Roots Republic Have Your Say

2010: Get Ready Get Set

Dominic Esposito

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FIFA President, Sepp Balter stands up. He opens the envelope, has a quick look, smiles, and tells the world that the 2010 World Cup host nation will be… South Africa! (Cue roaring applause)

South Africans who watched the announcement of the 2010 World Cup host nation will remember the instantaneous joy afforded us by seeing our country’s name on the card. Tears of joy were shed at the accomplishment, in sharp contrast to the disappointment of losing out to the Germans in 2006. That moment and that accomplishment has formed a base from which our nation can grow from strength to strength

While the world's leading economies are sliding into a recession, I like to think that South Africa is sitting back and laughing its socks off. Yes, it’s going to be a rough few years, but we have a major ace up our sleeves in the form of next year’s FIFA World Cup.

Let’s make sure that this is in perspective. We are not talking about rugby or about cricket, but soccer - the world’s most famous and accessible sport, the pinnacle of all tournaments behind the Olympic Games. We need to sit and think for a moment about how much this is going to bring into our country and what it is going to do for our economy at a time when the rest of the world is enduring a very rough financial ride. South Africa is still feeling the pressures of course, but it is all relative and we are sitting very pretty in comparison

Even those who are not soccer fans can appreciate that this is the sport that is watched by the most people worldwide. For us, this means that the amount of tourists this three week event is going to bring will have a knock on effect running into the billions in tourist spending into the economy. When the final whistle blows on what is going to be an electric close to a very successful campaign, the benefits will go well beyond 2010. This in the shape of an impact from which a sustainable economic lift will follow in what we hope will be the closing periods of the current recession.

There are going to be people who will not make the trip on account of financial reasons. However, I would like to think that structurally weakened currency, will make South Africa a very attractive holiday destination both during and after the World Cup.

The confirmation that South Africa is fit to host a World Cup marks an important shift in perception and is a vital confidence booster for our country, especially during the current political climate. In the world's eyes we have for the most part moved from being an apartheid-ravaged nation to a democratic, stable and accountable land. And one which has had the final approval leading to the Soccer World Cup in 2010.

Good luck Bafana Bafana, and Viva South Africa - you have the support of us all.