To launch the 2010 World Cup, we’re happy to feature this post by Alan Heather, a compassionate capitalist, over-the-horizon thinker, serial entrepreneur. Oh, he’s also one of the biggest sports supporters around.
And here we go! The World Cup h
as begun…the world is about to discover South Africa.
South Africa is going to discover South Africa. A country that is the testament to human spirit and endeavour. There’s a ways to go yet, but progress is a process.
On Wednesday, South Africans got to ride on their new Bombardier High Speed train. Bombardier, the original Ski-Doo company that now makes jets and train sets, opened 51 miles of high speed trains in J’berg (Jozi if you’re cool or know where Pretoria is) on Wednesday.
One of the 1.5 million people who lined up all day to ride it said, “It’s just like being in America.” Alas, America doesn’t have any high speed trains. Bombardier is one of Canada’s most successful companies. Why not? We were built by a railroad – no reason why we shouldn’t continue the tradition.
It works like this: we dig stuff out of the ground (oil and minerals), we cut stuff down (trees and wheat) and we sell it to the world. Hey, ya gotta play with your strengths. We take the money that we bring in and we, in part, loan it to countries like South Africa to buy our trains and planes, and create high-paying manufacturing jobs in various places in the country. It’s the way it works.
If we didn’t export stuff, we wouldn’t have an economy. Bottom line – we don’t have enough workers (seriously, Canada is a small country when it comes to people) and so we have a permissive immigration policy (some would say too permissive).
Part of the largess that all the “dirt industries” produce is enough funding – again some would say too much, but most not enough – to give out a host of grants, from Canada Council on down to the local Arts Council.
Yes – this story has a point. When you’re tapping your feet …bugger that … dancing in the street singing the FIFA song, think about how it’s written, produced and performed by an Canadian immigrant from Somalia whose talent, ambition and message saw him being supported to grow his career – from the community league to “AA” to the minors and now the Pros. Center Stage at World Cup. So it’s all connected; you gotta have that part figured out by now. Nothing works in isolation and we are all here to take care of each other.
You are going to witness something even bigger than the Vancouver Winter Olympics. You are going to witness a nation rising up and finding itself. Not through war, but through sport. And celebrated by music. You will NOT tire of this song.
The South Africa and the Africa that emerges on July 11th will be, by the end of the World Cup, a changed country and continent. They are going to believe. And then its going to continue to happen in New Delhi in October for the Commonwealth Games and on to Brazil for the World Cup (2014) and the Summer Olympics (2016). No idea what’s gonna emerge from Sochi … not optimistic.
So let’s keep digging up the oil, selling the wheat and financing the trains, because take a look at K’naan’s single “Wavin’ Flag” and see what we get to do with the proceeds…
href=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utl-uOdX12w
So wave your flag, do what you do to build our nation, so we can help build their nation! We’re all in this together and nobody’s getting out alive.
A remixed version of K’naan’s single “Wavin’ Flag” has been chosen as the Coca-Cola anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, to be held in South Africa.[17]
The story goes that at the auditions the “suits started to dance in their seats” and Coke knew it had a winner. Enjoy the ‘Cup….enjoy watching the world change …..right in front of your eyes.
Photo Credits
First game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, South Africa vs Mexico by Clapsus
K’naan by Seher
Feature Photo by Wikimedia Creative Commons
We’ll see about the economics – who benefits and who doesn’t. You all just had the Olympics, so the long term benefits aren’t clear yet.
I wasn’t a believer until the Olympics came to our town. For two weeks we were an overjoyed collection of people sharing in good feelings. I would never have believed had I not experienced it. Yes, everything is connected and the world is becoming smaller and more connected.
Alan is not joking Nathan, the power of people joining together positively is a kick in the right economic direction and will nudge the Country forward.
Yes….Progress is a process – ha ha…Best wishes to all South Africans – enjoy the experience!
I haven’t a clue what South Africa is going to experience from hosting the World Cup. A month of national exuberance, followed by back to struggles? A renaissance?
Man, I wanted to enjoy this post, as a long time soccer fan, but I can’t tell if you’re joking about all the economic stuff or not. Cause if you aren’t joking, I’ll gladly take a red card to flip you over, and take the ball towards a better goal.