Not everyone cheered when South Africa was awarded the 2010 World Cup. Skeptics cited security concerns and poor infrastructure as potential pitfalls for the young democracy.
But now a month before kickoff, South Africa is set to silence its critics. The country has put the requisite work into launching the event and is poised to deliver on one of the world's grandest stages.
Just as the 2008 Olympics in Beijing shone a spotlight on China, this event will serve as a vibrant demonstration that South Africa, more than any other African nation, has arrived.
"Some people were saying it was a stupid decision to organize the World Cup in South Africa," Jerome Valcke, secretary-general of FIFA, told the Financial Times. "We will show the world that it was the right decision to organize the World Cup in South Africa and South Africa was able to provide, not only to FIFA but the world, with the best organization possible."
Better, even, than Germany provided as host in 2006, he claims. That's setting the bar awfully high, considering the 2006 World Cup was a resounding success.
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South Africa Takes Aim at Both Short and Long-Term Goals with World Cup Bid
United, Continental Merge Into World's Largest Airline
United Airlines parent UAL Corp. (Nasdaq: UAUA) and Continental Airlines, Inc (NYSE: CAL) announced today (Monday) that they plan to merge and create the world's largest airline in a stock swap valued at $3.17 billion.
The merger is the is the biggest airline deal since Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE: DAL) bought Northwest Airlines Corp. in 2008, and it further demonstrates how an industry plagued by losses has devolved into a pattern of consolidation.
The "merger of equals," as described by the companies, would top Delta as the biggest global carrier, have combined annual revenue of $29 billion, and $7.4 billion in unrestricted cash. The deal should yield cost savings of $1 billion to $1.2 billion by 2013.
The merger is the is the biggest airline deal since Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE: DAL) bought Northwest Airlines Corp. in 2008, and it further demonstrates how an industry plagued by losses has devolved into a pattern of consolidation.
The "merger of equals," as described by the companies, would top Delta as the biggest global carrier, have combined annual revenue of $29 billion, and $7.4 billion in unrestricted cash. The deal should yield cost savings of $1 billion to $1.2 billion by 2013.
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