Review Paper World Cup 2010 planning: An integration of public health and medical systems Arthur H. Yancey II a, *, Peter D. Fuhri b , Yogan Pillay c , Ian Greenwald a a Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA b Emergency Medical Services and Disaster Plan, National Department of Health, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa c Strategic Planning, National Department of Health, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa Received 17 January 2007; received in revised form 2 October 2007; accepted 21 November 2007 Available online 4 March 2008 KEYWORDS Mass Gatherings; Special events; Emergency Medical Systems; Injury Prevention; Public Health Systems; Surveillance Systems; Disaster Planning; Multi-casualty Incident Response Planning; World Cup Soccer South Africa Summary Objectives: To present crucial stages of planning and the resources in- volved in the medical and health care that will address issues affecting the health and safety of all participants in the 2010 World Cup. Design: Relevant literature reviews of mass gathering medical care supplemented experience of the authors in planning for previous similar events. Attention is fo- cused on issues wherein effective planning requires the integration of public health practices with those of clinical emergency medical services. The tables that are in- cluded serve to illustrate the depth and breadth of planning as well as the organi- zational relationships required to execute care of a universally acceptable standard. Conclusions: This article offers guidance in planning for the 2010 World Cup health and emergency medical care, emphasizing the need for integration of public health and medical practices. It depicts the span of planning envisioned, the organiza- tional relationships crucial to it, and emphasizes the necessity of an early start. ª 2007 The Royal Institute of Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Introduction As South Africa approaches the 2010 International Association of Football Federation (FIFA) World Cup (WC), the potential legacies of a successful event for the health sector loom large. The WC is expected to create opportunities for new strate- gies and additional resources that strengthen the public health system, upon which the majority of South Africans rely for prevention and care. *Corresponding author. Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, 49 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, S. E, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States. Tel.: þ1 404 616 6675; fax: þ1 404 616 0074. E-mail address: iyancey@emory.edu (A.H. Yancey II). 0033-3506/$ - see front matter ª 2007 The Royal Institute of Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2007.11.005 Public Health (2008) 122, 1020e1029 www.elsevierhealth.com/journals/pubh