Don’t Say “Yup” to the Cup!
Austin Czubara
Academic Writing 1
Professor Rivait
December 5th, 2011
Don’t Say “Yup” To The Cup! The FIFA World Cup is an international football – known as soccer in the United States of America – competition of men’s and women’s national teams of the members of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, football’s global governing body. The championship team has been award the illustrious World Cup trophy every four years since the tournament began in 1930. To host the prestigious World Cup, countries must fiercely compete against and outbid other countries. It is believed that hosting the games spurs economic gains through tourism, broadcasting, and logistics; sadly, it did the opposite for South Africa in 2010. Though football influences globalization, the FIFA World Cup games negatively impact the economies of poor host countries – like South Africa – and their peoples. The Republic of South Africa, located at the southern tip of the African continent, won the bid to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup on May 15th, 2004. Known as an impoverished country, the South African government hoped that the World Cup games would positively impact its economy and the spirits of its people. The government spent billions of its own money just to bid against rival countries. South Africa renovated five of its existing stadiums: Soccer City and Ellis Park in Johannesburg, Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg, and the Free State Stadium in Bloemfrontein. The country also built five new stadiums: Mbombela in Mpumalanga, Nelson Mandela in Port Elizabeth, Peter Mokaba in Polokwane, Moses Mabhida in Durban, and Green Pointe in Cape Town. The South African government believed that the renovation and construction of the ten stadiums would positively impact its government and impoverished people. Little did they know that the World Cup would pose a threat to its thriving economy. The Mbombela Stadium, located in Nelspruit, was built
Academic Writing 1
Professor Rivait
December 5th, 2011
Don’t Say “Yup” To The Cup! The FIFA World Cup is an international football – known as soccer in the United States of America – competition of men’s and women’s national teams of the members of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, football’s global governing body. The championship team has been award the illustrious World Cup trophy every four years since the tournament began in 1930. To host the prestigious World Cup, countries must fiercely compete against and outbid other countries. It is believed that hosting the games spurs economic gains through tourism, broadcasting, and logistics; sadly, it did the opposite for South Africa in 2010. Though football influences globalization, the FIFA World Cup games negatively impact the economies of poor host countries – like South Africa – and their peoples. The Republic of South Africa, located at the southern tip of the African continent, won the bid to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup on May 15th, 2004. Known as an impoverished country, the South African government hoped that the World Cup games would positively impact its economy and the spirits of its people. The government spent billions of its own money just to bid against rival countries. South Africa renovated five of its existing stadiums: Soccer City and Ellis Park in Johannesburg, Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg, and the Free State Stadium in Bloemfrontein. The country also built five new stadiums: Mbombela in Mpumalanga, Nelson Mandela in Port Elizabeth, Peter Mokaba in Polokwane, Moses Mabhida in Durban, and Green Pointe in Cape Town. The South African government believed that the renovation and construction of the ten stadiums would positively impact its government and impoverished people. Little did they know that the World Cup would pose a threat to its thriving economy. The Mbombela Stadium, located in Nelspruit, was built
Cited: 1. "Regulations - 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa." UEFA. Fédération Internationale de Football Association, 2007. Web. 7 Dec 2011. <http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/competitions/WorldCup/67/17/65/671765_DOWNLOAD.pdf>. 2. Bohlmann, H.. "Predicting the Economic Impact of the 2010 FIFA World Cup on South Africa." . University of Pretoria, 2006. Web. 7 Dec 2011. <http://estata.co.za/propertyinvestments/uploads/market/Economic Impact World Cup SA 2010.pdf>. 3. Swantje, A., ed. "Economic impacts of the FIFA Soccer World Cups in France 1998, Germany 2006, and outlook for South Africa 2010." ProQuest. Eastern Economic Journal, 2009. Web. 7 Dec 2011. < http://search.proquest.com/docview/198003528?accountid=26712>.