FanNation - The Republic of Sport

The biggest problem is not crime, nor the slow pace of building, nor the cost of travel for teams and fans. The biggest problem is that South Africa cannot roduce enough energy to run the stadia, the media, and the requirements for all of the teams and fans. This is not a problem that can be solved overnight and has been lingering since the beginning. There has been limited headway and it will NOT be solved in time. These will be moved. I say bring it to Mexico again (always a good fall-back), but still give South African team a spot in the tournament as "hosts".

Watching the closing ceremonies for the Euro 2008....O.M.G.....Geyest thing I've ever seen....

FanNation, I've seen this several times now. This is well known throughout the community and I really don't see why it was reposted.

If he cup is moved it will be brought to the US to guarantee England gets the Cup in 2018. The US is one of a hand full of nations that could put on the tournament at a moments notice. It would also be the most financially lucrative. Germany and England are 2 others, but England will have many new stadiums in place for 2018 and FIFA doesn't want to go right back to Germany. Brazil may have issues also, so FIFA wants to be able to have Germany as a back up for 2014.

FanNation, I've seen this several times now. This is well known throughout the community and I really don't see why it was reposted.
Keeper | 06/29/08, 05:05 PM
_________
.
Agree with you the Council does.

FanNation, I've seen this several times now. This is well known throughout the community and I really don't see why it was reposted.
Keeper | 06/29/08, 05:05 PM

And we'll keep seeing it once every three months until the 2010 World Cup goes off without a hitch. Everytime they hold a major international sports event in a poorer country, we see all the same stories about what a disaster it will be, things will never be ready in time, and it will have to be moved at the last second. We'll see the same things with Brazil in 2014. Get over it already. FIFA will not let the first African World Cup fall apart.

Whaterver they have to do to make sure the world cup goes as close to pefection as possible. It is the bes event for mankind; even above the olympics.

They have to do whatever is needed in order to make sure the event comes out as close to perfection as possible. The World Cup is the most important event for mankind; even above the olympics. ...the truth is that South Africa is a country that does need to be closely monitored to make sure they stay up to the challenge of hosting such an event.

Mr. Council, if you and eveyrone have so many doubts about Africa being ready then bring it home to America and stop and the nonesense. Third world countries like Africa and Mexico - yeah mexico had it before but I floors me to see that nothing is reported on all the violents crimes that occurred during the 1986 WC and how unorganized it was - are not equipped to hold an event of such hugemongousness!!

the magnitudness of this event can only be compared to......nothing really! Bring it to America, Brazil, or back to Argentina.....we need a WC in South America soon! Thank you Mr. Council

And we'll keep seeing it once every three months until the 2010 World Cup goes off without a hitch. Everytime they hold a major international sports event in a poorer country, we see all the same stories about what a disaster it will be, things will never be ready in time, and it will have to be moved at the last second. We'll see the same things with Brazil in 2014. Get over it already. FIFA will not let the first African World Cup fall apart.
j11forbes | 06/29/08, 05:58 PM
Report Offensive Comment

Brazil will be a world super power by 2014, the world needs natural resources so badly and Brazil sells them at bargain prices.

And I agree that America is the only country that can host this event at a moments notice; we have several venues that hold over 100,000 people and are active throughout the year.

Did he reveal what exactly is plan B?

It would be really great if they FINALLY changed the stupid picture they use for World Cup stories from the Women's World Cup to the Men's... I mean, we are talking about the men's World Cup here... and let's not mention that the men's trophy is also very recognizable.... whereas the women's World Cup looks like a trophy you get in a 10-and-under city league...

Plan B is a big yellow manila folder with a printout on 8.5 x 11" copy paper of the letter B.
The photo in use is the same recycled crap from the last time this issue was brought up (consider the source).
The last time the matter was up for discussion there was some civil unrest going on. Now the latest info out of South Africa was images of the progress along with a countdown until the first kickoff. I'm no architect, but they don't look like they'll be ready to me.
Regardless, FIFA will do everything in it's power to see that this event takes place in SA. Unfortunately it's gonna cost SA if it gets to that. Think of FIFA as a giant credit card.

FIFA won't move the World Cup now. It will go ahead in SA regardless of any problem other than a natural disaster. That's the only allowable problem that can see a World Cup move.

There might be complaints, there might be recriminations, but FIFA won't move the World Cup. If and only if there is an issue with broadcasting the competition, then I can see no World Cup going back to Africa for a long, long time. But only that. TV is where the money comes from, and even if it meant billions of angry fans, the money is the only issue that will cause repercussions.

As for contingency plans, they're always in place. Every international competition has them. Who could do it? Any western European country could stage the world cup, they all have the stadia that meet the requirements.

I imagine there are many other countries too, the US, much of Asia, perhaps Australia.

Personally I want to see a World Cup played in the southern hemisphere. Football is a fast paced sport that works best in a colder climate. South Africa or Australia during our Summer would be a welcome change. No problems with heat or dehydration, no snail pace games.

Bring it to South Africa and give the continent an opportunity to step up. This is a huge opportunity for the infrastructure and economy of the nation to become more stable and begin pioneering new technology with mass transit,etc. I've heard reports that they have already raised more money than the last world cup in Germany produced. If we don't give the country the opportunity to ascend from mediocrity and become self-sufficient, we will continue unloading and wasting billions on the continent in attempts to bail them out. Why not encourage them to become more developed and use the innovation they already have- so they don't have to be dependent on outside aid? Bafana Bafana!

"Football is a fast paced sport that works best in a colder climate. South Africa or Australia during our Summer would be a welcome change. No problems with heat or dehydration, no snail pace games."

That's one ignorant post, the game would be a lot better in tropical Africa during the summer because in tropical Africa, THERE IS NO SUMMER. Unlike places in Europe where you have summer, winter, autumn, and spring, we only have the dry season and the wet season. In the wet season (from March-October depending on your proximity to the Atlantic), it rains, while in the dry season which is simply when rain isn't falling its hot and dry, so playing ball during the summer in Africa is perfect because its not hot all compared to the temperate regions like Europe or America.

South Africa should never have gotten the Cup. No country in Africa should. They can't even keep foreign refugees from being attacked by mobs in their streets and some of you think they can actually pull this off?

Second and third world countries shouldn't even be given a sniff at hosting the world cup. Hopefully Fifa will get burned so badly that they finally give up on crap ideas like this.

There are nations besides the First World that can host a World Cup. The best example is Mexico, as cited above. Brazil is also a good choice. But they work mainly because they have well-developed domestic leagues and numerous available stadia. With that said, South Africa was a long shot to start with. As stated above, they simply don't have the power infrastructure. And it's really far for everyone.

FIFA is right to have a contingency plan. It should have one for every event that happens. The easiest thing to do is to have the back-up plan be the previous host (in this case, Germany). The US would also be a good backup plan. I think Mexico should have preference, though, since the WC will be going back to Europe sooner rather than later.

There is no way that Brazil will be a repeat of South Africa. The infrastructure is already vastly improved, and it has plenty of capital for more infrastructure improvement as one of the most prominent developing nations. Rio hosted the Pan American games without any problems, and I don't expect the World Cup to be any different. Seeing the final in a remodeled Maracana will be incredible.