World Cup 2010

I often write about the beauty of sport.  There are so many life lessons that can be learned through participaton (even as a spectator) in sports.  Different life lessons are often learned through individual sports vs team sports however both are important.

Among my favourites:

1) David can slay Goliath when one compensates for a lack of talent with superior effort.
2) Contests are more often won in practice.  (admittedly a variation on Sun Tzu)
3) Life isn't always fair.  Sometimes the good guys don't win.  Sometimes cheaters prosper.  You should still display sportsmanship.

The first world cup of soccer to be held on the continent of Africa is currently being held in South Africa.  Soccer is probably the most global of all sports in participation and appeal.  North America has been a laggard on this front until very recently. 

That South Africa has emerged from Apartheid as a leading African nation is a wonderful thing.  Living standards across Africa are poor but less so in South Africa.  Hosting the World Cup after so many years of being banned from most sporting competitions sends a powerful message.

South Africa scored the first goal of the tournament in their 1-1 draw with Mexico.  The symbolism and spirit cannot be denied.  This World Cup might be more momentous than the 2002 World Cup in Japan/korea in terms of the effect upon the host nation.

However much i appreciate sports, it's also true that too many people overestimate the impact of sport in an economic sense.  Many taxpayer dollars have been squandered in its pursuit.

Montreal's Olympic Stadium now sits mostly empty as a white elephant to the folly of the 1976 games.  It was finally paid for 30 years after the Olympics at a total cost of 1.6 billion dollars.

So what will South Africa do with 10 similar stadiums?

Several first round games have been played in front of sparse crowds.  So how many bums will fill the seats when the World Cup is not being hosted?

Perhaps i'm being overly negative but while sports provides important life lessons, it usually doesn't truly change the nature of a city hosting it.  While Winnipeg's social pride was wounded when they lost the Jets of the NHL, getting an NHL team back will not result in a sea change.  Winnipeg will still not be Toronto even if they end up having a better hockey team.

I hope i'm wrong but i just don't see how several of these stadums will pay for themselves once the Wordl Cup is done.   South Africa may just end up with a billion dollar hangover when this is all done.

They are still a poor country...perhaps the money could have been better spent/