World Cup Heads to the African Continent
June 18, 2006 by Sasha Manuel
Filed under Football, Sports Rumors
First time in the history of the World Cup, South Africa will be hosting in 2010. This means that they’ll be spending hundreds of millions of dollars just to upgrade stadiums. And a little over a billion for a high-speed rail system to link major cities. Imagine how much more money they’ll need for the improvements of the surrounding areas and other preparations for the event itself.
Hmmm. My fingers can’t help me keep count. Bleh.
Anyway, I remember telling you about Czech Repulic’s concern regarding them hosting the Olympics, which is mainly Politics. But what I want us to look at is that it also provided us a glimpse of how a major sporting event can affect a country, positively or negatively.
Apart from being part of history, it will boost the host country’s economy and tourism. Even the United Nations World Tourism Organisation [UNWTO] recognises the close link of tourism and major sporting events.
Sure — the current tagline of the 2006 FIFA World Cup is “a time to make friends”, but it somehow masks the force of capitalism behind such an event. It somehow transforms into a profitable avenue for adverts and merchandise sales.
Ooopss… I don’t mean to be catty.
Okay, I’m going to play nice now.
Events like the Cup boosts tourism, ergo, a great influx of people. This creates jobs and business opportunities for locals that, of course, affects the economy greatly. This is a good thing. And like all infrastructure and city-wide developments that usually goes hand in hand with hosting such events and like the transportation network improvement that will be happening in South Africa, it will have long-term benefits for the locals or it extends even after the event. With more money flowing in the economy, it means the country’s government can collect taxes that will also be for the people.
So, with that in mind, I reckon the amount I mentioned earlier that South Africa will be spending in hosting the Cup will not be as huge as the amount that they’ll earn. It’ll cover it, for sure.
Do you see now why countries are clamoring to host events like the World Cup?
By the way, South Africa beat Morroco in the bid.
I reckon I like Capitalism…
The very essense of being an American perhaps? ;)
I like it, too, but too much of it leaves a sour taste.