My thoughts on South Africa 2010

Although I am an American, I am also a South African, insofar as I was born there. I have been to visit several times, and as a result, I have seen South Africa return to the world of international sports following the end of apartheid. Sporting events mean a lot to the diverse people of South Africa, not just from the perspective of participating in such events, but also because of having the chance to host such events.

South Africa has made multiple bids to host the Olympics in Cape Town, of which none were a success. Although they have hosted plural Rugby and Cricket competitions, these do not attract the kind of international excitement followers of such sports may believe they do.

It should be no surprise, then, that South Africa was elated to have been chosen to host the 2010 World Cup finals after a number of attempts. This has excited many beyond belief, as this is not only something for South Africa to proud of, but for the continent as a whole, since this will be the first time the Mundial has been set in Africa.

This means so much to South Africa for a lot reasons. Aside from the aforementioned return to the world stage post-apartheid, it would be a huge boost for the tourism industry, and a chance for an extremely beautiful country to showcase all of its positive aspects.

That being said, there still looms the threat of a FIFA intervention which could result in a move to a new location. I have heard that if things are not to FIFAs liking by December, the Cup could be moved to a country whose infrastructure is perpetually ready for such events (most countries in Europe and many in South America, as well as the US, for instance.)



South Africa should have a lot to worry about. Crime is a major issue, if not THE issue. There were numerous cases of robbery, muggings, police extortion, theft and security issues that foreign travelers, journalists, and even players experienced during this summers Confederations Cup. Imagine, then, what this sort of situation will look like when tens of thousands have traveled to South Africa for the World Cup.

There is also the larger security issue that faces many African nations. Aside for South Africa's own extremists groups (militant Afrikaaners, Islamic extremists,) there is generally a lack of the kind of infrastructure one would hope for given the threat of terrorism (and I don't mean the hysterical, take off your shoes at the airport kind of threat, I mean the real kind of threat.) Between terrorism and crime, these threats could make World Cup '10 a minor catastrophe, if not an outright cataclysm.

One also has to wonder if the building boom related to new stadia will result in well built structures, or potential collapses the likes of which have certainly not been seen in Europe for some time. Contractors may not be building safe places to host games and people may be getting payoffs to look the other way. However, people maybe spared the cruel fate of dying in a collapse if regular strikes by workers hamper the building at these sites any further.

On a more practical level, there is the issue of transportation. South Africa also possesses a poor system when it comes from getting from point A to B. Many of the roads are too small to facilitate such a large influx of tourists all at one time, not to mention that the train system has had a whole gamut of problems itself (and did I mention crime? The trains are a great place to get mugged.)

Of course, I do tend to be pessimistic when it comes to just about everything. South Africa is a country plagued with so many problems, it's hard to be positive about all of this. But it is also possible that this could go very well. South Africa might very well hold the first World Cup with few major problems occurring, and the entire continent would be the better as a result.

I certainly hope it works out that way.

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