More than half a billion (US) smackaroos — that’s what the 2010 Soccer World Cup will plough into the local economy. And that’s leaving aside the value of broadcasting and marketing rights, and money spent on accommodation, food, entertainment and transport by the 280 000 fans expected to pour into the country.
Next week South Africa hosts Sepp Blatter, president of the Federation of International Football Associations (Fifa), as part of the country’s decade of democracy celebrations. In two weeks, Blatter will chair the 24-person Fifa executive committee, which will decide the host of the 2010 World Cup Bid. South Africa faces competition from Morocco, Libya, Egypt and Tunisia.
At the celebration, President Thabo Mbeki should whisper in Blatter’s ear that if he is looking for a reason to reward South Africa, he need look no further than Fifa’s slogan: ”For the Good of the Game”.
Blatter has a casting vote in the event of a tie, and wields considerable influence in the football community and its executive, as demonstrated by his landslide re-election.
Awarding this showpiece to South Africa will send a strong signal that Fifa believes the wealth generated by the world’s biggest sport should be spread and shared.
A World Cup in Africa will go some way to redressing the historical imbalance, and one in sub-Saharan Africa will have an even bigger economic impact on poor but passionate followers of the Beautiful Game.
If the World Cup is awarded to Morocco, our closest rivals, the required hotel and telecommunications infrastructure will be built by French companies. Moreover, many visitors to the tournament will stay in France and fly across the Mediterranean. ÂÂ
It is not just a case of giving to those who already have — it’s one of giving to those who keep on getting.
France, direct economic beneficiary of the 1998 tournament, indirectly benefited from the 2000 European championships hosted by Holland and Belgium. It will reap indirect benefits from the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
It is hard to see how such multiple dipping by one developed nation is for the good of the game.
Compare what happens if Fifa brings the World Cup to South Africa.
The total budget requested to host the tournament was estimated at more than $500-million last year. The 2010 World Cup bid committee has requested $30-million for stadium development alone. Three new stadiums are to be built, and all existing venues upgraded.
The revenue from ticket sales is projected to be close to $500 000. An estimated 2,8-million tickets will be sold, up to 40% of them to international spectators. Profit from the event is estimated to be $2-billion, which will go to Fifa.
The economic benefits will be spread across the country, as the 64 matches will be played at 13 stadiums from Polokwane to Cape Town.
More importantly, South Africa’s neighbours will benefit. Firstly from teams that will use them as a base to prepare for the games, and secondly from tourists who will visit them during the event.
These include Fifa members such as Swaziland, Lesotho and Botswana, countries that may otherwise never benefit from a World Cup. Now that is for the good of the region, and the game.