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The Legacy of the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa
https://www.sportanddev.org/latest/news/legacy-fifa-world-cup-2010-south-africa
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The first FIFA World Cup to be held on African soil will kick off in South Africa just one month from now, so what better time is there to take a look at what the legacy of the tournament will be.

It is reported that the World Cup will cost a staggering $3.5billion. This includes the building of new stadiums and vast upgrades to the country’s transport infrastructure.

So why do countries battle to host such expensive events?
Firstly, the socio-economic benefits could be huge. According to consultancy firm Grant Thornton, the World Cup will inject around $2.8 billion into South Africa's economy, generating an estimated $1.7 billion in direct spending and create an estimated 159,000 new jobs.

The country's tourism industry will see unprecedented growth from an estimated 3 million visitors and in the long-term can significantly improve the perception of South Africa as a viable investment opportunity.

Secondly, billions of people will be looking to South Africa in an international audience unrivalled by any other sporting event.

Sport and Development initiatives in Southern Africa have flourished under this spotlight and although this article cannot provide an exhaustive list, it provides an overview of the initiatives already posted on the sportanddev Platform and that are harnessing the power of the World Cup to bring sustainable development to the region:

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