Major International Events and the Working Poor: Selected Lessons for Social Actors Stemming from the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa

This technical brief explores issues that arose before, during and after the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, with the aim of informing the activities and interactions that organizations working with and for the working poor might engage in around major sporting events. Such major international events are likely to be a growing part of future city life worldwide as cities vie for “world class” status.

The paper does not provide a comprehensive review of the impact of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but rather uses material gathered by WIEGO’s Urban Policies Programme and supplemented with insights from individuals who had direct exposure to processes around this event to explain the processes inherent in staging such an event and to highlight issues that could require action and advocacy. This is intended as an organizational tool for planning and strategy development for those working with vulnerable groups in cities where such events are intended.

This brief is part of the WIEGO Publication Series.

View list of all WIEGO briefs.