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were disabused. The media focused on the sense of place, the conviviality, and the passion of South Africans. Plaudits and praise flowed. The press reported on the seamless cooperation and gen- uine hospitality of the host nation. Sports development and commu- nity specialists referred to the success ‘beyond the stadia’ especially seen in strategies using the World Cup to invest in rural and township sports facilities. These included the crea- tion of new soccer pitches through the Dreamfields programme, the devel- opment of grassroots soccer, the establishment of 20 Football for Hope Centres in highly disadvantaged areas and the innovative ‘whisper balls’ cre- ated especially for deaf footballers. Health specialists referenced the


improved health facilities and skills of medical teams.Safety and secu- rity services were also improved and


ISSUE 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012


effective policing and traffic manage- ment systems introduced. Others celebrated the creation of more than 2,000 new jobs in road con- struction alone, the improvements made to the Cape Town International Airport by Airports Company South Africa, enhanced city design and pub- lic art and stimulation of new business start-ups and entrepreneurial activity. Stories and successes abound (for more details read Capeability by the Western Cape provincial government – an excellent account of the Western Cape’s experience of the 2010 FIFA World Cup). Equally, there will always be dissenting voices. Entering this competitive environment, successfully delivering on promises made and man- aging the legacies are always going to be challenging for any host nation. South Africa did deliver. The world changed its perspective on the country.


International tourist arrivals continue to grow. New global events will be attracted to this tip of Africa – Cape Town has already secured the right to be the World Capital of Design in 2014. Lets leave the last word to Dr Laurine Platzky, editor of Capeability and the Western Cape deputy direc- tor general of Provincial Strategic Management. “Arguments that the bil- lions spent on the World Cup could and should have been better spent on schools, houses and clinics are valid," says Platzky. "But without the focus of a mega event, would the money have been used to educate our children, feed the hungry or restructure our city? Perhaps it would be more prof- itable to reflect on how much can be achieved when skilled and dedicated teams of people, driven by intense political will, are prepared to overcome all obstacles to achieve a goal.” l


Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 51


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