To an estimated 100,000 overseas visitors who are currently shuttling from one stadium to another, we are a Rugby mad nation, letting the game dominate every news bulletin and talkback show. With an opening ceremony in Auckland (on September 9), which many viewed as ‘spectacular’ and ‘unprecedented,’ we gave the world a kick-start to the game that has at least 300 million followers.
When it comes to hospitality, we Kiwis are not bad hosts at all. We were at airports to welcome overseas team and at stadia to cheer them. Be it Tonga against the All Blacks or the Japanese facing the Wallabies, we have made them feel at home.
There has been some fine rugby as well. Argentina and Japan put heavyweights England and France to the test. The start of the second week provided the first real upset, when Ireland shocked Australia with a 15-6 victory on September 17. The 41-10 win of the All Blacks over tiny Tonga was disappointingly narrow. But they put on a stronger showing in an 83-7 canter over Japan on September 16. Their biggest challenge may be shouldering the weight of their countrymen’s expectations: the All Blacks have not won a World Cup since New Zealand co-hosted the inaugural tournament in 1987.
For a nation that has had the worst natural disasters (including two devastating earthquakes, followed by aftershocks resulting in loss of lives and property, a mine tragedy that took away 29 men) and the adverse effects of recession, the Rugby World Cup is a well deserved respite and income earner,
While economists say that the investment of $300 million will turn out to be a well-time Keynesian stimulus, those opposing the game say that it was an ill-advised boondoggle in a time of austerity.
A Coventry University Business School report released last week has some interesting statistics. It placed total attendance at the 48 matches at 1.35 million people, consuming 7.35 million pies and sausages, 7.5 million litres of beer, spending at least $2 million every day.
The World Cup is believed to have created at least 15,000 jobs in the tourism and hospitality industries, boosting income by at least $495 million.
Estimating the longer-term benefits to the country is a much woollier calculation.
Notwithstanding the returns in the long-term, it is time to enjoy Rugby and rejoice with our visitors. It is important to make them feel at home and send them back as friends, in good health and spirits.
The benefits, we are sure, will follow.
