According to a report by ESPN Soccernet today, 650,000 tickets remain unsold for this year's World Cup in South Africa.
"The heavy costs of flights and accomodation, security fears and the logistical problems of getting around a vast country with a limited infrastructure with competing teams not based in individual cities have been used as reasons for the mass stay-away." - ESPN Soccernet Staff
It was a big concern of mine when I first heard that South Africa was going to get the World Cup in 2010. It is among one of the most dangerous countries in the world, with Johannesburg continually ranking as one of the top ten most dangerous cities in the world. The country also isn't among the most advanced in the world, teetering on third world status.
This now begs the question of the recent choices for World Cup 2014 and the 2016 Summer Olympics host, Brazil. The Olympics will take place more specifically in Rio de Janeiro, one of THE most dangerous cities in all of the world. Will the same security fears and underdevelopment in Brazil produce the same effect we're starting to see with the 2010 World Cup? We'll just have to wait and see.
A very big concern of mine. I'm hoping they've got some serious contigencies in place for the almost imminent chaos that will ensue.
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