Soccer World Cup 2010
ETV News reported last night that a high-powered delegation will be sent to submit South Africa’s bid to stage the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Unlike the previous failed submission led by Danny Jordaan this time President Thabo Mbeki will lead the charge. Numerous other South Africa ‘celebrities’ will be included in the party including Charlize Theron! I certainly hope she brushes up on her South Africa accent before the occasion.
Bear with me for a moment as I switch to rugby. This game has been in the headlines consistently over the past few weeks. The major issue being that the Springbok emblem is again under threat as the powers that be have determined that the king protea will be worn by all national teams. No other badge or logo may be larger than or dominate the national emblem - or so I have heard. I say this because the assertions, alternate reports and backtracking have left me confused. Also added to the brew is the thorny issue of racial quotas and perceived racial incidents in the Springbok rugby squad.
The upshot of all this is that there has been some falling-off of support for the game at which we were world champions for over 80 years. Private boxes at the various stadiums are standing empty and season ticket sales have fallen off as fans turn to DSTV to watch the Six Nations competition.
‘So what!’ say the supporters of the so-called ‘beautiful game’ played with the round ball ‘rugby is a minority sport on the world stage’. Yes it is but here in South Africa our bid for the soccer World Cup will need the infrastructure provided by the rugby unions. They have the stadiums, the experience and the money. Soccer does not.
If rugby falls into disarray then our ability to stage the World Cup is on shaky ground and will need a huge input of tax-payers money to shore things up.
I do think the Government and its agencies have meddled far too long in the affairs of rugby. If they have problems in running the Country how can they do something as difficult as picking a Springbok team.
Good-bye Sam
The same ETV news (as above) announced that Sam Ramsamy is not to seek re-election as president of the National Olympic Committee (Council?) of South Africa.
Good-bye Sam – I hope I never hear of you again.
ETV News reported last night that a high-powered delegation will be sent to submit South Africa’s bid to stage the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Unlike the previous failed submission led by Danny Jordaan this time President Thabo Mbeki will lead the charge. Numerous other South Africa ‘celebrities’ will be included in the party including Charlize Theron! I certainly hope she brushes up on her South Africa accent before the occasion.
Bear with me for a moment as I switch to rugby. This game has been in the headlines consistently over the past few weeks. The major issue being that the Springbok emblem is again under threat as the powers that be have determined that the king protea will be worn by all national teams. No other badge or logo may be larger than or dominate the national emblem - or so I have heard. I say this because the assertions, alternate reports and backtracking have left me confused. Also added to the brew is the thorny issue of racial quotas and perceived racial incidents in the Springbok rugby squad.
The upshot of all this is that there has been some falling-off of support for the game at which we were world champions for over 80 years. Private boxes at the various stadiums are standing empty and season ticket sales have fallen off as fans turn to DSTV to watch the Six Nations competition.
‘So what!’ say the supporters of the so-called ‘beautiful game’ played with the round ball ‘rugby is a minority sport on the world stage’. Yes it is but here in South Africa our bid for the soccer World Cup will need the infrastructure provided by the rugby unions. They have the stadiums, the experience and the money. Soccer does not.
If rugby falls into disarray then our ability to stage the World Cup is on shaky ground and will need a huge input of tax-payers money to shore things up.
I do think the Government and its agencies have meddled far too long in the affairs of rugby. If they have problems in running the Country how can they do something as difficult as picking a Springbok team.
Good-bye Sam
The same ETV news (as above) announced that Sam Ramsamy is not to seek re-election as president of the National Olympic Committee (Council?) of South Africa.
Good-bye Sam – I hope I never hear of you again.
posted by Malcolm @ 12:09 pm
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