Mega-Sporting events and the politics of nation-building: a comparison of the 2010 South African and the 2014 and 2016 Brazilian cases

2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-21
Author(s):  
Hoyoon Jung

It is widely acknowledged that mega-sporting events play a powerful role in nationbuilding in their host countries, and many scholars have empirically demonstrated this relationship. The 2010 South Africa FIFA World Cup provided a potent vehicle through which national unity and integration could be successfully promoted. However, more recent Brazilian experiences in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympics proved that an identical outcome is not always the case. This study examines how the hosting of mega-sporting events in South Africa and Brazil yielded contrasting effects on nation-building. Events in these two countries are compared to explore how two analogous societies that hosted mega-sporting events at a similar time ultimately experienced completely different outcomes. It is argued that differences in the cost of these mega-events, different economic circumstances and, differences in the characteristics and impact of social movements in the two countries were major contributing factors to the divergence.

The present study aimed to analyze the sustainable strategies in the areas of energy and garbage and waste management adopted by the host countries of the FIFA World Cups in 2006 (Germany), 2010 (South Africa), and 2014 (Brazil). Therefore, in addition to a documentary analysis of the sustainability projects (also known as Green Goal), a search was performed for scientific studies that approached the topic of sustainable development/sustainability in mega sporting events. To perform the searches at Scholar Google and Scielo, the keywords “sustentabilidade”, “Copa do Mundo”, “Copa do Mundo de Futebol”, “Green Goal” “sustainability”, e “FIFA World Cup” was used. As a result, it was found that each host country had at least two measures in common with the others for the management of waste, with a difference only in the form of application. Also, an important common project for all countries was the use of recyclable cups, which incidentally, was the main measure adopted by Germany during the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and repeated in the subsequent cups. The other measures adopted by each host country, despite having similarities, differed in plan and execution.


2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. 603-622
Author(s):  
Christiana Schallhorn

The host countries for mega-sporting events aim to become more visible and to be perceived positively by the global audience because of the media coverage around the event. The media’s influence on people’s perceptions is expected to be particularly high if the audience has no direct experience and little prior knowledge of the hosting nation, and thus depends on the media for information. Using a panel survey ( N = 76) with three rounds of data collection, this longitudinal study explores how television viewers’ perceptions of Brazil changed from before the 2014 FIFA World Cup to after this event, and after the 2016 Olympic Games hosted by Brazil. The results indicate that perceptions about topics related to Brazil (e.g. crime risk, standard of living, economic situation) have generally become more negative over time. Further, although associations with Brazil were very positive before the FIFA World Cup, respondents tended to associate more negative ideas with Brazil over time. Surprisingly, the intention to travel to Brazil increased after Brazil hosted the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics. Broader international significance of the findings for both host countries of mega-sporting events and broadcasting countries are discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 156
Author(s):  
Khalifa Al-Dosari

Mega sporting events have been hailed for resulting in economic growth, evident in high investments, growth of businesses, and development of infrastructure because of the increased number of investors, tourists, and fans visiting host countries during such events. Even though host countries may experience non-economic benefits, such as a good legacy from the mega sporting events, there are also significant economic benefits realised by host countries. The study intended to assess the anticipated economic impacts of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar as a developing country. The study engaged in descriptive research design. Primary data was collected from research participants comprising Hotel Managers, Sports managers, Economic consultants, Project managers in the construction industry, and bank managers. Further, the study selected a sample of 50 respondents in data analysis. The researcher adopted inferential statistics to analyse data from the respondents, who were all from Qatar. The results of the study indicated that 2022 FIFA World Cup is likely to raise the employment level, especially for construction workers involved in the construction of stadia, growth of income level expansion of business, especially in hospitality industries are likely to attract many foreign visitors. Also, findings suggest that Qatar will experience an increase in the price of commodities and development of infrastructure. The findings depicted that the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will result in increased operating costs in the short-term and the long-term. Besides, the study found out that the event will lead to a high level of capital cost and a state of resource deficiency. The study concluded that the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar as a developing country would have significant economic effects on the country. The researcher recommended that Qatar should focus on investing in projects that will help boost income levels for employees, boost business growth, attract more foreigners as tourist and fans, reduce the prices of goods and services as well as accommodation and activities that will reduce the long-term.


2020 ◽  
pp. 93-123
Author(s):  
Geoff Harkness

Mega sporting events, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup, align perfectly with Qatar’s economic agenda, which uses athletics as part of its nation-building ambitions. This chapter journeys through several sports worlds in Doha, where low-wage migrant workers are bused to soccer stadiums for televised games, so that it appears that the stands are filled with ardent fans, and where Kenyan runners are granted temporary Qatari citizenship in order to compete as natives. The government has spent a fortune to erect state-of-the-art facilities, host international sporting events, and send athletes to compete globally. Sports are also a primary platform for modern traditionalism’s motif of female empowerment. Despite these efforts, however, rates of women’s athletic participation remain in the single digits. Interviews with players, coaches, and spectators reveal the social processes underlying these dynamics. Finally, the chapter demonstrates how sportswomen overcome barriers to athletic participation by dynamically engaging with modern traditionalism, aligning their sports-related activities with empowerment, Islam, and family values.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob Kazungu ◽  
Marlise Richter ◽  
Stanley Luchters ◽  
Matthew Chersich ◽  
Matthew Quaife

2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
R, George

The 2010 FIFA World Cup™ tournament provided an opportunity for South Africa to showcase its unique beauty and attractiveness as an international tourist destination. However, the trepidation over crime emerged as a key concern in relation to South Africa’s ability to host a successful 2010 FIFA World Cup™. This study investigates 398 foreign tourists’ perceptions of South Africa during the soccer tournament, especially regarding crime and safety concerns. A questionnaire was distributed among tourists in Cape Town and Johannesburg; two of the major host cities and semi-final and final venues respectively. Findings reveal that most respondents had positive perceptions of South Africa as a holiday destination. Two-thirds of those interviewed agreed that South Africa was a safe place to visit. Over half of respondents were not concerned about their safety while in South Africa. Several individual factors were found to affect their crime-risk perceptions of which the most significant was nationality. Most notably, soccer tourists from the Middle East felt the safest, whereas those from South America and Western Europe felt the least safe. Crime-safety issues did not appear to affect respondents’ future travel intentions, as the majority of study respondents said crime-safety concerns would not deter them from returning to South Africa. The findings of the study are useful to practitioners and contribute to the development of staging major sporting events in Africa, specifically, and globally more generally, in the future.


Obiter ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andre M Louw

This is the second part of an article published in three parts that critically examines the commercial monopolisation of sporting mega-events such as the FIFA football World Cup, and of commercial rights protection of such events. The first part of this article contained mainly a descriptive overview of ambush marketing and of the legal and other measures available to event organisers and sponsors to combat such practices. This second (and the forthcoming third) part of the article will continue to critically evaluate the legitimacy of a prime source of protection for these commercial actors, namely anti-ambush marketing legislation, with a specific focus on the SouthAfrican jurisdiction and the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.


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