The World Cup Soccer in Russia is well on its way. For me it started off with great excitement with some of the best players of all time competing against each other. Ronaldo vs Messi for example. CNA prompted and sold out very quickly of the soccer collection books; this creating much excitement for little soccer fans (the cards not them selling out of books) Even though there were numerous upsets, the biggest possibly being Mexico beating Germany; there are still some exciting games to be played.
So what am I doing writing about the soccer world cup, one may ask. Well the topic isn’t so much around the fixtures and results but more about the economic value that may or may not be added to the Russian economy.
Wikipedia claims “Russia is hosting the 2018 Fifa World Cup, at an estimate cost of over $14.2 Billion, it will be the most expensive World Cup in history, surpassing the cost of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil”
After South Africa hosted the world cup in 2010, many experts claimed the success of the event and focused mostly on the effect of forward tourism that the country would benefit from, in an article posted on www.IOL.co.za; Then Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk was quoted on saying:
“The tournament has positioned South Africa as a viable investment market and a spin-off of improved perceptions abroad could have a long-lasting impact, not only on South Africa and its development, but on the continent as a whole.”
How long lasting were the benefits reaped? Well in my mind not very long, which is evident by the lack of foreign investment or the exiting of foreign investment we have seen over the years. Another thought however would be, was our timing of the World Cup bad; in relation to the leading party and political landscape. Would a different leader at that time not have ensured more success.
Fast-forward 8 years to Russia, what are the bets on their success and where will it come from?
Click on the below link to read an interesting article posted on www.ewn.co.za