Fifa world cup 2010 in South Africa is it just a pipe dream?

[jackdaniels]

They only have until july this year to prove they can stage this event otherwise it will be moved to Japan or Korea what are your thoughts on this and remember crime is the other issue that counts against South Africa.
I for one am dead set against it being held in South Africa because only the few are going to benefit and the over whelming majority are going to be forgotten plus the various municipalities are going to be bankrupt and guess who is going to pay.

[cavalierkcs]

Johannesburg has already started to gear up for the World Cup. The airport is in the process of a complete change and face lift. They are working on the terminals and redoing all of the roads coming and going from the airport. I would love to see South Africa get to have the World Cup. It would be a great boost to the economy and a wonderful venue. I love vacationing in South Africa and would love to see more people enjoy this incredible country. Crime is a problem that can only get better. I vote to keep it in SA.

[BradMorris7]

Not gonna happen dude. It'll be a feeding frenzy on the tourists.

[Proud2bWhite]

it'll happen. our corrupt officials will grease enough palms. sooner or later the ANC's biggest disease - corruption - will be transmitted to the money hungry FIFA officials. it's about economics and democracy. the person who pays the biggest bribes gets the best democracy.

[scrazy007]

I went to South Africa zfor Christmas andf i think they are totally capabal of hosting it!

[AlfGarnett1V]

No Stadia fit enough and still at the talking stage,insufficient accommodation,poor road system badly in need of maintenance,3rd World Transport system, not central and too far to travel,expensive with the Tourist Industry and Airlines doubling their charges in season,no Football history and a team not worthy of the English 4th Division and then there is crime.It is common cause that Blatter did a deal with Africa to stage the World Cup in South Africa in return for the African vote at the forthcoming FIFA elections. Even he must see the folly of that move and understand that South Africa is very good at promises and non existent on delivery.

[Moloi]

Come 2010 I, and many other proudly South Africans, will be welcoming the world to our country!

[Innocentia]

i hope not...
i have my doubts but i'm hoping real hard that it will come through to us... otherwise, congrats to Japan/Korea.
At least if they get it, the government (SA's) will learn that not trying to at least help out the infrastructure a notch can set them back... way back!
And i dont see why it had to take a bloody world cup for them to start improving things around here. So does it mean us South Africans aren't worth the bother, but the foreing people are? truly sad... but as proud says, you never know what the big cheeses and their big/deep pockets will be able to achieve even with potholes on every second road...
But i truly hope we will be able to make it, without having to bribe anyone

[AndyLonestar]

2010 stadium project rocked by scandals

Construction has not yet started on Mpumalanga's R920-million World Cup stadium and already authorities are investigating claims that the company appointed to design it was irregularly paid tens of millions of rands.

The multipurpose stadium and a linked tourism and sports precinct is expected to be completed in May 2009. Actual construction has not yet started.
The provincial government has meanwhile stepped in and appointed a senior government administrator, Johan Blaauw, as caretaker 2010 manager pending finalisation of the forensic audit.

Mbombela's full council was scheduled to consider some of the initial findings on Thursday while reviewing a wider probe report into alleged fraud, corruption and maladministration

[happyd]

There is one good thing to come from this - all this world cup talk is inadvertantly placing a lot of pressure on the government to deal with the crime issue, however I am not sure increasing the police force by 30 000 officers is going to make a difference when the police are already short of many basics, like police vehicles for example. And I´m not sure there are enough donkeys to go around either.

We know this means a lot of money for the country - but does this ever get to "grass routes" level? Has this not already only proven to make the fat cats only fatter?

To me this only perpetuates the ongoing actions of some reckless South Africans to make money no matter at what cost or at what risk or danger to others!
I don´t feel this is morally responsible, tourists should be warned of the dangers or it is going to backfire on the country.