Blatter dancing for joy

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FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s visit to South Africa to inspect preparations for the World Cup in 2010 appears to be a big success. Despite the unfounded concerns of a vocal minority, all ten stadia are on course to being ready in good time for the tournament. Addressing those sceptics, Blatter said:

They have to admit the stadia will be ready, people will be well received and so on.
What is needed, instead, is a little more enthusiasm in South Africa;
for the whole country to say … yes, let’s go, let’s do it.

It’s about time South Africa got some good publicity from the world’s press over 2010.
However, many of the reports I have read of the FIFA visit have been very keen to mention the political issues dominating our news at the moment and also the crime rate, which they are lining up as their big story of the tournament. I can already see the “FAN MUGGED!” or “TOURIST STABBED!” headlines being readied. Because that sort of thing only ever happens in South Africa. Never in London or Hamburg or Rio. Oh no.

blatt
“When I left the plane and arrived on African soil, I started dancing.”

In addition, much of the stadium construction work is ahead of schedule. Which is better than Athens 2004 or er… Wembley. Is that actually finished yet? I mean – really finished?

Work is ahead slightly ahead of schedule at Durban’s semifinal venue, and at the two stadiums in Johannesburg. FIFA general-secretary Jerome Valcke said that even Beijing’s “Bird Nest” Olympic stadium looked small compared to Soccer City. Even Cape Town’s 3.9 billion rand or $490 million stadium – the most controversial because it is in the middle of prime real estate – is on track.

Now the naysayers and the critics have had their naysaying and criticism, I wonder what they think will happen to the World Cup in 2010? Do they honestly still believe that it’s not coming to SA?
Or is this just now a case of sour grapes?

Live webcam feeds of Cape Town stadium site

12 thoughts on “Blatter dancing for joy”

  1. I think people can be quite bitter about various aspects of what is happening in the country, and want 2010 to fail as a result. But that is such strange vengefulness, a real South African trait that I hope fades into the background in time.

  3. Coming or not, you won’t get my enthusiasm because, guess what, I don’t really care about the sport 😀

    Apathy is my lifeblood.

    Goblin@Work’s last blog post was: New Layout (Note: 6000 miles… is not responsible for the content of external internet sites)

  4. Po » I think you have hit the nail on the proverbial head there, my dear.

    Emil » What makes you think England will make it to the finals? 😉

    Goblin » Well, there’s no accounting for taste. (Yes, I’ve seen your new blog template).

  7. Caz » Because Tiggers don’t do memes. Sorry.

    Incidentally, the wonderful thing about Tiggers
    Is Tiggers are wonderful things
    Their tops are made out of rubber
    Their bottoms are made out of springs
    They’re bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy
    Fun, fun, fun, fun, FUN!
    But the most wonderful thing about Tiggers
    Is I’m the only one.

    Really.

  8. I think you’ve been spending way too much time with 6000 Jnr!! But for the record, I love Winnie The Pooh too! 😛

    Now, about this football thing. It’s not that I doubt you have the ability to host it… I’m just wondering how many people are going to have to go without electricity while the matches are being played? 😉

    Helga Hansen’s last blog post was: Camera, Lights, Action! (Note: 6000 miles… is not responsible for the content of external internet sites)

  9. Whilst the stadiums are looking great, they need to do something about the Bafana. They are a major disappointment at the moment.

  10. I LOOK FORWARD MOST TO THE “TOURIST STABBED AT WINDPUMP MUSEUM” HEADLINE. THAT SURELY WOULD BE UNIQUE.

  11. Helga Hansen » All the stadia have their own generators. But how expensive will petrol be by that time? Actually, our petrol price dropped this month and probably will again next month.

    Stan » Correct. Lack of management, lack of decent administrators, lack of confidence. Not, I’m afraid, sortoutable by 2010.

    STU » Excellent, yes. There’s only one other headline like it.

  12. Count yourselves lucky. We’ve not seen a fuel price drop at all… the media are calling the fuel companies profiteers at the moment. They are quick to raise the price when it goes up, but we’re told it takes about 4 weeks to filter down to us when it goes down!

    Helga Hansen’s last blog post was: HNT # 24 (Note: 6000 miles… is not responsible for the content of external internet sites)

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