Sounds like one awfully load conversation about rugby, but if there’s anything history, cinema, and Nike commercials have taught us, it’s that the game ultimately represents something much bigger than itself. From taking a stand (1980 Moscow Games boycott) and breaking social barriers (Jackie Robinson, Dara Torres) to beating odds (Nancy Kerrigan, Lance Armstrong) and growing up (Mighty Ducks 1, 2, and 3), sports are often the metaphors and inspiration of our lives. Which leads us to our big announcement… as it moves to the forefront of the global sports arena once more, we are excit to announce South Africa as Oxford’s “Place of the Year.” The 2010 World Cup whatsapp lead —arguably the most important international event the country will host since officially becoming a post-apartheid, democratic nation only 15 years ago—signifies further transformation, quantifiable in millions of dollars worth of new infrastructure.
How much new infrastructure?
According to FIFA, contributions from the South African government total (in rands “R”):
Stadium and precinct development: R9.8 billion
Transport: R13.6 billion
Broadcast and telecommunications: R300 million
Event operations: R684 million
Safety and security: R1.3 billion
Event volunteer training: R25 million
Ports of entry infrastructure: R3. 5 billion
Immigration support: R630 million
Communications, hosting, legacy and culture: R504 million
Which translates to
According to consulting firm Grant Thornton, which drew up the financial impact report for South Africa’s World Cup bid committee:
415,400 jobs
R19.3 billion in tax income to the government
The World Cup has receiv mix reviews however: Economy boost or money suck? Increase in jobs or class divider? have you caught adolfeen online yet ? International prestige or embarrassment? Whatever pole you stand on, the fact is that South Africa has the world’s attention, making it a worthy 2009 “Place of the Year.”
Coming Up…
This week we are both excit and proud to share a range of perspectives in celebration of “Place of the Year.” The stories told will express a clean email dichotomy of beauty and tragy, and we hope give you a better, if not more personal, idea of a country that has largely influenc the world’s headlines, history class lessons, books, and films. To get things start I leave you with some handy facts straight from our Atlas of the World gazetteer: