South Africans Feeling Neglected During Cup Run-Up?

I found this interesting article from the South African Times and wanted to pass it along.

It's a reader letter describing the frustrating some people in South Africa feel during the run up to the 2010 World Cup next summer.

Apparently, some residents are feeling excluded from the good will the organizers are trying to foster.

Is the World Cup 'only for urban areas and foreign nations' as the article suggests? Or have the organizers done a good job in not only enlisting the help of locals, but also reaching out to them and making them feel a part of the process?

Here's the article. Please tell me what you think.

THE 2010 World Cup tournament that will be hosted in our country seems to be focused more on foreign visitors than on South Africans. — MK Marumo, by e-mail

The local organising committee and Fifa have excluded citizens of the host country simply by the way in which tickets for the tournament can be purchased.

Because South Africa is still developing economically and socially, we should understand that half of our citizens have never used the Internet.

This technological, sophisticated approach has effectively closed the door to millions in the country.

Lack of promotion and advertising of the tournament across the nation — mostly in rural areas — has proved that the 2010 World Cup is only for urban areas and foreign nations.

Since the tournament is left with hundreds of days to take place, many can’t even say when the starting date of the event is — not only of the World Cup, but also of the Confederations Cup.

By now the feeling and the atmosphere of World Cup should be everywhere, but it is hard to even come across a billboard or posters promoting the event. The atmosphere is far from reaching many in the country.

The LOC has been encouraging citizens to buy tickets to support our team, but the process of acquiring a ticket has discouraged many supporters.

Irvin Khoza and Danny Jordaan will be running around telling the media that the country is ready to host 2010 and that the tickets are sold out — but the mood and the vibe will not approach real enthusiasm for the tournament.

The 2010 World Cup tournament is going to take place in South Africa and all its citizens — rural and urban — should be made to feel a part of it.

So the LOC must wake up and promote 2010 all over the country, not only in metro cities.