Is this the most diverse world cup?

[lond2345]

I have never seen such diverse crowds in a world cup before. From watching the games and when they get a shot of the crowd you can see europeans/latin/asian etc etc. Even in games where you might see european vs european you will see asians and other non-european fans. Non-German Fans are not just attending the games of their countries. The world cup is bigger than ever and you can tell by looking at the crowds. Never before have so many sections of the crowd had the color of the nation's playing in the actual game. From the dominating Koreans, to the echoes of "cielo lindo" being sung by Mexican fans. Never before have fans from countries so far away from the host nation have dominated the stadium such as Koreans/Mexicans. Maybe because we haven't seen such massive world cup tourism till now. This only shows how the World Cup has actually grown. This world cup truly is a world cup in terms of world representation on the seats.

You have to wonder what will happen when the world cup goes to Africa. The unsafe environment will attract little tourism, a lot less than this world cup. The momentum of this world cup in terms of the best ever world representation in the crowd will be lost.

[Maruti]

You have to wonder what will happen when the world cup goes to Africa. The unsafe environment will attract little tourism, a lot less than this world cup. The momentum of this world cup in terms of the best ever world representation in the crowd will be lost.

Well... South Africa is a tourist paradise...

unsafe environment? this myth doesn't seem to be a problem for South Africa which is a favoured tourist destination for Europe. Don't worry. South Africa has such a strong tourist base that I find your suggestion - with all due respect - laughable.

read this:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/TRAVEL/06/21/south.africa.tourism.ap/index.html

South Africa's tourist industry is on a roll. Record numbers of visitors streamed in last year and the future looks even rosier.

In 1994, the year of South Africa's first democratic election, there were 3 million foreign visitors. Last year, some 7.4 million tourists arrived, a rise of more than 10 percent over 2004, including some 1.3 million Europeans and 275,000 North Americans.

There are tons of Asians as well - Japanese, Indian and Chinese are swarming across South Africa lately.

Don't worry. There will be tons of fans from Europe and from Asia. And South Africans will love the opportunity. If you saw what took place during the Rugby World Cup... well basically your perception is very flawed.

[lond2345]

What about the crushing poverty, abysmal infrastructure, and appalling HIV+ rate?

[Maruti]

What about the crushing poverty, abysmal infrastructure, and appalling HIV+ rate?

What does the crushing poverty have to do with anything? Are you going to be living in a township? The crushing poverty is all the better reason to organize it in South Africa. The poor of South Africa will benefit from tourism. South Africa is rich. South Africa is poor. Its two things at once. Don't worry - you won't be missing anything in South Africa. THEY HAVE MICROWAVES AND TV.

What the hell does the HIV rate have to do with anything? Is this a Sexual World Cup or a Football World Cup? What kind off stupid argument is that? Unless you think the lack of sexual tourism that was ripe in Germany this year is a big loss for a 2010 World Cup.

What the hell are you talking about an abysmal infrastructure? Don't make me laugh. South Africa has great roads and highways connecting major cities and a developed airline infrastructure.

Higways are of better quality than in most countries in the world, even the USA should sometimes envy South Africa. YES. IF YOU GO INTO THE COUNTRY AND DRIVE OFF THE MAIN ROUTES YOU MAY FIND POTHOLES AND DIRT ROADS. But the tournament is not being held in the middle of the Great Karoo, for god sakes.

The airports may not be huge, but they will be extended for the world cup. And there is an airport in every city where games will be played.

Tourist infrastructure is already good enough for the World Cup.

YES. SOUTH AFRICA IS LACKING IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. But hell it didn't seem to be a problem when the cup was held in the US, the country with the worst public transport system I know of...

Check this out:
http://www.sa-venues.com/maps/south-africa-national-roads.htm

First rate highways will get you wherever you need to get for the World Cup.

[CL_2004]

I guess now is the time to inform thread starter that South Africa has already hosted BOTH the Rugby World Cup and Cricket World Cups. The former being in 1995 . I don't see the 2010 World Cup of Football being a probelm for them. The media sort of exxagerates the preparedness of every country. They were questioning whether Greece would have the infrastructure, etc. ready to host the 2004 Summer Olympics and they pulled off of course.

[Fiorentina lives!]

ASSumptions are the mother of all f-ups.

Let's not forget South Africa is much better off than the rest of the continent.

[Pterodactyl]

hopefully the south africans can do a good job

It would be a disaster not only for the world but also South Africa and Africa if they messed it up. Maybe it would be a springboard for the south african economy to really get going and spur on other african countries.

[lond2345]

South Africa struggling to live up to German standards (http://football.guardian.co.uk/worldcup2006/comment/story/0,,1816117,00.html)
As one television reporter in South Africa put it last week: 'Violent crime in the major cities remains rife, public transport remains virtually non-existent and experts estimate that 600 new hotels must be built over the next four years to cater for one million World Cup visitors.'

[Maruti]

South Africa struggling to live up to German standards (http://football.guardian.co.uk/worldcup2006/comment/story/0,,1816117,00.html)
As one television reporter in South Africa put it last week: 'Violent crime in the major cities remains rife, public transport remains virtually non-existent and experts estimate that 600 new hotels must be built over the next four years to cater for one million World Cup visitors.'

Yes. But he failed to add that 200 new hotels were built last year. So adding 600 hotels isn't much of a challenge.