Will SA be ready to host the 2010 World Cup?

January 17 2007 at 03:29PM

By Shahida Jacobs

The slow pace at which stadiums are being built has once again raised concerns about whether the country will ready to host the World Cup come 2010.

IOL asked its readers: "Are you confident South Africa will be ready to host the 2010 World Cup?"

Sixty-seven percent (459 votes) of the 682 people who voted in the IOL Poll on January 17, 2007 believe South Africa will not be ready to host the soccer showpiece.

Only 223 (33 percent) people were confident that the country will get its act together before 2010.

Comments from readers who were not confident:

Jaco: I doubt if we will be ready because all the stadiums are over budget and they should have started with construction.

Chris: No. Three words should describe why not - crime, incompetence & corruption.

Yvonne Parkes: I think the selectors should, while they still have time, give the country who was closest to SA the chance to hold the World Cup. First of all, we have far too much crime in SA, which definitely is not improving and I honestly feel we are not at the same standard as say Australia who have the infrastructure, far less crime if any than we have, and have a well-run country.

Some were more optimistic:

Concerned citizen:
People stop being pessimistic. Your thoughts are easily translated into actions, so stop thinking negatively please.

vikash (LLB undergraduate): This is our world cup. I am proud of the fact that we are given an opportunity to host the world cup. To see the world come together... to be a part of this event in our backyards is a clear indication of the faith others have of our country (if only we could believe in ourselves). As for the crime, I will render my services as a reservist in the SAPS to play my part. PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN!

Lejane: It will be different, but I am sure we will manage. It will certainly be African, if nothing else...

bidding for the FIFA worldcup gets SA in several traps:
- the country must invest in to stadiums etc. which costs tax payer's money which cannot be spent on providing and/or improving its black population's water and electricity infrastructure not to mention proper housing within the townships
- the money would be urgently needed for better health care for poor citizens which still make the majority of SA population
- based on the vital fact that SA's government has to pay to FIFA at least double figures of millions of $ for purely let them have the games the tickets must be quite expensive and therefore out of reach for the majority of citizens
- the stadiums built for the games won't be accessible for the poor afterwards because of ticket prices and reachability

all that holds lots of explosives prior and post the games which should not be underestimated!