We may be biased, but could there have been a more vibrant, colorful and happier host country in the history of the FIFA World Cup than South Africa? From the love-it/hate-it vuvuzela to the scenes of national pride around the country, to the jubilation when a beaming Nelson Mandela appeared at the closing ceremony; the 2010 tournament will be remembered by many as a joyful celebration of football.
It was also an immensely successful event for the South African hosts, who more than exceeded the world’s expectations. With world-class football stadiums, efficient transport arrangements and the added blessing of spectacular scenery, South Africa’s World Cup 2010 has been described as a resounding success.
South African national pride reached bursting point on July 11th, when Madiba (Nelson Mandela) arrived to do a lap of honor with his wife, Graça Machel, and the cheering of the crowd drowned out even the vuvuzela drone at Soccer City stadium.
Knowing how much it would benefit the continent of Africa, Mandela had campaigned for years to host the World Cup, despite critics’ concerns that South Africa could handle the world’s biggest sporting event. Nelson Mandela also saw once again how sport could play a defining role in reaching across the racial divide and uniting his country. In a letter to FIFA, Mandela said that the tournament “symbolizes the power of football to bring people together from all over the world, regardless of language, the color of one’s skin, political or religious persuasion.”
It was Nelson Mandela who chose a path of reconciliation in 1995, embracing the mostly-white sport of rugby and urging all South Africans to support their team (One Team, One Nation) in the international World Cup Rugby tournament, as played out in the movie, Invictus.
Fast forward to fifteen years later, and we saw all South Africans proudly wearing the yellow and green of the Bafana Bafana football team, singing the national anthem Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrica and cheering as one when Siphiwe Tshabalala scored the first goal of the tournament. As South African President, Jacob Zuma, said, “We are truly excited by the success and the spirit engulfing the country. For the first time ever in the 16 years of freedom and democracy, we see black and white South Africans celebrating together in the stadiums and fan parks.”
And now that the party is over? South Africa boosted its infrastructure with the building of stadiums, improved roads, hospitals, airports and hospitality facilities. The precise financial benefit is yet to be confirmed, but one million tourists brought their spending money to the country and reports of 700 million people worldwide viewing the final match placed South Africa firmly in the international spotlight, promoting additional future tourism.
Whatever the financial outcome, as international accents fade away and fly to their home countries and South Africa returns to normality, the World Cup event has arguably added to the healing and unity which began in 1995. It has also created a positive atmosphere that is conducive to addressing the reality of the country’s challenges.
Danny Jordaan, the tournament’s top organizer, commented on the gift of the World Cup to South Africa:
“The contribution to this society is the new sense of pride, walking tall and being united. This World Cup created a platform for South Africans to sit together and discover their own sense of pride and their concerns and their hope for the future.”
We at the 46664 Bangle project wish South Africa every success in
realizing those dreams.
