Who is going to host the 2010 World Cup?

[cjbuchanan]

Okay, soccer (ie football) is not so popular around these parts (ie America), but it is the most popular sport on the planet. Every four years, they have a World Cup that billions of people watch. It is, arguably, the biggest event in the world.

Anyway, tomorrow the governing board of soccer (ie football) will vote on who gets to host the 2010 World Cup. The finalists are: Egypt, Libya, Morocco and South Africa (Tunisia dropped out earlier today). Most people feel that it is really a contest between South Africa and Morocco.

Just some history, South Africa lost the 2006 bid to Germany by 1 vote. Morocco lost the 1994 bid to the US by 1 vote. Both of these results were very surprising.

So who do you think will get the nod?

Here are a couple stories if you want to read more about this:

http://www.africana.com/articles/daily/bw20040514worldcup.asp

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/overseas/other/story_get.dor?STORY_NAME=soccer/04/05/14/SOCCER_World_Cup_Nightlead.html&TEAMHD=foreign

[madrchsod]

1. south africa

only country that could provide the security that the world cup will need in the next few years...thanks george

[cjbuchanan]

3. I did read an interesting take on this

It suggested that if Morocco got the bid, it would help the economy and that will help decrease the influence of Osama and other fundamentalists in North Africa. Interesting take on it.

[cjbuchanan]

2. Anyone going to get up or stay awake and watch it live?

It will be on at 6am East Coast and 3am West Coast.

[cjbuchanan]

4. A little more information

In case any of you want to know more, here is an article about the nations presentations.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/3713995.stm

[mouse7]

5. What is the crime rate in Johannesburg compared to US cities?

The last I heard, people were complaining a lot because of all the crime in Johannesburg, but almost as a footnote, it was stated that the crime rate there would be about the national average for urban areas in the US.

[cjbuchanan]

6. This is the most up-to-date information I can find

from: http://www.iss.co.za/PUBS/CRIMEINDEX/01VOL5NO1/World.html

Can anyone find US numbers for these?

Total number of offenses recorded per 100 000
Canada - 8453
Australia - 7001
France - 6095
Hungry - 5926
Zimbabwe - 5180
South Africa - 5065

Number of murders recorded per 100 000
South Africa - 59
Colombia - 56
Namibia - 45
Jamaica - 37
Brazil - 21
Russia - 20

Number of robberies and violent thefts per 100,000
South Africa - 208
Swaziland - 201
Spain - 170
France - 144
Australia - 128

Number of serious assaults recorded per 100,000
Australia - 714
South Africa - 550
Jamaica - 511
Swaziland - 474
Namibia - 466