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Abstract
In this essay we compare the rationales for hosting the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City with the FIFA World Cup 2010 to be held in South Africa. We draw on in-depth interviews, archival materials and a range of press coverage. We argue that three broad overlapping themes are apparent in both case studies. These are the developmental rhetoric both hosts employ in the justification of holding the events in their respective countries. Mexico and South Africa convey a leadership role that stretches across the South American and African continent respectively. Finally, both countries argue that the legacy the respective tournament leaves is important.
Notes
1 Gutmann, Citation The Games Must go on , 227–9.
2 See CitationBrasher, Mexico 1968; and CitationCoote, Olympic Report 1968.
3 See CitationBass, Not the Triumph; and CitationHartmann, Race, Culture.
4 See CitationGilabert, El hábito de la utopía; and CitationScherer García and Monsivaís, Parte de guerra.
5 CitationRodrí Citationguez Kuri, ‘El Otro 68’ and ‘Hacia México 68’.
6 CitationArbena, ‘Hosting the Summer Olympic Games’.
7 , Refried Elvis; ‘Showcasing the “Land of Tomorrow”’; ‘The Harmonizing Nation’.
8 See CitationBrewster and Brewster, ‘Mexico 1968’.
9 Frederick J. Ruegsegger Papers, 1928–1978, Folder 22: Sept.–Dec. 1967. See drafts of speech made by Brundage at his birthday party. Avery Brundage Collection, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL.
10 Cited in CitationRodríguez Kuri, ‘El Otro 68’.
11 Archivo General de la Nación (AGN) Mexico City. Archive of the Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (COJO), caja 403, Charlas Radiofónicas, Nos 1–104.
12 AGN, COJO, Caja 142, 39-200. See details of interview between Ramírez Vázquez and Julio A. Millan of La Prensa Gráfica of El Salvador.
13 Ramírez Vázquez, personal interview, April 26, 2001.
14 See [N.A], “Decisión de los 32,’ Excélsior, 27 February 1968 and Editorial, ‘El Debate Mundial en Torno a la Olimpiada,’ El Nacional, 29 February 1968, covering the vote on 26 February 1968 by the African Supreme Sports Council to boycott the Games.
15 Ramírez Vázquez, personal interview, April 26, 2001.
16 See examples in newspapers: ‘Foro de Excélsior’. Excélsior, December 22, 1966; and ‘Principio unificador’. Excélsior, February 25, 1968.
17 Ramírez Vázquez, personal interview, April 26, 2001.
18 National Congress Library, Mexico City. Diario de los Debates, October 8, 1965, 5–6.
19 Armando Estrada Núñez, ‘Campaña Nacional Para Crear una “Conciencia Olímpica”’, Excélsior, August 29, 1965.
20 Ramírez Vázquez, personal interview, April 26, 2001.
21 For a discussion of FIFA, CAF and South Africa see , Africa, Football and FIFA and ‘Africa and the World Cup’.
22 Letter, SAFA to FIFA, ‘Bid for World Cup 2006’, September 16, 1994. South Africa Correspondence, FIFA Archives, Zurich, Switzerland.
23 Letter, FIFA to SAFA, ‘Bid for the FIFA World Cup – 2006’, September 19, 2004. South Africa Correspondence, FIFA Archives, Zurich, Switzerland.
24 Letter, SAFA to FIFA, ‘Bidding procedure for the World Cup’, September 19, 1965. South Africa Correspondence, FIFA Archives, Zurich, Switzerland.
25 CitationGriffiths, Bidding for Glory.
26 CitationFIFA, Inspection Group Report, 8.
27 ‘Congratulations to Ourselves’. Sowetan, May 14, 2004.
28 CitationAlegi, ‘“Feel the Pull in Your Soul”’, 4.
29 CitationAlegi, ‘“Feel the Pull in Your Soul”’
30 CitationCornelissen, ‘“It's Africa's Turn!”’.
31 CitationCornelissen and Swart, ‘The 2010 Football World Cup’.
32 CitationCornelissen, ‘Crafting Legacies’.
33 Cornelissen, Crafting Legacies, 241.
34 CitationSAFA, Africa's Stage, 10.
35 CitationSAFA, Africa's Call, 3.
36 CitationSAFA, Africa's Stage, 3.
37 CitationSAFA, Africa's Stage, 10, 16.
38 CitationSAFA, Africa's Call, 7.
39 SAFA, Africa's Stage, 2.
40 SAFA, Africa's Stage, 1, 6–7.
41 SAFA, Africa's Call, 4.
42 SAFA, Africa's Stage, 6.
43 SAFA, Africa's Stage
44 SAFA, Africa's Stage, 12.
45 SAFA, Africa's Stage, 8.
46 SAFA, Africa's Stage
47 SAFA, Africa's Stage, 11.
48 SAFA, Africa's Stage, 7.
49 ‘Cup Bid Win Perfect 10-year Birthday Gift’. Sowetan, May 14, 2004.
50 ‘Why we Deserve the 2010 Games’. Sowetan, May 14, 2004.
51 Ibid.
52 ‘SA's Journey of Hope Ends in Victory’. Sowetan, May 14, 2004.
53 ‘SA's History Tipped Scale’. Sowetan, May 14, 2004.
54 ‘Congratulations to Ourselves’. Sowetan, May 14, 2004.
55 ‘Beckenbauer Sorry for Negative Cup Comments’. Pretoria News, October 4, 2006.
56 J. Craig, ‘The Soccer World Cup Needs You’. Cape Argus, September 26, 2006.
57 ‘Only God Can Take the World Cup Away From South Africa’. Cape Times, June 20, 2007.
58 ‘No Doubts About 2010: Blatter’. Sowetan, May 2, 2007.
59 Mbkei, ‘State of the Nation Address’.
60 ‘FIFA Head Pursues “Plan B”’. Daily News, July 10, 2008.
61 ‘A Long-lasting African Legacy is Goal of World Cup’. Sunday Times, Countdown 2010, August 26, 2007.
62 ‘Stars in Bwalya's eyes’. Sowetan, February 28, 2007a.
63 ‘Africa roars with pride’. Sowetan, November 23, 2007b.
64 ‘Changing the Perceptions’. Sunday Times, Countdown 2010, November 25, 2007.
65 R. Moholoa, ‘Out of Ashes’. Sowetan, May 9, 2007; and ‘Stars in Bwalya's Eyes’. Sowetan, February 28, 2007.
66 R. Moholoa, ‘Swazis Want to Score’. Sowetan, April 25, 2007.
67 ‘Stars in Bwalya's Eyes’. Sowetan, February 28, 2007.
68 ‘No Doubts About 2010: Blatter’. Sowetan, May 2, 2007.