Question & Answers
African Mayors ask about LED
2010 Soccer World Cup and LED
Hosting next year's Soccer World Cup, are there experiences of LED strategies focused on international events of short duration and highly mediatised? Which experiences to be inspired from and in which country?”
Amos Masondo (South Africa)
Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg
Building LED with Sports
Dear Executive Mayor Amos,There are no doubts next year’s Soccer World Cup will benefit SA and its inhabitants. It is always a huge challenge to host those events, although it usually boosts the economy.There are many publications (here are few links below) mostly inspired by the Olympics and WC in many sports.Hosting a Soccer World Cup is somehow different from the Olympics. In this case, games will be played in different cities, and so the “action” is more widespread. Thus, each “stadium” can be used to enhance LED, having a different approach depending on the location, local economic situation, tourist accommodations and so on.As Johannesburg is the Capital, there will be massive arrivals at the airport. As a consequence, it can be built around two aspects:“Hub” tourism “Game” tourismIn the first case, it’s all about delivering the best services so that people can be transferred from the capital to other cities very smoothly (overnight accommodation, transport information, restaurants and food to go when people don’t stay overnight, transport security between bus stations, souvenirs, access to banks - the Internet – telephones, translators etc.) Then, regarding local tourism, it includes the issues mentioned above, and also can be developed actions to promote local attractions (e.g. the “Where to go Guide” to have a meal, have a drink, best sightseeing, shopping malls, food markets etc.), build around local culture and the city’s history. A game is 90 minutes plus half time and transportation, it means that people will have plenty of time to enjoy their stay and explore the town. Each suburb/community can be promoted by local organizations to help local businesses to be part of the event.Those are just few general ideas and thoughts. The website is full of resources and there is an entire topic regarding Tourism and LED.Here are few interesting links:
Best Regards,
Local real estate and hospitality
One very important spinoff is to encourage local people to go into real estate and providing hospitality services.There is a lot of potential for providing bed and breakfasts and the city could encourage those interested to register and have their properties inspected and to be given basic training in hospitality services. This is a good way of making people maximise on the assets that they have.I think related to this is the issue of providing information to the coming visitors and the city can do a lot as already suggested.
2010 world Soccer World Cup and LED
I think the hosting of the world cup will bring enormous opportunities to the South Africa. Apart from tourism and the inflow of different currencies into the economy, it gives an opportunity for the country to showcase its natural resources and local products to the international market. The soccer fiesta is taking place in various locations which is an opportunity for all the places to showcase what they have for the international market.
Next cup Nigeria!
Thank you for your comment, Dangaladima! I hope for you that the next Soccer World Cup will come to Nigeria!
An excellent resource spot on on the Mayor's question
Dear all, just came across this excellent resource that focuses extensively on the questions discussed here. Uploaded it on the LEDNA platform here : http://www.ledna.org/en/links/african-football-world-cup-last-maximing-impact-2010-world-cup
Some Post-World Cup assessment
We had this discussion in the period mostly pre-World cup. And exercise in deciphering the future is not always easy except if one is an effective seer, perhaps. Here is an interesting article on post-world cup exploration. The author explores the impact of the world cup in the South African economic capital city of Johannesburg. See Benefits and Burdens in Post-World Cup South Africa .
Yes, I think our aim should
Yes, I think our aim should be to focus on local culture and history of the city.
Post new comment