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www.debaty.org
June 16, 2011
Ivan Franko National Theatre, Kiev, Ukraine
HOSTING OF MAJOR SPORTS EVENTS IS GOOD FOR A NATION’S HEALTH
PUBLIC DEBATE BRIEF
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Speakers FOR the motion Speakers AGAINST the motion
The Right Honorable Lord Peter Mandelson
Member of the House of Lords, influential politician and former European
Commissioner for Trade (Great Britain)
Mani Shankar Aiyar Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports in 2006-2009, Member of the Upper House of the Indian Parliament, India
Liepollo Lebohang Pheko Policy and Advocate Director at The Trade Collective, South Africa
Markiyan Lubkivskiy Director of UEFA EURO 2012 in Ukraine
For the second time the Foundation for Effective Governance in partnership with Britain-based Intelligence Squared held the debate which reached the audience far outside Ukraine and was watched by 76 million people in 225 countries. The debate on the motion “Hosting of major sports events is good for a nation’s health” was moderated by the world famous anchor Zeinab Badawi and broadcast by BBC World News.
Ukraine was granted the right to host Euro 2012 in April 2007, and initially this fact was viewed as a matter of national pride, a unique chance to present the country to investors and tourists from all over the world, and a stimulus for rapid modernization of infrastructure, tourism and sport. Yet the initial euphoria was followed by doubts: Is our country ready to host such an ambitious and expensive event? Do benefits outweigh the risks that may come up during the preparation and hosting of the tournament? And most important, what will we inherit in a long-term perspective? To make a forecast of how beneficial Euro 2012 may be for our country’s economy and public image, it is important to learn from the countries which already have the experience of hosting similar events.
The debate participants were unanimous in the opinion that careful planning and assessment of potential risks will be important for the success of the championship and its positive influence on the country’s economic development. However, the question whether a single event may become a panacea for Ukraine’s social and economic maladies triggered a vivid dispute. The advocates of the motion maintained that hosting the tournament will advertize the country for the global community, while the upgraded infrastructure will remain a profitable asset after the event is over. On the other hand, panelists against the motion argued that hosting of a major event is far from being the best way to revive the economy. The funds will mostly be spent in big cities and on the tasks that are not such a big priority. Additionally, the growth of the economy and the influx of investments will have a short-term effect. Moreover, the transfer of funds on such a large scale will be a breeding ground for corruption.
Voting results showed that the panel against the motion was more persuasive. It was supported by 52% of the audience.
The public debates serve as a social forum for discussion of issues essential for Ukraine’s economic development. The project is designed to foster a culture of constructive and substantiated debate, and to assist in forming public awareness on the key economic challenges facing our country.
Lord Peter Mandelson: “EURO 2012 will give an impulse to the country’s development and deliver much needed investment for building and renewing bridges, roads, rail and air transportation, hotels and other accommodation – an infrastructure that will be permanent long after EURO 2012 is ended”.
Mani Shankar Aiyar: “You don’t have to link infrastructure and investment to kicking a ball around a field. These are national tasks that need to be performed anyway. For hosting Commonwealth Games in Delhi we spent 18 billion dollars. But what has left for the rest of India? This is while 900 million of Indians have to make their ends meet with only 16 hryvnias a day!”
Liepollo Lebohang Pheko: “The cost of building infrastructure for the World Cup in South Africa happened at the cost of ten years of housing investment. The cost of 7 plastic seats at the stadiums was equal to building a school library. The influx of investments was short-termed and was poured mainly in tourist and hotel infrastructure. The industries which peaked following the development of infrastructural projects shrank immediately after the games were over”.
Key Statements
Q&A Session with the Audience
Voting Results
Q: “What are the risks of hosting major sports events?” A: Liepollo Pheko: “South Africa, Greece and China have been challenged by the so-called “white elephant problem”: most of the stadiums are not used, but require maintenance money. Consequently, it is very important to carefully calculate all the expenses during the preparation for the event”. Q: “Should Ukraine denounce the right to host Euro 2012?” A: Mani Shankar Aiyar: “I will tell you one thing: holding this championship in order to improve the health of your economy is like giving aspirin for a case of AIDS”. A: Lord Peter Mandelson: “For Ukraine to withdraw from these games will be an absolute disaster. Ukraine needs a big boost to its economy. The country has to show the world that it is a home of welcoming people, open for business, ready to work with investments and to create new jobs and employments, and that’s the opportunity these games provide”. A: Markiyan Lubkivsky: “To host Euro 2012 or not is not an issue. This question has a definite affirmative answer. I am absolutely sure that this event will be conducted in the best possible way. This chance is one and only, and Ukraine won’t miss it!” Q: “It was said that sport must be separated from business. Is it bad to profit out of sports?” A: Mani Shankar Aiyar: “If you are going to invest in a business, then you are going to make profits. But are we talking about sports or are we talking about business? It is much more important to make India a sporting nation than a nation renowned for hosting sports events. 95% of Indian children have no formal access to organized sports. And yet we have made available an obscene amount of money for projecting a completely false image of prosperous India”.
Markiyan Lubkivsky: “Euro 2012 will give us a unique experience of hosting events of European importance. It will help us change drastically the obsolete standards which we inherited from Soviet times. The tournament will become an important step in the integration process of our country in the European community. It will also make us find money for infrastructural modernization without further delay”.
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The Foundation for Effective Governance 8 Illinska Str., 8th Entrance, 5th Floor
Kiev, 04070, Ukraine Tel.: +380 44 501 41 00
HOSTING OF MAJOR SPORTS EVENTS IS GOOD FOR A NATION’S HEALTH
