Embracing the Football World Cup in Africa

Wednesday, July 07, 2010 Embracing the Football World Cup in Africa After the years of anticipation, the building of new stadiums and football training grounds, roads, railway systems and the upgrading of accommodation venues ranging from up market hotels to township khayas (houses), the long awaited Soccer World Cup is now reaching the quarter finals.

Related: Will the FIFA World Cup also bring visitors to uShaka Marine World? / African Zoos and Aquariums Gathering in Uganda By Judy Mann The hype promised huge economic benefits to those prepared to invest financially in activities that would benefit tourists visiting from around the world. Unfortunately the hundreds of thousands of tourists have not materialised and for many the World Cup has not been a financial success, however, the success of an event such as a World Cup cannot be measured solely in financial terms. South Africans, at least all those with heart, have embraced the World Cup and it has helped to unite the nation in a way only previously seen at the Rugby World Cup in 1995. Seeing South Africans of all races supporting our national team Bafana Bafana during every game, watching the South African flag flying proudly on cars, hearing the vuvuzelas, seeing the amazing camaraderie between tourists and South Africans at the fan parks, in pubs and on the streets has been quite inspiring, reminding us all that South Africa really is an incredible country, filled with amazing people. The comments of most of the thousands of tourists who braved the potential perils of South Africa have been overwhelmingly positive – most cannot believe how great South Africa really is. On the uShaka Sea World front we have not experienced the huge influx of visitors promised, however, we have hosted fans from over 20 nations and many different television and press crews. One memorable event stands out as typifying the enthusiasm with which South Africa has embraced the World Cup. While walking a group of Brazilian journalists through the aquarium they heard Portuguese being spoken by a young child. They naturally asked the mother if she was from Brazil “We are from Johannesburg and we speak English.” was her response. Why then was her four year old son singing in Portuguese? It emerged that teachers at the pre school attended by this youngster had decided to use the World Cup to expand the world views of their kids. Dividing the school into countries, each group of children had to learn the national anthem of ‘their’ country and then play a mini football World Cup at school. This youngster was in the Brazil group and had learnt the Brazilian national anthem. Imagine the surprise and pleasure of the Brazilian press crew and guests in the aquarium when they heard their national anthem being sung – at the top of his voice – by a four year old from Johannesburg. That moment really captured the essence of the World Cup in South Africa. We may not have everything that richer and safer countries have, but we do have soul!
Posted By Judy Mann -- At 12:32 PM \| Comments (4) \| Trackbacks (0)
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Personally, I'd have been very surprised if there had been a big jump in the number of people visiting Ushaka, for example, during the World Cup as the real benefit of hosting the World Cup must be the PR and television coverage of the country while the World Cup is on.

Only football fans have any interest in visiting during the World Cup, everyone else with any sense waits until its all over. What will be interesting to see is if there is a halo effect from all the television coverage that sees an increase in tourism to South Africa and an increase in attraction visits during the next couple of years. Please keep us posted.

Comment By Phil Taylor At 7/9/2010 5:50 PM

I agree 100%. The World Cup has shown we have soul and made us all proudly South African. No doubt those visitors from other countries who visited Ushaka were blown away by it. Certainly the visitors I spoke to were absolutely entranced.

Comment By Ann Gibson At 7/12/2010 6:07 PM

Judy, you are spot on. South Africa is an amazing place and has a tremendous, visceral impact on a visitor. Your economic experience is very similar to what has been reported at aquariums, zoos and other cultural organizations here in the U.S. in cities that have hosted the Olympics. The economic return and the visitation just do not materialize. The returns are more intangible, as you say. But for South Africa, the PR value is priceless; your image was so strong in the international reporting, and it makes me proud to be an avid advocate of your beautiful country.

Comment By Deb Kerr At 7/14/2010 7:11 PM

Proud to be South African and see how well we did for the World Cup.

Comment By George At 12/9/2010 4:43 PM