No need to worry
Wales will host the 1999 Rugby Union World Cup
Posted: Wednesday July 22, 1998 02:31 PM
CARDIFF, Wales (Reuters) -- Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) chief Glanmor Griffiths denied suggestions Wednesday that Wales' hosting of the 1999 World Cup was under threat.
A leaked memo to the WRU from Rugby World Cup chairman Leo Williams had questioned ticketing and security arrangements and raised concerns over whether the new 120 million pounds (US$196.9 million) Millennium Stadium in Cardiff would be ready on time.
But WRU chairman Griffiths said Wednesday he had answered all the concerns of the World Cup organizers.
"Leo Williams is satisfied with my response and satisfied all the issues raised in his memo to me are under control," he said.
"Despite what has been said or written this project is on time and will be completed by June next year.
"Building a stadium of this size normally takes four years but we are trying to do it in two and a quarter years.
"But we will open the stadium on June 26, 1999, with a game against South Africa and will be ready for the World Cup with the opening match on October 1."
The WRU initially had a court injunction served on the media to prevent them revealing the details of the leaked memo, but that was lifted by a judge Tuesday.
The Cardiff stadium will host the final of the competition that stages games elsewhere in Britain, Ireland and France.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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