SANF 04 no 41
The response from South Africa’s neighbours has been overwhelmingly positive about the direct benefits of their successful bid to bring the largest single-event sporting activity to this region in 2010.
Surpassed only by the multiple events of the Olympic Games to be hosted this year in Athens, the football World Cup is the next most prestigious and lucrative sporting event in the world.
The President of the International Football Association (FIFA), Sepp Blatter, delivered on his commitment that the World Cup would be held in Africa in 2010, and then it was left for South Africa to battle it out in the bidding with four North African countries, Morocco, Egypt, Libya and Tunisia.
Blatter said he was thrilled at the quality of the presentations from Africa, describing them all as “intelligent and elegant”.
Morocco received strong backing from Europe due to its proximity to attract European fans, but the South Africans put up a very well prepared and spirited bid, having previously lost the 2006 event by one vote.
That loss to Germany ignited a fire that fuelled South Africa’s preparations for this year’s bid, and drew in all sectors of their community at top level, including President Thabo Mbeki, former President Nelson Mandela, provincial premiers, business, community and sports leaders.
Famous names in African football gave high profile support to the South African bid, including Roger Milla from Cameroon, Abedi Pele from Ghana, George Weah from Liberia and Kalusha Bwalya from Zambia.
President Mbeki delivered a strong and impassioned presentation of his government’s support for the bid in Zurich, and in his remarks at celebrations at the Union Building in Pretoria following the announcement, his main message was that South Africa will do its best to ensure involvement from other African countries, including those who bid and lost.
His response – controlled, measured but emotional nonetheless – was informal and from the heart, when he called on all Africans, including those in the diaspora, to play an active roll in making this a truly African event.
His second message was that, since it was a weekend, it was a good time to celebrate, but on Monday, the work would have to begin to ensure success in six years time.
A firm of accountants has estimated that the games should generate direct income for South Africa of R2.4 billion, and that millions more would follow in long-term investment and tourism benefits.
The event is also expected to give a big boost to a number of high profile infrastructural developments including the rapid transit railway between Pretoria and Johannesburg, and the Statue of Freedom in Port Elizabeth.
Mbeki’s commitment to make this an African World Cup was received enthusiastically in neighbouring countries, as it will significantly raise the profile of the region and the continent as a mature and stable investment destination, and add dignity to the perception of African people and countries.
Leaders of 13 southern African countries including the Vice-president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, meeting in Tanzania on the day of the announcement, warmly congratulated the South African government for winning the right to host the 2010 World Cup, during a day when they too had been talking of dignity.
The Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), President Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania, told his colleagues in opening their Summit on Agriculture and Food Security, that they would bring honour to the region by putting in place sustainable mechanisms for food security, rather than the shame of food aid.
The mood in the region was high following the announcement of South Africa’s winning bid, despite the prediction from the same accounting firm that, while the entire region would enjoy long-term tourism benefits, the overall financial flows could be negative due to the number of residents going to South Africa for the games.
The SADC region expects to benefit directly as well as indirectly through the potential strengthening of the South African economy and its proven track record for sharing the benefits through increased investment in neighbouring countries and elsewhere on the continent.
National sports organisations in the region also recognise the potential for sporting contacts as well as income flows. Rafiq Khan, the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) which is bidding for the Africa Cup of Nations for 2010, said, “We are going to feed off South Africa’s preparations for the World Cup.”
He also predicted that, “A lot of teams will come and camp this side, maybe for a month on their way to South Africa and this will greatly improve our standards.” (SARDC)
