German Organizers Lauded For Presenting Successful World Cup

Beckenbauer (r) Receives Praise For Successful World Cup

Italy defeated France yesterday to win the FIFA World Cup, and Germany’s organizing committee is being mostly praised for its handling of the event. In N.Y., Mark Landler wrote Organizing Committee President Franz Beckenbauer engineered a “triumphant World Cup.” Beckenbauer has been the “public face and globe-trotting emissary for the German World Cup” (N.Y. TIMES, 7/8). In DC, Camille Powell writes this year’s World Cup was “notable for things that didn’t happen.” The two “major pre-tournament concerns, hooliganism and racially motivated violence, turned out to be largely unfounded, outside of a handful of instances” (WASHINGTON POST, 7/10). In Miami, Michelle Kaufman writes, “Always recognized for their efficiency but stereotyped as mechanical and lacking in flair, the Germans proved to be friendly and fun hosts” (MIAMI HERALD, 7/10).

FACES IN THE CROWD: A number of French NBAers attended Sunday’s final, including Spurs G Tony Parker, Suns G Boris Diaw and Lakers F Ronny Turiaf (from Martinique). Other attendees were NBA Deputy Commissioner & COO Adam Silver, President of Global Marketing Partnerships & International Business Operations Heidi Ueberroth and AEG President & CEO Tim Leiweke, who were guests of NBA partner adidas and its CEO Herbert Hainer and adidas Brand President & CEO Erich Stamminger. U.S. President Bill Clinton and his daughter, Chelsea, also attended the game (THE DAILY).

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2010: The AP’s John Pye wrote the “main concerns” for organizers of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa are “whether key infrastructure can be ready on time.” Some local media have reported that FIFA has a “contingency plan to move the World Cup if preparations fall too far behind.” South Africa President Thabo Mbeki said, “I can understand that some people may have some skepticism, but I have absolutely no worries that the World Cup will be a success” (AP, 7/9). In L.A., Grahame Jones wrote, “Perhaps [South Africa] should insist that for every stadium that goes up, a school or hospital must be built. Or for every dollar that goes into putting on the [World Cup], a dollar must go toward feeding the poor or fighting AIDS. South Africa should demand a smaller World Cup, a more socially responsible World Cup, a World Cup that leaves a legacy of hope rather than a slag heap of hype” (L.A. TIMES, 7/8).