to think that the money spent on hosting the World Cup would have been better spent helping the poor in South Africa?

[PussinJimmyChoos]

Just heard on a TV prog that the final bill for the World cup is a pretty hefty amount..we are taking millions here

Now, while I understand and appreciate that the World Cup helps to put South Africa on the map, tourism etc....its still not the same as if a fraction of that money went on aid and making lives better for some of the people there

What do you think?

YABU - football is a joyous thing. I'm not sure I follow your arguamnt though? Just this World Cup? The one that SA bid for and won? So, everytime an African nation bids for and wins a major sporting event the developed world should say "yes but we've decided you can't have it actually, just the cheque"

When would this reasoning stop? All Art projects? All sports projects?

yabu.....its sport....would you say the same for cricket,rugby.....wimbledon??

Yes I see those points but obviously there has been a lot of coverage about South Africa in the run up to the World Cup and they all mention the poverty and crime rate and I just coudn't help but think the money could be better spent else where...

This is why I am posting here as I want to see what others think - quite prepared to be told I am being unreasonable

Look at the worldwide exposure that SA has had by hosting the world cup. Hopefully that will lead to inward investment. The perception (at least here in the UK) is that SA is a very dangerous place to go. Certainly every time I go there (have been going on my own with ds since he was 2) my friends think I must be mad (I'm not, it is simply one of my favourite holiday destinations for a number of reasons). It is a country with problems but also huge potential and hopefully the rest of the world will see that now.

Nike built a massive community football complex in Soweto. Is this the sort of thing you mean? www.soccerwires.com/2010/06/nike-launches-soweto-community-football-training-facility/

so you think it should all stop.....what about other countries its hosted in,the uk have a bid for the next one?

No, I never said I think it should stop and I am specifically talking about this World Cup as there has been so much coverage about how poor S.A is and how much crime and when I heard the final bill (can't remember the exact amount) I just thought wow, wonder how much S.A could do if it was invested into the poor communities etc

Of course, I do understand how the media can make things seem worse - DH is from Syria and I've been there 4 times. My perception of the Middle East compared to the media is very different and I felt very safe there

You cannot say that the money could have been used for South Africa. No world cup means no money. The money is generated because of the world cup and it happens to be in South Africa. As it is the tournament is providing a huge benefit to the economy.

Is it though when you balance how much money it has brought to SA vs the final bill?

Pussin - I very much agree that the poor need to be supported, but don't be under any illusions. There are poor people everywhere. Yet we are hosting the Olympics in two years, and spending a large fortune on it, whilst not spending that money on our own underclass.

All countries do this.

you cant pick and choose when it should be cancelled.just because it happens to be hosted n a country with some poverty....same could be said of any country really....theres always some plight highlighted to attempt a different angle on it

I had exactly the same thoughts as you OP. My DH pointed out the following:

*FIFA have footed a lot of the bill for the stadium renovations
*The stadium renovations and other building work required to host the world cup have resulted in a steady 7 years of employment for a workforce which would have been otherwise unemployed.
*The infrastructure put in place remains in SA for the use of South Africans.
*The television rights have generated hundreds of millions of rands of revenue for South Africa.
*The exposure that South Africa receives will boost the countries tourism industry.
*Most importantly, anything that can united a divided society will have a massive impact on that country's collective morale- and this has certainly been the case in SA.

I was forced to change my opinion on considering these valid points.

Padme - wow...interesting points - didn't realise Fifa were footing a lot of the bill, thought it would be S.A

Yes we are hosting Olympics in 2010 but what is considered poverty here compared to poverty in S.A is vastly different imho

YANBU

Fascinating points, Padme.

Pussin - some people live in horrific conditions here. They're called the 'underclass', and have a life expectancy several decades below the average for the UK. Not to mention the thousands of homeless people living on the streets. So you could ask why are these people on the streets when we're hosting the Olympics?

Yes I agree PJChoos - poverty in the UK should never even be discussed in the same sentence as poverty in South Africa.

MILLIONS of people live in tin shanties with no running water and sanitation and people consider themselves lucky to get a job which pays 6 quid a day (very often necessitating a 3 hour rout trip to get to). This is poverty.

Sorry that sounded very abrupt. It's a subject I am very passionate about.

Correct me if I am wrong though, but I thought you didn't need to be homeless in Britain - in that you can go to the local council, say you are homeless and you will at least be given somewhere off of the streets, even if it is a b&b...or am I misinformed?

I also think that the 'underclass' here are still not as bad as the underclass in S.A or other countries - I mean we at least have free healthcare here. In some poor countries, if you are sick and poor - you can forget treatment. I also don't see people living in shanty towns in the UK or foraging in toxic piles of rubbish for stuff to sell

It wouldnt change anything anyway. SA's government would squander the money and corruption in the government would mean the likes of the shanty towns and squalid conditions wouldn't change at all...

TBH yes.

"would you say the same for cricket,rugby.....wimbledon"

exactly speedy...

Padme - I think we are on the same page here

you are misinformed about being homeless in the UK.

Councils only need house you if you have not contributed to your own homelessness... they have lists of many things that "contribute" so it is very easy to find yourself being told you are not their responsibility.

I can vouch for the huge improvements in the road infrastructure (and being stuck in endless traffic jams last autumn as they worked to finish in time!) plus big improvements at Cape Town airport. Hopefully projects and investment will continue post world cup.

Lewis - seriously?? I never knew that..