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LCBXX
Honorary Master
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2006
- Messages
- 19,424
After watching Carte-Blanche's insert on the 2010 plans, I started thinking about the issues raised by the program and then came up with some additional thoughts/questions.
It appears that organisers are becoming less concerned with things like transport (public or other) to/from stadia, accommodation, facilities, etc, and the general plans of what happens AFTER the 5-week tournament. Perhaps things are going smoothly? Hotels are nearing upgrade completion, but what about international-standard public transport? And I'm not referring to something as efficient as the system in Japan, but basic things like proper directions that can tell someone where to catch what taxi to where and what time.
I rarely hear about a concrete plan to make the even just as accessible and enjoyable for South Africans as it will be for international tourists. Are we deliberately being kept in the dark regarding the rest of 2010?
It also appears that organisers are more concerned with the image of hosting the spectacle here. New, large, impressive stadiums are built; some right next to (or near) exiting and already quite sufficient current stadia (Durban, Gauteng) and some far away from the main soccer supporting public (Greenpoint stadium). The only reason I can attribute to the latter, is that FIFA wants Table Mountain in the background.
Then there are all the hype about making event "African" or "revealing the beating heart of Africa". the plans to make the tournament better than the 2006 one held in Germany. Organisers appeared to have forgotten that Germany is one of the top Soccer-playing nations in the world, thus the vibe and fanatic support for the sport there is almost natural. In 2014 the WC will be in Brazil; do I even need to explain how they feel about Soccer.
I just feel that the SA organisers should rather focus on staging a decent tournament with little issue or hiccup rather than over-focusing on "Arfricanism" and forcing our diverse culture down everybody's throat. Am I missing the point here? What do you guys think?
It appears that organisers are becoming less concerned with things like transport (public or other) to/from stadia, accommodation, facilities, etc, and the general plans of what happens AFTER the 5-week tournament. Perhaps things are going smoothly? Hotels are nearing upgrade completion, but what about international-standard public transport? And I'm not referring to something as efficient as the system in Japan, but basic things like proper directions that can tell someone where to catch what taxi to where and what time.
I rarely hear about a concrete plan to make the even just as accessible and enjoyable for South Africans as it will be for international tourists. Are we deliberately being kept in the dark regarding the rest of 2010?
It also appears that organisers are more concerned with the image of hosting the spectacle here. New, large, impressive stadiums are built; some right next to (or near) exiting and already quite sufficient current stadia (Durban, Gauteng) and some far away from the main soccer supporting public (Greenpoint stadium). The only reason I can attribute to the latter, is that FIFA wants Table Mountain in the background.
Then there are all the hype about making event "African" or "revealing the beating heart of Africa". the plans to make the tournament better than the 2006 one held in Germany. Organisers appeared to have forgotten that Germany is one of the top Soccer-playing nations in the world, thus the vibe and fanatic support for the sport there is almost natural. In 2014 the WC will be in Brazil; do I even need to explain how they feel about Soccer.
I just feel that the SA organisers should rather focus on staging a decent tournament with little issue or hiccup rather than over-focusing on "Arfricanism" and forcing our diverse culture down everybody's throat. Am I missing the point here? What do you guys think?
