South Africa? http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=710915 "Costs rocketed after original plans, which envisaged upgrading the country's existing rugby stadiums, led to an outcry that the traditionally white sport would benefit, while black-dominated football remained its poorer relation. In response, the government made the surprise decision to build six brand-new football stadiums and rehabilitate four others - sending costs spiralling upward - in what it says is an attempt to redress apartheid-era imbalances."
The costs just went up a few more million. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/soccer/10/25/bc.af.spt.soc.wcup2010.ap/index.html
They keep talking about how they are going to spend more money and how the costs are skyrocketing , but they have not started on anything yet . At this rate FIFA will have no chance but to take it from them ...
It looks like the Confederation's Cup in 09 will be a nice benchmark to see how well SA is progressing with their WC endeavor. I am trying to keep an open mind about it. My only concern is the unusually high violent crime rate. I talked to a friend recently who was in SA for a while on his way to another country in the interior. He echoed what the Rough Guide said. But, how exactly do you “Not look like a tourist” at the WC? I already know how to “Dress down” being an American slob. It is too bad because SA could be a once in a lifetime destination. We have the most fun in other countries when we travel by ourselves and get out among the locals. Not sure how well SA lends itself to doing this. Keeping an open mind for as long as possible… At least until the 09 Confederations Cup.
I wouldn't start booking anything just yet. I still think that by Jan/Feb 2007, the price tag will balloon to $2.2 Billion and keep rising. FIFA will have its elections in May; then in June or July, FIFA will do an "indepth investigation of the ability and safety of South Africa hosting the 2010 World Cup." Blatter will voice his opinon against the inquery, but will say he has no power to stop it. By October 2007, FIFA will announce that based on their findings, South Africa will not be prepared to host the 2010 World Cup, and will now be hosting the 2014 World Cup. FIFA will then entertain any offers for an emergency host for the 2010 Cup. Germany, France, England, Australia and the USA will be the five nations considered for the new emergency host. England will be dropped first as they are attempting to bid for the 2018 event (which would be a better planned event with more time). UEFA, wishing to see England host the 2018 event, will work to get Germany and France moved out of the running as well, in order to not jepordize Englands bid in 2018. That will leave the USA and Australia. As Australia would not have large enough capacity stadiums for a FIFA World Cup (and FIFA is all about money) they will be offered (silently) the 2022 World Cup. The USA will host the 2010 World Cup, at NFL stadiums and pretty much be out of the running at least until 2038 World Cup.
i hate to say it, but i'd favor a proper bid over a crappy "bail out fifa" bid. a usa wc2010 would be a fine wc, but i don't think whoever's in charge of such a bail out bid would have enough time to organize cool things like "fan miles" and other cool stuff we can't even think of now...
I agree. I really don't want the USA to host the 2010 World Cup. I want a two week trip away from the States to watch some soccer, and Europe would be a great time. I would rather the USA bid for the 2018 World Cup, then we could at least get everything properly organized.
This scenario envisions three of the next four World Cups in Anglo countries. Can't see that happening.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=394850&cc=5739 by the sounds of this article ... it seems that usa or mexico may have a chance at the 2014 WC ...
Yesterday’s Sun-Times reported that South African Airways will start direct service from Chicago to Jo’Burg on May 8, 2007. A round trip of $1000 is possible for a short period of time. There will be 4 flights a week with a brief stopover in Dakar, Senegal on the way. SAA has pulled out of Accra, Ghana, as a stopover on its flight to and from the US and substituted Dakar instead. Accra is an even bigger mess than Dakar is. I was so disappointed in Dakar. The French picked a magnificent spot for a tropical city and built wonderful infrastructure. But now the town is turning into a dirty, dangerous place. It does have a great African Art Museum and friendly locals. “Flag” beer is also excellent and much enjoyed by the locals. A Senegalese visa costs 60 dollars, 70 for multiple entries. I repeat my prediction that FIFA will pull the 2010 World Cup from South Africa and move it to Australia, the US, or Mexico. South Africa continues to implode, with crime, AIDS, crumbling infrastructure and corruption leading the way. US Presidential hopeful Barack Hussein Obama was in South Africa earlier this year and did his best to draw attention to the looming disaster. He criticized the Minister of Health, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang for advocating African potato and herbs to treat the exploding cadres of AIDS victims. The Jo’Burg-Durban express train has been hijacked by armed gangs recently and all the passengers robbed or worse. The security situation is grave and it is going to get much worse.
