In a few days, it will be the
kickoff of the FIFA Soccer World
Cup in Brazil. Across all football-loving countries, the fever is
mounting. Fan frenzy is getting crazy, way before the kickoff.
Are we ready?
We ask that question right until the
opening ceremony. Anything can go wrong. We inspect infrastructure:
stadia, hotel capacity, roads, airports, etc. We double-check lists:
team lists, team staff lists, stadium staff lists, list of
officials, etc. We check prices: tickets for matches, flight tickets,
hotel costs, local transport, etc. We check for security, return on
investment, fan satisfaction, tourism gains. We monitor..
Unknown to many soccer fans, Brazil
hosted a 2-day Global Multistakeholder Meeting on the Future of
Internet Governance in April.. Don’t bother making up the acronym
from the initial letters. The country decided to align the meeting to
the “prevailing mood” and named it “Net Mundial”. In other
words the Internet equivalent of the “Mundial”. In hosting
NetMundial, Brazil was contributing to the global Net game. Making it
faster and better.
Sold out
If you were planning to be part of
the FIFA World Cup and are yet to get a ticket by the time this post
is published, then it might be too late. Tickets are all almost sold
out. World Cup match tickets are not “there for the asking”.
There is a limited number of them. In the world of the Internet, they
are called “Critical Resources”. These are resources that
everyone needs and wants to have, but only a few possess. Access to
the Internet at an affordable rate is one of those! Two-third’s of
the world population are still dreaming of affordable access to the
Internet.
Balls and broadband
There will be great Brazil 2014
memorabilia. Some may want to get a shot at the jerseys of famous
players. Others may want a photo opportunity with a star. Brazuca,
the official ball, will certainly be in high demand. Whichever way,
Internet connection will be in higher demand than all of these.
Internet service providers in Brazil are already rolling out “World
Cup” packages. These tend to give unlimited Internet Connection
for less than 1$ per day. Can the offers hold through the games? Will
they continue after the games?
The World Cup and the World Wide
Web
Did you know? It will almost be
impossible for anybody to get a ticket to any of the World Cup
matches without logging on to the FIFA website. Almost all tickets
are applied for and sold online. Collection is the only thing you do
offline. Without necessarily blowing its trumpets, FIFA may well
become the largest organization that uses the Internet and inspires
its use. Without doubt, the World Cup will be more enjoyable to
those who have broadband Internet connection. In these days of:
Live tweeting;
Instagram;
Selfies;
Parallel online World Cup Matches
for fans;
Match streaming on mobiles:
Balls must meet broadband. Brazil
must raise the game. FIFA must pay attention to affordable Internet
and fans must claim their rights as web citizens!
Game on!
