The ugly truth about the beautiful game
Activer le mode zenAlex Duval Smith
"Heralded as a historic turning point for an unlucky continent, Africa's first-ever World Cup - which kicks off in Johannesburg next Friday - increasingly looks like the playground for the rich that its critics decry. As final preparations are made in the host cities to welcome some of the world's most famous, and most well-paid, sportsmen, tangible benefits elsewhere in Africa from the world's biggest sporting event look as elusive as ever.
"Under strict bylaws enforced at the insistence of football's governing body, informal traders - a crucial part of any African economy - have been banned around the 10 stadiums where matches will be played. Even the future of the most important legacy project of the tournament - public bus transport - is in the balance, amid government reticence to stand up to South Africa's powerful minibus-taxi industry. Sepp Blatter, the president of Fifa, which expects to earn more than £3bn from sponsorship and television rights, has insisted that the event is about "giving back to Africa what the continent has given world football" through its players. The organisation points to the 20 "centres for hope" - football academies - that it will build."
Pour citer cette ressource :
"The ugly truth about the beautiful game", La Clé des Langues [en ligne], Lyon, ENS de LYON/DGESCO (ISSN 2107-7029), mars 2010. Consulté le 20/04/2024. URL: https://cle.ens-lyon.fr/anglais/archives/archives-revue-de-presse/the-ugly-truth-about-the-beautiful-game