Just did a little digging today and did a mid-week to mid-week search approximately a month apart from depature to return and got the following results from Lowest to highest. Did Atlanta to Johannesburg (since I live near ATL). 1. Iberia. $1166 with taxes. Atlanta-Chicago-Madrid-Johannesburg 2. Delta. $1232 with taxes. Atlanta-Dakar-Johannesburg 3. Delta. $1255 with taxes. Atlanta-Johannesburg 4. Northwest/KLM. $1266 with taxes. Atlanta-Amsterdam-Johannesburg 5. Delta. $1270 with taxes. Atlanta-Paris-Johannesburg 6. South African Air $1407 with taxes. Atlanta-Washington DC-Johannesburg 7. Emirates $1453 plus tax. Atlanta-Dubai-Johannesburg 8. American $1563 plus tax. Atlanta-New York-London-Johannesburg 9. British Airways $1586 plus tax. Atlanta-London(Gatwick), London(heathrow)-Johannesburg So there you go. I don't know much about Iberia, but Delta and Northwest/KLM are very very reasonable for flights. the direct ATL-JNB flight is around 18 hours.
US vs South Africa in Cape Town? If the "Sideline Views" blog has much validity, it appears based on the link that follows that the USSF (read: Sunil Gulati) is interested in playing South Africa in Cape Town (IMHO, a great place to visit). Pure speculation on my part, but such a match might not be scheduled until after FIFA and the USSF are confident the 2010 WC will be played in the RSA. http://sidelineviews.blogspot.com/2007/01/cape-town-capers.html "Talking to a few reporters, US Soccer federation president Sunil Gulati was mentioning that they would try to schedule a match in South Africa at some point in this cycle before 2010." Quick comment on Iberia: It is Spain's main airline, a partner with American's frequent flyer program, and, in my opinion, at least an average or better European airline. Why anyone would justify flying first from ATL to ORD, and then on to Madrid to Johannesburg to save under 100 bucks is a different topic.
Re: US vs South Africa in Cape Town? Iberia is part of the OneWorld alliance with American Airlines. Its basically the same thing except they speak Spanish and painted the plane in white yellow and orange.
I figured Iberia were allianced with someone - just wasn't sure who (like the Northwest/KLM allianace)
Re: US vs South Africa in Cape Town? Yeah, that, and generally being a better airline than AA for inter-continental flights. Yup, I know that's not setting the bar too high. ;-)
I am going to skip 2010 and go to 2014. It looks like 2014 will be in Brazil, which would be a great time. Not that Brazil is safer, necessarily, than South Africa, but I have heard a few second hand accounts of real bad crime incidents in South Africa. It just feels like a dangerous place to be.
Danger? I work in a bad neighborhood in Atlanta (Moreland Ave/Confederate Ave if you're familiar). South Africa isn't any more dangerous than that. You just have to know what places to avoid and stay in a group.
I'm going to go to the World Cup in 2010, then I'm going to go in 2014, then I'm going to go in 2018 and then again in 2022..... I'm not too sure about 2026 because I just don't plan things out past 15 years but I bet I'll prolly go anyway... Seriously, after spending a month in Germany with the greatest group of American supporters...I just cannot imagine missing another World Cup. So if the US qualifies, which unless CONCACAF/FIFA change the qualifing procedure, I cannot imagine us not.....I will be there!!!
South Africa? How about a tour of the townships? Not exactly my preference, but some may like it: http://www.cnn.com/2007/TRAVEL/DESTINATIONS/01/08/south.africa.ap/index.html "Township tourism ... has increased hugely ..., is now a multimillion dollar business. ... Soweto, the heart of the anti-apartheid struggle, is now Johannesburg's top tourist attraction ... Even in Cape Town, which lacks the historical significance of Soweto, about 25 percent of foreign visitors trawl ... Cape Flats." OTOH, "there have been some bad incidents ... a group of Germans was robbed by armed thugs ... a Dutch group was attacked ... German tour operators on a fact-finding visit were robbed" (P.S. A few more Yanks & your favs can merge!)
It is more dangerous. Violent crime is so bad in SA right now that US doctors and nurses that want to specialize in ER care voluntarily do their residency training in Johannesburg's hospitals; a medical student friend told me there is actually a waiting list. It's the best classroom in the world!