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How Prepared is South Africa for FIFA World Cup 2010?

February 4, 2009 at 1:07 PM | by | Comments (2)

When the South Africans found out they’d be hosting the FIFA World Cup 2010, their reaction was probably like that of the Brits when they won the 2012 Olympics bid. Unbridled joy, heavy drinking and crazed celebrations until the helium balloons in everyone’s heads went flat and someone said, "Uh...what do we do now?"

Damn, South Africa badly needs this crazy football competition. They’re expecting upwards of 500,000 fans to flock into the country, waving their dollars and euros and tacking on a safari or two while they’re there. The Grant Thornton consulting firm have told the government they can expect a 55.7 billion rand ($5.42 billion) boost on their GDP for 2010 and the authorities are already sticking out their tongues to lap it up.

But damn, damn, damn, we just hope South Africa can pull the rabbit out of the hat next June. Here's what might harm their chances of making magic happen.

We’re in the middle of a world financial crisis
Banks, businesses and building projects are crumbling everywhere. Not South Africa’s fault, but they’re dumped in the doodoo along with the rest of us. The organisers claim it doesn’t matter a jot. CEO Danny Jordaan acknowledged that "[I]f the world economy had crashed in 2004, it would have been a very different picture than four years later in 2008... [M]ost of the work has already been done."

Problem is, we’re starting to think we’re shelling out if we go to the flicks on a Friday night. How many of those expected hundreds of thousands of visitors will actually arrive? And how much of the estimated R8.5 billion will they actually spend?

The lights might go out
Seriously. South Africa’s been having electricity problems for years, due mostly to mismanagement and governmental shortsightedness, resulting in power blackouts across the country.

FIFA have even stipulated that stadiums must run on generators as their main power source, with the national grid only on hand as back-up power. The government have thrown a load of money into improving electricity infrastructure around the stadiums.

So a top tip for any house-buying South Africans who don’t want the lights to go out: look for a place near a football stadium.

The mascot might be nicked
Crime stats in South Africa aren’t the type you can count on your fingers. And the opening and closing matches of the FIFA tournament are being held in Soweto, near Johannesburg, the heart of the country’s violent crime scene.

But we don’t want to scare you. The government is already claiming that an extra 41,000 police officers will be on hand to secure the footballing areas ready for the matches.

So....
Things are looking good so far. They will be ready for the June 11 kick-off as long as the South African authorities don’t score on their own goal. Plus, the Confederations Cup, due to be held June 14-28 of this summer, will be a good trial run.

And whatever happens, there will be an extra excitement in the bellies of the organisers that has nothing to do with the little ball bouncing about on the pitch.

Related Stories:
· Project 2010 [Official Site]
· FIFA World Cup [Official Site]

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I can't wait

I think the SA World Cup will be one of the best yet. And I think the London Olympics will be every bit as successful as the Millennium Dome.
MattyC on February 4, 2009 at 4:11 PM #Permalink

Should be fine as long as tourists are cautious

Soweto crime toward outsiders is practically non-existent at this point and experiencing quite a bit of gentrification. Alexandria is where the shit is bad and NONE of the 2010 stuff will route anyone in those areas. If one sticks to 2010 venues and those side tours listed (and vetted) on the Fifa 2010 and government run sites it's safe. The majority of crime in SA is African-South African on the same. Follow the advice http://www.ehow.com/how_2302516_not-pickpocketed-traveling-.html and you'll be fine. Only idiots get pickpocketed.
Valerie Feria Isacks on August 19, 2009 at 10:31 PM #Permalink

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