and stadia. I feel honoured,” he said, referring to Blatter's statement.

Japan co-hosted the first World Cup in Asia with regional rivals South Korea in 2002. It also staged the Summer Olympics in 1964 and the Winter Games twice in 1972 and 1998.

South Africa will become the first African nation to host football's four-year showpiece event, but reports of delays in stadium construction work have threatened hopes of the tournament being staged there.

FIFA, football's world governing body, remain confident that all necessary facilities will be ready in time but Blatter clearly feels FIFA need to keep options open in case there are any unforeseen problems.—AFP