2010: Great expectations

As South Africans slowly recover from the euphoria of winning the bid for the FIFA World Cup in 2010, the real work of organising the event must begin.

This involves detailed and concrete planning. Much of that, of course, has already been done in those domains which FIFA, the world controlling body for football, inspected during the bidding process.

The organisers of the World Cup and the various government ministries will know exactly what is required, and have set themselves deadlines by which stadia and appropriate infrastructure must be in place.

Time will tell whether the World Cup will benefit all South Africans. Projected figures for job creation and foreign investment will help alleviate some unemployment. Chances are that the World Cup will produce sustained employment opportunities beyond 2010, and that the state will raise extra revenue. Improved infrastructure, especially in transport, will provide tangible benefits for many South Africans.

Encouraging though all this is, care is needed to ensure that the benefits of 2010 will not be exclusive to sponsors, the hospitality industry, government and FIFA.

As did the rugby and football triumphs in 1995 and 1996, the successful World Cup bid has united South Africans across ethnic, provincial and economic lines. The 2010 World Cup and what precedes it will reflect on us as a nation. It is essential, therefore, that the event should not create division.

For example, moments after FIFA president Sepp Blatter announced South Africa’s name as the successful bidder, Cape Town politicians announced that they would lobby that at least one of the four high-profile matches–the opening game, semi-finals and final–should take place in their city. (As things stand, three of these will be played in Johannesburg.)

While rivalries and competition ought to be secondary, care must be taken not to favour or alienate any region, group or community of South Africa.

The Catholic Church itself has a role to play in 2010, too. As in every World Cup, many of the competing teams and their supporters will come from countries where the Catholic Church is strongly represented. South American fans especially have a reputation for following their teams around the world. Many players themselves are devoutly Catholic, if the pre-match and post-goal blessing ritual is an indicator of devotion.

The Church must plan for a great influx of Catholics with varying pastoral needs. Local Catholic life may be disrupted, and extra Masses or adapted Mass times may be necessary.

As Japan did in 2002, the South African Church may publish Mass schedules and maps of where to find Catholic churches for travelling fans. Local authorities, airport and stadium managers and the football authorities would need to be approached for logistical assistance in disseminating this information.

Some dioceses may see benefit in holding special Masses for travelling fans in their languages, some of which–Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German and French–can already be safely predicted.

The Church may find other innovative ways of pastoral outreach; perhaps in consoling fans of defeated teams.

The 2010 World Cup presents all of South Africa, including the Church, with great opportunities. Sound preparations must begin now.