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World Cup Passion Fosters Regional Change
By Tendayi Sengwe, Zimbabwe
As the 2010 World Cup approaches, none are more jubilant than the South African people who won the opportunity to host one of the biggest sporting events in the world. Whilst all effort is being placed on ensuring that the preparations are meticulous, the controversy surrounding the award of the 2006 World Cup to Germany has had sweeping reverberations.
"Beckoning to South Africa is an opportunity to remould perceptions, not only of itself and the African continent, but what of it means to have a regional identity." -Tendayi Sengwe
Football's governing body, FIFA, has introduced a rotation between regions of the world the right to host the tournament. It is hard to disagree with this decision given the worldwide appeal of the game. The 2010 hosts face the unique and complex task of shaping the expectations of a regional host.
South Africa has already appointed ambassadors for 2010 from other African countries - specifically Cameroon, Ghana, Liberia and Zambia. Countries neighbouring South Africa are all hoping to capitalize on the spotlight on South Africa to improve their own image internationally, as well as tempting some of those fans visiting South Africa to see more of the region. However, there have been no concrete suggestions of what else the rest of the African region can be expected to contribute besides its goodwill. Hosting the World Cup in the past has been about national pride and it is difficult to see how that will change.
Since the end of the apartheid and the ascendance of black-majority rule in 1994, South Africa has actively sought to reengage with the African continent to embrace its regional identity. Yet its economic dominance and prowess on the African continent distinguishes it from many, if not all, in its region.
This will be enhanced by the R21 billion (US $3.5 billion) being invested to ensure the success of the tournament. From Polokwane in the north to Cape Town in the south, work is well underway on the construction of two new stadiums, the renovation of five others and the rebuilding of an additional three. Existing transport links are also being upgraded to help the well developed tourism industry cope with the three million people expected to visit South Africa in 2010.
Regional cooperation can take place in sporting events as the hosting of the 2002 World Cup by South Korea and Japan, and the awarding of the 2011 Cricket World Cup to Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have demonstrated. South Africa has already shown its willingness to do this in its hosting of the 2003 Cricket World Cup with Kenya and Zimbabwe.
Therefore the simple solution for Africa would be to ensure rotation of the hosting of the World Cup between its regions. That solution faces the challenge of finding infrastructure and transport links comparable to South Africa elsewhere in the region. These are vital in hosting the undyingly loyal fans who flock to the quadrennial tournament. In essence the new regional identity of the World Cup could end up being very similar to the previous format if the best equipped countries in one region were habitually awarded the right to host the tournament.
Perhaps the new regional identity of the World Cup needs a framework from FIFA to ensure it unites rather than divides. This would ensure that what was once a tournament hosted by one country for the world becomes a tournament hosted by a region for the world. Beckoning to South Africa is an opportunity to remould perceptions, not only of itself and the African continent, but what of it means to have a regional identity.
