The FIFA World Cup has come to an end and Germany were the worthy winners. There have been many memorable moments, great goals great saves and great skill. Sadly as always some not so memorable moments too in terms of decisions, fouls and player behaviour.
As the world settles back into a normal routine, Brazil is left to clean up after the party. It is now many are predicting that they will find the real damage done during the hosting of the world’s sporting event.
Already many experts as well as key figures in the International Olympic Committee are extremely concerned about their event the 2016 Olympics being host in Rio.
According to Professor Ellis Cashmore a senior lecturer in culture, media and sport at the UK’s Staffordshire University the ramifications of Brazil’s 7-1 defeat spells trouble for the Olympics.
“For Brazil hosting the World Cup has been a disaster.” He said. “I think they will rue the day they ever bid for it. The World Cup was designed as a showcase for Brazil to be joining the world’s elite as a new economic power. Instead it has opened them up to ridicule. For years they have been the custodians of the “Beautiful Game” but that reputation has ended. Now they have two years before the Olympics. There were protests going into this World Cup because people thought it was too expensive and I think the Games will now lose more public support. We will see an escalation in protests.”
IOC President Thomas Bach who met with Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff is putting on a brave face and has said he is pleased with the confidence she has shown in delivering an outstanding Games. One thing Bach is already onto is and investigation into the ticketing process to ensure that the Olympics in Brazil do not suffer the same embarrassing ticketing scandals that the World Cup did.
They say sport and politics do not mix, yet politicians often gamble on sport assisting them in the polls due to the feel good factor when a host nation performs well. Sport can undoubtedly lift the people and instil national pride, and there are many great examples of this none more so than the Sydney Olympics and South Africa hosting and winning the 1995 Rugby World cup. The trouble is if as a nation your athletes under perform the backlash can be huge. Will Brazil’s government now feel the same backlash? We will have to wait and see.
