When the South African submission won the opportunity to be the host country of the FIFA World Cup, the entire sporting world hid and waited.
Nobody expected this country to be able to hold the tournament at the highest level, but it was able to shame all the doubters and show a master class in hospitality. Moreover, the country laid the foundation for the development of sports for many years to come.
Stadiums: From football arenas to multi-arts centres
The World Cup left South Africa with a collection of stadiums that would make even the most discerning architect clap his designer hands. Soccer City in Johannesburg looks like a giant calabash (an African pot), while The Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town could be mistaken for a UFO that landed to watch some rugby.
Aliens could’ve had dinner, played some online slots at Springbok Casino at the link, forgot the keys from the flying saucer and left it.
These architectural marvels have since hosted everything from rugby matches to rock concerts. It’s like someone took a Swiss Army knife and turned it into a stadium – multifunctional and impressive, but without the corkscrew.
Youth: From PlayStation to playing fields
After the 2010 World Cup, something strange happened to South Africa’s youth. Suddenly, PlayStation was no longer the only place where they could score goals. Schoolyards and backyards were transformed into miniature versions of Soccer City, only with fewer vuvuzelas and more knee injuries.
Football remains popular, of course, but other sports have also received a boost. Cricket has become so popular that even ants now think twice before venturing out onto a pitch.
The South African Talent Factory: From Mandela to Messi (almost)
With better facilities and more interest, South Africa has produced a new generation of athletes, impressing the world with their talent. In football, players like Percy Tau have shown that South Africans can dribble as well as Messi – just with a little more sun in their eyes.
In cricket, Kagiso Rabada has thrust himself into the world’s elite with a precision that makes even the most hardy Australian sweat. And in rugby? Well, let’s just say South Africa’s rugby players still make opponents feel like an impala caught between two lions.
The economy: From rags to riches
The sports industry in South Africa has grown faster than a cheetah on Red Bull. Jobs in sport have sprung up like mushrooms after rain – or like spectators standing up to shout at the referee.
Tourism has also received a boost. People now come not only to see the big five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo), but also to experience the big five sports: football, rugby, cricket, athletics and avoiding sunburn.
Global recognition: From outsider to “oh my, they’re good!”
South Africa’s success in hosting the 2010 World Cup has boosted the country’s reputation on the global sporting stage more than an ostrich on steroids. From being “the country at the bottom of the map”, South Africa has now become “the country everyone wants to play with”.
There is even talk of bidding for the Olympic Games. Imagine marathons where runners have to zigzag between giraffes, or javelin throws where you have to be careful not to hit a passing elephant. It would at least make the Olympics more interesting to watch.
Challenges and the future: From hills to mountains
For athletes and the government it’s always better when you have some foreseeable challenges in the future: they motivate you to grow, and overcoming obstacles makes you stronger. Question is, will they find the support needed from the citizens or their ideas will be lost in the planning phase because of the lack of the financing or something else.
Luck is something that matters for such a huge project too. But South Africa do know that too, although use only a fraction of it, relying mainly on talent and hard work. More of these, and, who knows, Olympic events might come to the country too. But that’s a story for the future.
Watch this space for updates in the General News category on Running Wolf’s Rant.
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