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lurker
509 Posts |
 Posted - 22 Jul 2008 : 13:03:12
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there is a lot of coverage these days about the progress (or lack of it) surrounding the 2010 world cup in south africa.
There is the obvious talk of crime and its impact on the tournament and those who go to visit. there is talk of the government legalising prostitution for the duration of the tournament(do they get a stealth(ill-health) tax from that!!). there is talk of sepp blatter(a world-leading a--hole) having a contingency plan in case it needs to be moved. there is talk of the inability of some of the stadia to be finished in time. there is talk of all sorts of stuff-inevitably.
do you think that the success or failure of this tournament is a litmus test for the future of south africa?
if this is a raging success, then it augurs well for other countries on the continent to progress in the world sport stage and in holding global events with confidence. it allows other institutions to take seriously the offers of hosting from other developing african nations.
or, if it flounders and becomes a farce, then has it put back the cause by decades? should the country have waited a little longer until it already had structures in place?
some people feel that south africa is at a crossroads. the honeymoon after mandela is long gone and there are problems there which will lead to social unrest.some think that there economic rise is only just beginning.
is this event a seminal moment in south africa's immediate future? is it just a football tournament and unrelated to any socio-economic reality?
i , personally, hope that it is a resounding success. I fear that there are some who feel that the west are deliberately trying to sabotage Africa and it's endeavours once again, but i believe that to be another conspiracy theory.
i do think that south africa has some very serius instabilities which will come to the fore in the way that things do, and that the land issue in south africa will become a major issue in the next 5-10 years as well, but i hope that the country of my parent's birth can show the world that this tournament will be a fabulous amalgamation of sport, african culture and hospitality and , most of all, a great blast.
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MeMe
United Kingdom
541 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jul 2008 : 15:08:12
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I think that the organisation of any sort of event(s) on this scale is difficult for whichever host nation .... the forthcoming Commonweath Games in Glasgow 2014 is already attracting headlines about the 'poor' infrastructure of the city that was once 'crowned' European city of culture in 1990 and then UK city of architecture and design in 1999, and of the (perceived) reputation of loutish behaviour of its citizens (as someone from Edinburgh, I couldn't possibly comment on that though  and don't ask the Manchester police force about that either  ).
Ghana took some stick in the press when organisers were reported to have said that preparations for the tournament had been stalled by a lack of funds. Then there was the uproar because plans to build a new stadium in Sekondi signalled the demolition of a nearby cinema, some bars and the city's main mosque. Ghana also survived getting one country's flag wrong and the backlash from their fans when they crashed out of the tournament.
So, I would say that it'll be a bumpy ride for South Africa but a PR dream for their future (if they can get over the legalisation - or not - question regarding prostitution  ) 
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