World Cup fever hits local fans despite severe weather and tournament skepticism

As we’ve been hearing for months, the world’s largest sporting event got under way Thursday in Mexico, but the start of the World Cup didn’t go so well here in Ontario.

Fans are expected to crowd into the fan zones in Toronto to watch the games on TV.

The World Cup opener with Mexico and South Africa playing in Mexico City started earlier Thursday afternoon.

Unfortunately, the Toronto watch party was a rainout — officials had to evacuate the fan zone because of fears of lightning.

At the same time, an expert in sports management says these huge sports events may not be the economic boom some people are hoping for.

At the little taste of Mexico on Hamilton’s James Street North, the World Cup excitement has been building.

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With Canada playing its first game Friday in Toronto, the professional soccer players on Hamilton’s Forge FC were feeling the excitement over the World Cup.

“Having the best sport in the world, the biggest sport in the world, in your home town, your home country, obviously is huge,” said Forge FC Right Winger Tristan Borges.

They say it shows the potential for Canadian soccer players to dream of playing at a World Cup level.

“People can get really excited for it and the fact that it’s here in Canada, in a place where the sport is really growing, I think it’s a great opportunity for everyone involved,” said Forge FC Centre-Back Dan Nimick.

In Mexico, before the game started, fans were walking three kilometres to get to the stadium, with a massive police operation shutting down the streets.

A protest camp also went up, which included teachers demanding better pay.

“I think there’s a bit of an assumption around there being social benefits for hosting an event such as this,” said Laura Misener, a professor at the school of kinesiology at Western University.
“When events are held in a city or region, it’s not automatic that they’re going to reap some return for that hosting.”

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Misener studies the social impact of sports and says the World Cup is not necessarily an economic or social boom for host countries.

“Well certainly we’re well aware of FIFA, in particular of the negative reputation they have, they have a lot of human rights and political issues,” said Misener.

“There’s been significant displacement of people living on the streets when they’re hosting tournaments. One thing that we’re seeing in Toronto right now, is the environmental impacts that it has on the host communities — you know the fact that there’s a controversy over not even being allowed to bring reusable water bottles into the venue.”

While Metrolinx is advising anyone heading to Toronto for Friday’s first game for Canada, to take transit and to give themselves plenty of time.

“We’re offering 15-minute service on our Lakeshore lines throughout the majority of the day and then we’re also going to be offering up to six trains per hour between Exhibition and Union Station to help shuttle those attending matches, and in addition to that, we’re also offering extended late night service,” said Metrolinx Special Events Planner Lyndsay Miller.

Mexico won their opener against South Africa 2-0.

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