Host your games of joy and folly
But as an onlooker I must feel so sorry.
With expensive stadiums built to impress
Children look upward their faces distressed.
These new stadiums may well gleam and shine
But poverty reigns, and your people are crying.
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Exactly what I think as I watch these games play out! Why spend all that money on a *sport* when there’s so much poverty? It makes me sick. I only hope they’re making their money back from merchandising and such.
Nice poem!
I can see the justification for taking a major sporting event to somewhere like South Africa – it can inspire and bring hope. What concerns me is the lasting legacy. Are the impressive stadiums really what impoverished people need? I’m sure access to clean water, medication and food on the table ranks above increased tourism for one month.
Thank you for reading and commenting – I’ve been enjoying your blog
hope and pray that they will spend a substantial proportion of the revenue earned for the poor people of their country.
It was remarked during one of the matches that there is a strange burning smell near some of the World Cup stadiums. This, as it turns out, is caused by the locals, who cannot afford basic necessities let alone a match ticket, burning rubbish to keep warm in the nearby slums. This is a perfect example of just how depressing the situation there really is.