A decade back, there was a period which was a worthy recipient for our wistful affection. The juxtaposition of 2010 with 2020 is just like a comparison between the Fast and Furious series and The Marine series. Hey, why are you pulling WWE in between, it's a sham! I know but let me give you a clue, something in Africa? Do you mean the FIFA World Cup? Bingo! Remember when K'Naan sang 'Wavin Flag' and exhilarated us to swing our arms in the air.
"Singing forever young,
Singing songs underneath the sun.
Let's rejoice in the beautiful game, and together at the end of the day.
We all say,
when I get older
I will be stronger
they'll call me freedom
just like a wavin flag
and then it goes back
and then it goes back
and then it goes back".
That World Cup is reminiscent as the best world in the history of the most beloved game around the globe. With an opening goal by Siphiwe Tshabalala, rejuvenated the Bafana Bafana(South African Football Team) crowd for their dream opening into the World Cup. Rapturous ain't it?
Hold on! There's a reservation in my mind, an Apartheid-stricken (racial ruled) country just after one and half decade hosts a World Cup? Debatable, right?
In 2004, when the election of the hosts was at its infantile stages, The African continent was the elected continent to host the World Cup as a part of a rotation policy (a handful of countries leaguing together to host a World cup). Five African nations placed proposals to host the 2010 World Cup: Egypt, Morocco, South Africa and a joint bid from Libya and Tunisia. In 2007, FIFA abrogated the rotation policy. Tunisia withdrew itself from the proposal process. FIFA also manifested that Libya's unchaperoned bid will not fall under the consideration, since it no longer met the stipulations under the list of requirements. The announcement of hosts was in Zurich in 2004 and apparently, South Africa fáilte rest of the countries. In 2015, when Chuck Blazer spilt beans regarding the corruption case, under an FBI and Swiss authority probe said: "I and others on the FIFA executive committee agreed to accept bribes in conjunction with the selection of South Africa as the host nation for the 2010 World Cup." A whodunit cracked by the FBI and Swiss authorities of the FIFA committee who are sly as foxes.
The matches sparked the chills in the spine. Each game was a Magnifique
Souvenir. But what about the stadiums built on the grounds of the grit and sweat of the labourers. These labourers have an income less than 1$. The World Cup might've aggrandized the soaring unemployment; it has rattled and ruffled a few fellows African feathers.
FIFA gets its pocket swollen after every successive event. South Africa played as the chicken that lays golden eggs for FIFA. A sky-rocketing profit of $3 billion was the highest till date that FIFA has earned. The scene still awaits its climax. FIFA just allowed MNCs (Multi-National Corporation) to advertise outside the stadiums, obliterating the dreams of the local entrepreneurs to be a part of the extravagant event.
The expenditure incurred by the South African government was a riotous $5.2 billion inclusive of the infrastructural and transportation expenses. Holy mother of Jesus! That was bodaciously bodacious. Oh! Did I broach the expenditure induced during preparations? It costs them around a mind-baffling figure of R16 billion(rands). Now that might've been a slobber knocker of money in the caves of South African mines.
The mammoth-amounted expenditure was a topic of moot between the economists and the government. Many economists might hail the decision of hosting the world cup, but many were reluctant to accept the cost. They had many points in favour of them:
Seasonal employment would not assist in knocking-off the income inconsistencies by the perch.
For developing a disturbed economy, the profits from tourism are not the only thing prerequisite.
The costs for refurbished stadiums was exorbitant. The same amount of money could've been an aid for instilling new houses for people without any roof upon their head.
The government's covenant regarding employment after the competition was under the thesis of absenteeism.
The accounts of critics do not tally here. To make the transportations as smooth as MJ's moonwalk, the implementation of the first-ever African speed rail, Gautrain, had a receipt of expenditure amounting to R24 billion. It may sound that the deal could've generated the fluidity in the transportation of the Afrikaans and the expatriates. But pricing R100 per ticket made the innovation a banter for the people of South Africa resting just above the earnings of $1 a day. Along with that, the train railed in the money-minted and corporative areas.
Not only the veteran economists but also the marginalized Africans have criticized the economic planning of the country. There's a famous quote by Abraham Lincoln: "Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe." For instance, you have invited Ryan Reynolds to a dinner. You have decorated the place like anything. A bottle of champagne, silk cloth on the table, subtle music, makes the scenario ecstatic. But for all the decorations to stand out, the place is prerequisite of a process of cleaning. Haplessly, the dirt for the South African government was the shantytowns. The eviction of masses from a particular locality requires precision and proper planning. Unequivocally, excavation of shantytowns is a way to an ameliorating present. But an inattentive government, excavated families instead of the locality. The locals who were roof-deprived were then residing a place scantier than the early one.
Channel 4 news, interviewing the poor people residing 100 yards from the stadium has broadcasted people with petulance. The reply of the locals when they were under the questionnaire of the reporter, said:
" They scammed us. They are happy with the tourists, and they want the dollars. The tourists come to our locality, click pictures of our house, leaves without noticing us. Our homes are still with the government, but they give us no money to survive (cries after the statement)".
Although the infrastructural development of roads and airports was one of the positives for the country after the magnificent stadiums; proper planning turned out to be the feature for the falter. Hosting mega-events is necessary for the increment in the countries goodwill, but an economic follow-up is crucial. From hooting in vuvuzelas to crying in agony scantier misery, then the Apartheid-stricken country was a part democratic quagmire. Am I right, or am I right?
Zaid Khandwani
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