Sport and the Making of World Cities: A Case Study of South Africa by Lisa Danielle Plenderleith A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Graduate Department of Geography University of Toronto © Copyright by Lisa Danielle Plenderleith 2013 Sport and the Making of World Cities: A Case Study of South Africa Lisa Danielle Plenderleith Master of Arts Graduate Department of Geography University of Toronto 2013 Abstract This thesis explores two distinctive ways in which sport is deployed as a development strategy in South Africa, and specifically considers how sport may play a role in the configuration of the nation’s cities. First, a case study of the sporting mega-event, the 2010 FIFA World Cup, is presented. It is posited that this tournament was a speculative world-making strategy aimed at elevating host cities and the nation to world-class status. Second, a discourse analysis of South African policy documents regarding the reintroduction of physical education is performed. It is argued that despite the fundamental neoliberal elements of physical education, there is a possibility that if the government maximizes certain opportunities, it could be a way of forging ordinary cities that are based upon equitable access to sport for South African children. These assessments suggest that sport can play a role in both the spatial and symbolic development of cities. ii Dedication This thesis is dedicated to my namesake, my ultimate inspiration, my guidepost, and my very best friend. Thanks for everything you do, Mom. I love you. iii Acknowledgments First of all, I would like to thank the Graduate Department of Geography at the University of Toronto for the opportunity to study at one of the foremost educational institutions in the world, and for providing me with unparalleled administrative and financial support over the course of the past year. Thank you to my faculty supervisor, Dr. Rajyashree Narayanareddy, for the guidance and support she offered in helping me navigate my way through the graduate school experience and this thesis project. I would also like to thank both Dr. Thembela Kepe and Dr. Mark Hunter for serving on my thesis committee, and for the unique scholarly insight they provided on my project. I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to Dr. Maureen Hays-Mitchell at Colgate University for igniting my fascination with geography during my four years in Hamilton, and for pushing me to explore the multitude of ways in which I could combine my passions for sport and scholarship. Dr. Hays-Mitchell was the one who encouraged me to apply to graduate school in the first place, and I likely would not be here if not for MHM’s valuable advice and guidance. Also, thank you to two of the very best professors I have ever had the privilege of working with, Dr. Mary Simonson and Dr. Suzanne Spring at Colgate University. I am thankful to these wonderful women for serving as references on my MA application, and for helping me develop my research, writing, and critical thinking skills during my time at Colgate. Last, but certainly not least, I am so very grateful to my family and friends for all of their support and encouragement during the past year, and always. Thank you to my Mom and Dad for always providing me with endless love, steadfast faith, and the means to achieve my goals. Thank you to my sister, Alexa, for making always me laugh. Thanks to Booboo for keeping me company while I wrote for hours at a time. Thank you to my Grandma Lil (and Sully, of course) for helping to keep me on track – it’s finally done! Also, thank you to Debbie (and Pete and Peter), Tim (and Lauren and Connor), Steve, and Susie. Thanks to my friends, near and far, for checking in every so often to see how it was going; your thoughtfulness never failed to make me smile. In particular, thank you to one of my best friends, Jacquie Colborne, for the almost-daily text messages; it was great sharing in the graduate school experience with you, despite the nearly 4,500km between our respective schools. All of those mentioned above have played some role – big or small – in the completion of this project. So once again, from the very bottom of my heart: thank you. iv Table of Contents !"#$%&'$()*++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++*$$$! ,%-)(./"#01")'2*+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++*$3! 4&5/"*(6*7()'")'2*+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++*3! 78&9'":*;*<)':(#=%'$()*+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++*;! ;+;+! >3":3$".*(6*48"2$2*?"2"&:%8*+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++*;! ;+@+! A&%-0:(=)#*+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++*B! 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