Mega-Events as a Response to Poverty Reduction: The 2010 FIFA World Cup and its Urban Development Implications (Pillay and Bass-2008). Click here to read article.
“The 2010 FIFA World Cup presented South Africa with a unique opportunity to fast-track the urban development impetus.”
The article argues that it is critically important that cities modulate and revise a city’s pre-existing set of development strategies to align with the development imperatives outlined in the bid book as these “…give renewed expression to a holistically grounded set of urban renewal and regeneration plans.”
The article provides very applicable and unique elements to the topics of bid losers, pre-existent development plans, the importance of consensus and communication among key players (Local Organizing Committee, regional authorities, private sector players, construction industries, engineers). The article illustrates the significance of a long term vision in creating a positive legacy and avoiding the centralization of any benefits. Further the piece broadens analysis to all past mega-events (mentioning Sydney, Barcelona, Atlanta, Lillehammer, Beijing, Montreal). Most importantly, the article cites Cape Town’s failed bid in reference to South Africa World Cup prep process and indicates that there were “lessons learned” from the failed bid.
In the case of South Africa’s World Cup bid, “a very comprehensive and well-grounded bid plan thus emerged which, in essence, laid the foundation for a truly meaningful development agenda.” The authors stress that a blueprint and bid must be WELL-GROUNDED and comprehensive. “The 2010 FIFA World Cup presented South Africa with a unique opportunity to fast-track the urban development impetus.” The article indicates that it is critically important that cities modulate and revise the pre-existing set of development strategies to align with the development imperatives outlined in the bid book as these “…give renewed expression to a holistically grounded set of urban renewal and regeneration plans.” South Africa presented the complexity of multi-city cooperation and competition and the article goes in depth about this challenge.
BID: Bring In Development 