We’re all excited. Less than 50 days to go now. The first World Cup in Africa. But there is reason to ponder about the Cup’s outcome. And Bafana’s weak performance in the run-up is not the only one – although not being able to beat North Korea who’s behind us in the international ranking is alarming!
It is in fact a World Cup taking place IN Africa but not FOR Africans. FIFA is estimating that 375000 tourist will visit South Africa during June and July 2010. Only 85000 out of these 375000 are expected to come from other African countries. This is a relatively small number given the millions of Southern Africans passionate about football living close to the rainbow nation. Yet, this might have something to do with their purchasing power. FIFA expects the average tourist to stay 18 days and spend over 30000 rand. This is the equivalent of a typical South Africa household’s annual income. So even if you want to be part of the World Cup you might simply be not able to because you don’t earn enough.
Group game tickets – regarless whether it is Brazil or North Korea who are playing – cost 140 rand for South Africans. This is roughly seven times the price of a regulat league game. Prices for accommodation during the World Cup period shot up to around 1000 rand per night per person. The cheapest ticket fort he big opening concert in Soweto is 500 rand. A typical South Africa or Southern African household can’t afford to be an official part of the World Cup. Most African’s will probably stay limited to the fan parks. And as long as that is the case, 2010 will be a World Cup IN Africa but not truely African.
I've just heard that SABC1, 2 and 3 will have their electricity messaging service on during the World Cup period. Hence, if power supply is at high levels running the risk that generation capacity is unable to meet demand, we will get a message saying: please switch of your electrical appliances. And being good South Africa's we will switch of our tellies, heaters and lights and sit there in the dark, freezing while all these bloody foreigners enjoy the FIFA games either in stadiums which are oversupplied with power or sipping an overpriced cocktail in a bright seafront bar. All stadiums will be supplied with electricity from the regular grid while a stadium generator will run during the length of the entire game to make sure there is no 30 seconds black-out phase in the case of a power cut. That's why we need to switch of our televisions. - The first World Cup in Africa...
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