2010 was the year of the Soccer World cup and with years of built up anticipation; this month-long event has seen many South African suffering from “withdrawal” from the glitz and glamour of this worldwide celebration.
Roger Adams, Manager of Sports Administration at Rhodes University will present a lecture entitled “Of Vuvuzelas, Varsity Cup, and Viv's reservations about Intervarsity and some lessons from the World Cup,” which will be held on 17 August.
During the lecture Adams will interpret various appraisals of the World Cup which abounded in the media and in various formal and informal public discussions and consider how some theoretical notions about sport as a social institution may have a bearing on these appraisals.
Using anecdotal experiences from local, national and international mega-sport events, comparisons to such events will be drawn in terms of its operational dynamic and the impact these events seemed to have had on the societies which hosted it.
Based on his 20 years working experience in the area of sports administration, Adams will reflect on the implications that this event may have had for soccer development in general. The discussion will also look at possible lessons that the World Cup experience held for sports in general, including sport at a university level.
He will investigate the issues that arise within sports at universities, and how it differs among various institutions and how mega-events like the world cup have resonance for disparate approaches to sport.
Inherent in his analysis is the consideration of how the ethos of professional sport impacts on the amateur game. He will also explore the aspects of sport that served as a genuine process of nation building and human development beyond what a once-off mega-event can offer.
No one can argue after the success of 2010 the ability sport has had in overriding boundaries of culture, race and economic divides. One hopes that the World Cup highlighted that the country can overcome these boundaries and you are stronger in a team than on your own. The World Cup has taught those watching a lifelong lesson.