[FONT=Verdana]The demolition of the old Kings Park Soccer stadium has started, signaling the start of the city's preparations for the 2010 Soccer World Cup.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]Durban[/FONT][FONT=Verdana] is one of the cities that will host some of the 2010 soccer finals and the spotlight shifted to South Africa when the curtain was drawn to the 2006 event in Germany on Sunday.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]About R1.6 billion has been set aside for the construction of what is to be an iconic King Senzangakhona Stadium on the site of the existing Kings Park Soccer Stadium.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]According to officials all is going according to plan to build the King Senzangakhona multi-purpose sports facility.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]The new facility will have a seating capacity for 70 000 people, with arches 100m high.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]It will cover 320x280 square meters and will be 45m in height.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]Kings Park Stadium has been the venue for football over the years in the province, but because of its size a major overhaul had to be done.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]Following the destruction of the south pavilion of the stadium last weekend, the north pavilion will be next, while the main grandstand is expected to be demolished towards the end of the month.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]The destruction of the main grandstand - to be a highly-publicized and symbolic affair - is expected to be done by Premier Sbu Ndebele.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]According to Julie-May Ellingson who is at the helm of Durban's preparations, most of the steel and concrete from the demolished old Kings Park will be recycled to build the new stadium.[/FONT]