The real heroes of 2010

Either Spain or the Netherlands will be crowned world champions when the 2010 Fifa World Cup reaches its conclusion at Soccer City tonight, and the players of the winning team will become immortalised, hailed as heroes by their compatriots for decades to come - in fact, forever.

As we South Africans reflect on a historic tournament that has provided us with 30 days of joy and excitement without bounds, we have our own heroes to hail - many hundreds of thousands of them. They live on every street of every town, in every township and suburb and every dorp; they work for every company and they attend every school. They are the enduring heroes of 2010 ... the ordinary people of South Africa.

They are the people who, collectively and individually, have so spectacularly risen to the challenge of hosting the World Cup.

In most countries around the globe, major sporting events are hosted by a few officials in blazers, their employees and an army of volunteers. Not in this country; here it feels as though major sporting events are hosted by the people, many millions of people, each of whom seems to feel a patriotic personal stake in ensuring that everything goes well, that guests feel welcome, that systems work, that the upbeat gees (spirit) is everywhere.

Today we say thank you, thank you to all.

Thank you to the hotel receptionist who has worn her Bafana jersey to work each day, solved problems, helped guests and smiled.

Thank you to the eager volunteer who has reported for duty at the stadium, and shown the way and set the happy tone of the tournament.

Thank you to the policemen and -women who helped to keep order at all times, not with a scowl but with open hands and a smile.

Thank you to the driver who has reported for work in Sandton at 7am each day of the past month, finished work near midnight, driven home to Pretoria, slept a few hours and been back at work the next morning.

Thank you to the middle-aged woman in Bloemfontein who found six visiting fans eating in a restaurant with nowhere to sleep, and took them home, gave them each a bed and cooked breakfast the next morning.

Thank you to the three teenagers in Cape Town who dressed head-to-toe as Brazilians on the Tuesday, as Dutchmen on the Wednesday, as Ghanaians on the Thursday, as Germans on the Friday and as Argentinians on the Saturday ... just to be part of this thing, just to make it unforgettable.

Thank you to all the staff of the organising committee, Fifa and government departments, and the nine host cities and ten match venues - thank you to so many outstanding men and women who have given so much, who have sacrificed time with their families and always been prepared to travel the extra mile to make things happen and make things work.

Thank you to the architects, planners and construction workers who created the stadiums that have thrilled the world, and built the spectacular airports and the roads, the new bus networks and train lines.

Thank you to everyone who has worn a football shirt on a Friday and any other day. Thank you to everyone who has blown a vuvuzela, and given this event a unique sound that will echo through sporting history.

Thank you to everybody who dreamt this tournament could happen and, in their own way, great or small, turned that dream into a reality.

Thank you to President Jacob Zuma, and his predecessors, Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Motlanthe, for their leadership and the total commitment of national, provincial and local government.

Thank you to president Sepp Blatter, secretary-general Jerome Valcke and the executive committee and staff of Fifa; it was their inspired vision that brought the World Cup to Africa and their expertise and professionalism have helped make it happen.

Thank you to the Fifa commercial partners and to the management and staff of Match and associated companies for helping to prove the biggest sporting events can take place successfully on this continent.

Thank you to the entire community of African football, led by CAF president Issa Hayatou, for their solidarity and friendship. Thank you to the South African football family, from our chairman Irvin Khoza and our organising committee board members, to Safa president Kirsten Nematandani and his predecessor Molefi Oliphant, through the Safa regions and the PSL clubs - as one united family, we have delivered this tournament.

Thank you to the staff of Host Broadcast Services for creating the magnificent TV images that so vividly conveyed the excitement of this event and this country to every corner of the globe.

Thank you to the local and international media who have reported on every match and press conference, and much more besides; through their careful, independent judgments, they have helped to re-brand this country and this continent as a place where anybody would choose to take a holiday, or host a conference, or trade and invest.

People ask what now? What happens when the circus leaves town, when the billboards are dismounted and the flags are taken down?

Some predict a national hangover, a sense of anti-climax. I disagree. The South Africa of tomorrow, Monday July 12 2010, is different from the South Africa of Thursday June 10, before this tournament began.

This is now a country brimming with the enduring self-confidence that comes from the knowledge that it has staged a successful World Cup. That self-confidence is flooding through our nation, bringing dividends in every business, every organisation and every community.

One day historians will reflect how the 2010 Fifa World Cup changed not just the way the world regards South Africa, but also the way South Africans regard each other.

For this, and for so much more, we thank the real heroes, the citizens of South Africa.

Now, our collective challenge is clear: to keep the spirit of 2010 alive, to nurture the flame of unity and self-confidence, to ensure this precious light illuminates our country for years to come.

• Jordaan is CEO of the local organising committee