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African Legacy
In 2001 FIFA made a historic decision to stage the 2010 Football World Cup on the African continent.
Since the very beginning of the process that will ultimately bring the FIFA World CupTM to South Africa in 2010, the emphasis has been on making it an African event, one that will help spread confidence and prosperity across the entire continent.
The announcement in 2004 that the 2010 World Cup would be staged in South Africa was followed by massive celebrations throughout the continent.
As the host of the 2010 FIFA World CupTM, South Africa stands not as a country alone – but rather as a representative of Africa and as part of an African family of nations.
Africa’s time has come – South Africa is ready
From the beginning of the bid process South Africa committed that the 2010 World Cup would be an African World Cup. The bid book proclaimed: “Africa’s time has come, and South Africa is ready”.
In a letter to FIFA President Sepp Blatter contained in South Africa’s Bid Book, released in 2003, President Thabo Mbeki emphasised that the foundation of the country’s bid for the tournament was “a resolve to ensure that the 21st century unfolds as a century of growth and development in Africa”.
“This is not a dream,” Mbeki wrote. “It is a practical policy … the successful hosting of the FIFA World CupTM in Africa will provide a powerful, irresistible momentum to [the] African renaissance.”
Mbeki stressed to Blatter that the tournament would bring new pride, as well as economic growth, to all of Africa.
“We want, on behalf of our continent, to stage an event that will send ripples of confidence from the Cape to Cairo – an event that will create social and economic opportunities throughout Africa.”
“We want to ensure that one day, historians will reflect upon the 2010 World Cup as a moment when Africa stood tall and resolutely turned the tide on centuries of poverty and conflict. We want to show that Africa’s time has come.”
Commitment of the African continent
The commitment to making the 2010 FIFA World CupTM an African event has been strongly supported by the African Union (AU).
In a declaration of the 8th Assembly of the AU heads of state and government, the AU reaffirmed its commitment to make the 2010 a truly African tournament, committing its countries to “full and substantive involvement in the preparation leading to the 2010 World Cup”.
Members of the AU assembly committed themselves “to provide all-round support to the government and people of South Africa in their efforts to organise the 2010 World Cup tournaments successfully and effectively”.
They urged FIFA, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the international sport community and friends of Africa to “provide the necessary support to South Africa in its preparation for the 2010 World Cup”.
The AU also urged its member states to develop national programmes and identify African Union sport ambassadors to help implement the International Year of African Football, “Sports for All” programmes, and the 2010 FIFA World CupTM Legacy Programme.
2007: International Year of African Football
In January 2007 the AU’s assembly of heads of state and government launched 2007 as the International Year of African Football, to reinforce solidarity with South Africa in its hosting of the World Cup, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the CAF – and to celebrate the history of football in Africa.
Through this initiative, the AU seeks to promote sport as an instrument for sustainable economic development and poverty reduction, peace, solidarity and social cohesion.
The African Legacy Programme
Hosting an African World Cup means that South Africa will work with its sister countries in Africa, with FIFA, with the African Union and with Africa’s regional economic communities to make the continent’s first World Cup a truly African one – one from which the continent as a whole benefits.
In November 2006 the African Legacy Programme, a joint responsibility of the LOC and the Government, was devised in response to one of the main inspirations behind South Africa’s preparations for 2010 – that being to leave a legacy for the African continent.
The programme aims to:
- support the realisation of African renaissance objectives, including programmes of the African Union such as Nepad
- ensure maximum and effective African participation at the 2010 World Cup
- strengthen, develop and advance African football
- improve Africa’s global image and combat Afro-pessimism.
As for the legacy of the 2010 World Cup, it will be different from that typically associated with other large sporting events for three main reasons:
- The legacy benefits are not to be confined to the host country.
- The host country itself has made an undertaking to make the continent-wide legacy one of the core focus areas of preparations for the event.
- The African Union is actively involved in ensuring that the 2010 World Cup legacy agenda is owned continent-wide.
Partners
The programme will work closely with four key stakeholders, linking in with a number of their existing initiatives. The four are:
South Africa’s contribution to the African Legacy
The Government is collaborating with African countries on a number of projects which will contribute to the African legacy. These fall in the areas of:
- peace and nation-building
- football support and development
- environment and tourism
- culture and heritage
- communication
- telecommunication
- continental security cooperation
Ke Nako. Celebrate!
