Residents’ perceptions of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup: a case study of a suburb in Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract

Sport tourism and mega-events have grown rapidly in size in recent years. Governments have taken a keen interest in bidding for the hosting of mega-events, as part of their overall development plan. This research examines ways in which the residents of a suburb in Pretoria perceived the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. By identifying the different perceptions within the community, it was possible to improve the understanding of both the tangible, and the intangible, impacts of mega-events, and how they affected the quality of life of the local residents at the time of the study. The aim of the study was to investigate the levels of awareness, as well as the perceptions, and the attitudes, of residents living in a particular suburb that was situated within a 2km radius of the stadium, using a stratified random sampling method. In response to the administration of a questionnaire, 326 successfully completed questionnaires were obtained. The findings revealed that the residents had high levels of awareness regarding the event. The most outstanding perceived benefits of the event were that it provided the community with entertainment, as well as increasing the spending on public facilities, boosting the sense of community pride, and showcasing the area in a positive light, whereas the most negative overall impacts appeared to be the minimal direct economic benefits of the event accruing to the community involved. The residents’ major concerns included, but were not limited to, inappropriate behaviour, and an increase in the crime rate, as well as in the amount of traffic congestion. Excessive noise was also a key concern. The study encourages the government, and the event organisers, to increase active community involvement, and participation, in the planning, and in the management, of the event, so as to address, and to help alleviate, concerns regarding the perceived negative impacts of the event, as well as of future events.