South Africa will be the centre of the world’s attention as the country hosts the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ for the first time in Africa. This comes with numerous challenges and demands on the country’s resources.
As it has been observed in past events of this magnitude, some activities related to hosting of the FIFA World Cup will have a negative impact on the environment. The Green Goal programme is thus aimed at identifying potential impacts, avoid or minimise the impacts where possible and compensate or offset unavoidable adverse impacts
Major developments such as stadiums and transport systems can have huge negative impacts on the environment if no mitigation measures are introduced during the planning and implementation phases of projects.
Other environmental impacts associated with major football events results from activities of football fans can manifest themselves in following ways:
- Increase in the use of water;
- Increase in the use of energy (liquid fuel and electricity);
- Increased production of waste; and
- Increase in pollution – air, water and land.
It is essential that these and other related impacts on the environment and society in general are minimised as far as possible in case these impacts can leave a lasting negative legacy to hosting countries. The awarding of rights to South Africa to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ comes with that responsibility for South Africa to ensure that the adverse impacts are avoided and or minimised where possible.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee of South Africa (OC), has in its preparation to host the 2010 World Cup, committed itself to adhere to sustainability principles and to promote environmental responsibility in organizing and hosting the 2010 tournament. It is from this commitment that the OC developed an environmental programme called Green Goal 2010 that encapsulates greening and raising awareness on environmental issues pertinent to hosting the 2010 event.
