In 2010,
South Africa had the great privilege of hosting the FIFA world cup on its
culturally rich and diverse soil. It was a big moment in our history where the
world was made aware of our existence and that we didn't just live raising the
big five and squatting in mud huts [well, most of us anyway].
So many
good things and the obviously bad corruption-inspired things moulded and shaped
our roads and built for us new buildings and other things we could use far
beyond the days of the 2010 world cup. Sure there are still some service
failures were paying for and other debts for projects not quite followed
through, but one can’t deny that our country gained some golden gems because of
the worldwide event.
Tourism was
revamped and our land was made desirable to the world as more than just a
desert with dying breeds of animals you aren't likely to come across elsewhere.
We also
can’t ignore that government was put under fire to deliver some concrete
results in order to cater for the world and ensure the money they were
investing wasn't just transactions on paper, but also actual buildings and
transportation improvements.
Of course
to this day you could probably find many still asking what the big event did
for them, or even what benefit the country ‘really’ received. But you can’t
satisfy everybody I guess.
In all
honesty though, I would have argued the same if it hadn't been for the recent
news rolling out from Russia, with regards to the 2014 Winter Olympics.
One could
argue how the two could be compared and the answer would be surprising. Sports
and games aside, I find that the two have much to share when looking at country
dynamics and the ever-so-popular ‘service delivery’ side of things.
Granted
South Africa failed to deliver many things promised from the 2010 world cup,
you can’t help but sigh in relief as you watch the news bleeding out of Russia
as they prove to be failing ten times worse than anyone’s expectation.
I reckon we
blame their President, Mr. Putin, for enforcing his narrow-minded beliefs and
ideals on the country in his laws on banning the LGBT community from daring to
exist within their borders. Why, you may ask?
Well I
don’t know about you, but in my experience, members from the colourful community
always seem to make up a large group of the creators of society, with their
brilliant talents in architecture and interior design and let’s not forget
their amazing hospitality that always tends to be ingrained in their nature.
So I have to ask if maybe that is where their problems began, when they decided
to oust those individuals which in turn destroyed their ability to deliver any
form of good service delivery.
Just
imagine the brilliant hotels built and luscious rooms decorated had they kept such
great minds around them?
But alas,
they stuck by their closed minded rigidness and this is what they were left
with:
Karma sure
is something hey!
But we as
South Africans should actually thank them. Not only does it look like our third-world
ways are heavily advanced, but it also enhances the image of our overall
capability. We did after all only spend somewhere along the lines of a recorded
R 27 billion, where as Russia seems to have broken some record with their
expense of something around $51 Billion.
In that
sense, you have to hand it to our government officials. They may be robbing us
in broad daylight, but at least they gave us a few, albeit questionable,
contributions such as stadium upgrades and road improvements…
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