Besides for us being a football-crazy nation, we were excited to host the world cup event because of the promise of long-term revenue that the publicity around the event would generate. It's a pity that revenue derived as a result of the World Cup is so difficult to measure - I'd be interested to know how much effect the event had, and continues to have, on our economy.
Ali
I think, a comparison of tourist figures and foreign investment in pre-WC and post-WC era may help. But I have to admit that I’m quite pessimistic on WC impact since I think that ZA had already been well-known as a tourist destination and investment place.
Furthermore, if other media reported on ZA in the same rude style the German media did, the image could be hampened. To follow their tenor, you South Africans are incompetent gangster and killer. *lol* Remember the proposal for German soccer player to wear bulletproof vest outside of the hotel area. :D
Ali
Oh, I forgot a point: You South Africans are so uncivilized since you use Vuvuzelas! :D (That’s the tenor in the German blogosphere.)
The headword reminds me of this nice coverage: http://vimeo.com/8798639. :)
Paul
Post authorAli, that’s so weird – (as you know) we have plenty of Germans living in SA. I wonder if it’s not perhaps the SA Germans who’ve spread the “stories” back home to dissuade the rest of Germany from moving here. :)
The German blogosphere must be a funny place. Or, no, maybe “funny” isn’t the right word. Ali, of all the Germans whom I’ve met, you’re the one with the most sense of humour – I can only imagine the serious demeanour with which our vuvuzelas have been discussed. :D
Oh, and on the foreign investment thing – I’m not sure, you see I don’t think one can just measure the before and after figures. There are so many factors that could effect tourism and investment – both domestic and foreign… so I’d argue that we may never actually know.
Ali
The German angst isn’t only a stereotype. The current events in Japan and the German reaction on these show really good what kind of scaredy cats (<- lol) Germans are. The Germans freaked completely out.
We discuss possible impacts of a meltdown and forget all the other disasters (earthquakes, tsunami). I assessed the same behavior prior to the World Cup. Firstly, we discussed that these African will never be able to finish their stadiums in time. Later, we discussed with more passion the dangers of these freaky wild black continent. Beside the funny bullet proof vest story mentioned above, we heard about the incident on Angolan soil and seriously asked: Will the WC in South Africa be safe? :D
The vuvuzelas are widely hated in Germany! In a discussion round, I'm usually the only person who praises it as a typical South African thing. The normal tenor was: OMFG, these @!?* South Africans disrespect the cultures of their football guests (football chants) and they use a very young stupid behavior. Vuvuzelas don't have a long tradition so there's no right to use it. They deflect our football stars by using that noisy things, all football broadcasts sound like a swarm of bees: I WILL NOT WATCH ANY OTHER GAME.
I'm quite sure that the most Germans continued watching the WC. :D
Thanks for the praise, Paul. But don't forget: I'm a black German grown up in East Germany. Humour is my only weapon! *g*
Ali
Oh, by the way, Paul: I’m about to apply for a job in CPT. Yeah, right: There will maybe be yet another German in the Moederstad! :D
Paul
Post authorHeh – that’s so funny Ali. The amusing thing is that we observed many Germans in SA wielding their own vuvuzelas. :) I’d like to believe that it’s just a bunch of loud-mouth naysayers that got the rest of the people all fired up.
Yeah yeah, being black & East German must make somewhat of a difference then. Good luck with that job in CPT, I’m sure we’ll be privileged to have you in the Moederstad. :)
Ali
Thanks, Paul. Press me the thumbs (German equivalent to Keep your fingers crossed for me. :D)