The arrival of the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa has not only economically benefitted businesses and industries, but the influx of tourists to this diverse country has also resulted in an increased interest in townships.
These communities are indeed coming together to share in the festivities. They are benefitting, firstly because the children are able to participate in various activities, and playing sports is a productive way in which to spend their time and energy.
Secondly, education in these township areas is of paramount importance, as it is necessary for children to be well-informed in order for them to make healthy choices and ensure for themselves a positive future.These townships have benefitted from the generous donations from soccer teams (namely Germany and France) in the form of money and tickets to the soccer matches.
The Soccer World Cup has had a very positive influence and impact on various small communities, who have come together, in the name of arts and sport, to unite and witness this historic event, as proud South Africans.
Content:
Port Elizabeth
With Masifunde, the Cup reaches the township gate
Knysna
In Knysna, sports and arts help community projects
Soccer teams proactive in their charitable giving
Cape Town
Les “poupées foot”, une idée venue des townships
Image Source: Boston.com
By:
Florian Buttard
Olivier Clavé
Thomas Dreyfus
Pierre Flandé
Lisa Moore
With all due respect, the World Cup was an event for those w/ money…if you poll people in the PE townships, especially young men, they’re likely to say “it was there”, referring to the wealthier parts of the city. One high school student observed, “we didn’t see it, feel it, or ever intend on seeing a benefit from it. The World Cup was for the rich.”
- There was ONE venue in the township to watch the games (in Motherwell). This consisted of an awful screen that already existed. No food, drink, or any other form of entertainment. The real fan park was deliberately placed 20-30 minutes from the PE townships, making it inaccessible to the majority of the population.
- Incredibly FIFA, the municipality, nor anyone else has built or renovated ANY soccer fields in the PE townships. Most kids still play on dirt (or at best ‘patchy’) fields.
- God Bless Masifunde (and numerous other NGOs) for their efforts and they should be praised, but what has the municipality (esp Dept of Sport & Recreation), FIFA, or anyone else raking in billions off this World Cup done in the township?
- Why is it costing the nearly R1 million to renovate that field in Knysa? Who did the French team make that donation to?
- It’s shameful that FIFA didn’t allow any hawking outside the stadiums (i.e. people selling food, crafts, etc..) or marketing to combat HIV/AIDS and other social pandemics (they blocked numerous NGOs and churches from distributing material).
- Nor did FIFA, with all it’s advertising might, and estimated $2-3 billion (that’s US dollars) advertising profit promote any type of poverty alleviation, social development, HIV/AIDS awareness, etc… during it’s commercial slots to international audiences.
- Why weren’t the empty seats sold at huge discounts (or distributed to local schools)?
No doubt it was exciting, taverns were packed, and that we all bought jerseys and vuvuzelas. But an elite group of people (FIFA, hotel owners, etc…) were making billions of dollars off of this and contributing NOTHING (relatively speaking) to the majority of the people. Same old story.