Dr Rutendo Musikavanhu, Senior Lecturer from Westminster’s School of Architecture + Cities, has been interviewed by BBC Future and was quoted in an article about what a green World Cup would look like. In the piece, she talks about her research regarding the effects of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, co-authored by Professor Adele Ladkin and Dr Debbie Sedd.
The article points out that over a million visitors are expected in Qatar during the 2022 tournament, leading the country to build seven new stadiums, an airport, a metro system, new roads and about 100 hotels. Qatar has promised to cut carbon emissions due to the high number of flights, but the piece highlights research findings that the carbon footprint could be three times higher than official figures.
The question of buildings and public transport is also discussed, including the use of solar panels, electric buses, and the avoidance of building new stadiums in the first place. Scholars came up with many options to consider, such as downsizing the audience attendance, or holding the matches worldwide, using the nearest stadiums available between two teams.
Dr Musikavanhu shines a light on the social value and engagement of the World Cup, saying: "These events do present an opportunity for change, and to engage in political cultural debate. They can bring diverse groups of people together that were previously segregated or marginalised.”
The article mentions a participant of Dr Musikavanhu’s research who as a Black person felt comfortable talking to a white South African for the first time during the 2010 World Cup.
“Football generates a very unique sense of togetherness, and a unique level of excitement is brought about by such a platform as hosting the World Cup. The World Cup was a vehicle for this encounter, it allowed people to see beyond themselves,” said Dr Musikavanhu for the BBC.
The piece goes on by exploring greenwashing, increasing awareness and changes in lifestyle. It also reacts to the human rights issues ignored by FIFA, and encourages athletes to take part in the fight against climate change, which also affects how sports are being played.
The BBC has reached out to Dr Musikavanhu to ask her to contribute her expertise for the article after her address at the event entitled Mega Events and Sustainable Cities: Oxymoron or Opportunity, organised by Professor Andrew Smith at the University.
At this event on the week running up to the Qatar World Cup, alongside Dr Musikavanhu, some of the world’s leading researchers on this subject discussed whether a sustainable mega-event is an oxymoron, or whether these events can be aligned with sustainable urbanism.
In a 2021 research presented at the event and linked to from the BBC Future article, titled The Lasting Social Value of Mega Events: Experiences from Green Point Community in Cape Town, South Africa, Dr Musikavanhu questions whether the social values of mega events and their impact on local communities are worth it. The research collects stories from community members and found them having mixed perceptions on the effects of the 2010 World Cup.
Read the full article on the BBC’s website.
