The South African Football World Cup 2010
The South African Football World Cup 2010
This page provides a comprehensive set of resources that examine the costs and benefits of the South African Football World Cup in 2010. The case study put the spotlight on a continent, often overlooked and a nation seeking a new identity and where the sport is seen as a vehicle for achieving revolutionary social and cultural growth. The case study also highlights the significant economic and political challenges of hosting events. There is a comprehensive sorting activity and case study sheet as well as several well-chosen videos that highlight national identity, government corruption and forced evictions.
Enquiry Question
How successful was the South African Football World Cup of 2010?
Lesson Time: 1 Hour
Lesson Objectives:
- To examine the costs and benefits of the South African Football World Cup in 2010
Starter Activity - This Time for Africa!- Processes
Watch the following video and discuss what benefits are likely to come from South Africa hosting the World Cup.
Why do you think the song refers to Africa, not South Africa?
Student Activity - The Legacy of the World Cup - Processes and Places
Read the following conclusion from Alexander Hurst Social and Economic Impacts of the South African World Cup
Discuss why you think the author suggests that the South African World Cup should be judged differently than comparable mega-sporting events.
The 2010 World Cup should be judged differently than comparable mega-sporting events hosted by other nations. The 2004 Greek Olympics, and the 2014 World Cup in Brazil—deserve more scrutiny based purely on the economic returns, and the quality and necessity of the infrastructure built to accommodate them. The economics of South Africa 2010 mattered—a great deal—but it was always about more than that. The World Cup was about producing something that cannot be monetized and quantified. It was about creating pride, commonality, shared stakes in something greater, and showing the world—and itself—that South African society had achieved an incredible transformation.
The World Cup largely succeeded in producing these feelings and increasing social cohesion. Nevertheless, it was marred because even in its success in bringing people together, large and often forgotten segments of South Africa were once again left out. No single event could have been a panacea for all of South Africa’s development problems, yet it remains a lasting shame that the promise and opportunity the Cup presented was dampened by forced evictions, and restrictions on access—both for excited fans and enterprising locals
Student Activity - Investigating the Costs and Benefits of the World Cup - Processes, Places and Possibilities
Work with the following document of cut-out costs and benefits of the World Cup. Work as a group to sort them into categories of:
- Costs and benefits
- Economic and social
- Short term long term
Sorting Activity - SA World CupStudent Activity - The Economic Costs and Benefits of The World Cup - Processes and Places
Watch the following video and make notes on the short and long-term economic costs and benefits of South Africa's World Cup
Student Activity - Stadium Constriction, Corruption and Evictions - Processes and Places
Watch the following video and make notes on the impacts of stadium construction
Student Assessment - Presentation
Work in small groups of 2/3 students to present on the political, economic and cultural factors affecting the hosting of international sporting events. Include the following in your presentation:
- A general discussion of important political, economic and cultural factors referencing a broad range of examples
- A more in-depth presentation of the factors influencing the South African Football World Cup 2010