South Africa's 2010 FIFA Football World Cup will earn its organisers more than any previous such event. It has already secured R24 billion in sponsorships and broadcasting rights - R10 billion more than the Germany World Cup netted - and it is expecting to close still more deals.
But, if you want to work on the project, or its "trial run", the 2009 Confederations Cup, they won't actually pay you. ITWeb's "Fifa wants you" Christelle du Toit reported recently that the local organising committee is hunting for 5 000 suckers who'll work for free next year.
She writes: "The event's organisers say volunteers are an integral part of mega sports events the world over, be it the Olympics, or the World Cup. They say a volunteer programme is the only platform that provides an opportunity for mass participation in organising and delivering such an event."
Well, other than a paid workforce, you sneaky sods.
If South Africans submit to this naked exploitation, they'll have only themselves to blame. They should demand to get paid a decent wage for a decent day's work.
Ivo Vegter is a freelance journalist and columnist.
One might have hoped that, in return for the money and effort we sink into sports stadiums we don't need, transport systems with unintended tunnel exits, and communications infrastructure that will eclipse several times the sum total SA has ever had, our government might have thought fit to make sure the event has some benefits for South African citizens. To expect FIFA to toss us a coin or two in return for our investment, to make sure we'd benefit from job creation or commercial revenue for local people and companies.
But no; we carry all the costs, and what we don't pay for... we get to do ourselves for free. And be proud to do it, too, lest you be branded unpatriotic and negative.
The proceeds of this investment of our national resources - every twice-counted cent of it - will go exclusively to FIFA and its foreign partners such as Coca-Cola, Emirates Airline, Hyundai, Sony, Adidas and Visa.
Neat business model. No wonder Thabo Mbeki calls it "business unusual". Usually, you get paid in business. No wonder Danny Jordaan, the head of the local organising committee, is so adamant that there's a "strong business case" for the event. He is in on the scam.
So if you thought you could get a job working on the 2010 project, forget it. (Though the unemployed are welcome to volunteer.)
Thought you could put up some foreign visitors in your little B&B? Sorry, no go. Not without special permission, from FIFA. Thought you could sell vuvuzelas or drinks outside the stadium? Wrong. FIFA and its partners have a legal monopoly on such things.
That's why we have laws like the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Special Measures Act of 2006, to prevent anyone from interfering with FIFA's right to fleece us for all we're worth. Including, now, our time and expertise.
In short, we'll end up neck-deep in national debt for an expensive train system with holes in it and a dozen super-luxury stadiums nobody can afford to maintain or visit. So much for development in a developing country.
If South Africans submit to this naked exploitation, they'll have only themselves to blame. They should demand to get paid a decent wage for a decent day's work. That's the least FIFA can do. It's not like it is a poor charity on a mission of mercy. To repeat: it has already signed R24 billion in revenue. That's what you have a right to stake a modest little claim on, if FIFA wants your labour.
But hey, I'm a generous fellow. I have time. And energy. And lots and lots of savings from my super-lucrative blogging venture. I don't need to be paid. I'll work for free. I'm a sucker. So I'll go and apply.
"The Volunteer Application Form can only be accessed using Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 6.0 or 7.0."
Well, you can stick it where it hurts, FIFA. You don't pay enough to justify that expense.
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* Ivo Vegter is a freelance journalist and columnist, who blogs at http://ivo.co.za/. He would have bought a few of the tiny allotment of overpriced tickets made available to rich, well-connected South Africans, but he won't drink Budweiser.
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