Holland and Belgium’s World Cup pitch focuses on green

In a few short weeks fans will pour into South African cities to experience the world’s biggest sporting event, the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Whether you call it soccer or football, the World Cup is big business for the host nation and sadly a big producer of carbon emissions. Holland and Belgium teamed up in hopes that a green spin on geography and clean transportation will land them the World Cup in 2018 or 2022.

Because of the sheer scope of the World Cup, transportation is often an issue. Fans dying to see their nation compete rely on rail, air, and car to get to the host country. One study estimates that travel related carbon emissions for fans and teams going to South Africa will be 1,856,589 tons. 

The reason for the high number is due in part to South Africa’s location outside Europe, home to soccer superpowers like Spain, France, Germany, and England. In their bid to FIFA, Holland and Belgium highlighted the fact that they lie in the middle of these countries. The prevalence of efficient rail transport in Europe would also reduce fans dependency on air travel.

Besides travel to the host country, organizers also believe that the compact area of the two countries will reduce travel between venues and cut emissions. Short travel times are almost guaranteed since the combined area of Holland and Belgium is roughly 44,783 square miles, about the size of Ohio.

Other large countries bidding for the World Cup such as Australia and the US can’t compete with Holland and Belgium’s petite size. During the 1994 World Cup in the US, nine cities stretching from Washington D.C. to California held matches.

Travel for fans will also be bolstered by the bike loving culture of Holland. Former soccer star for the country, Ruud Gullit, promised FIFA organizers that “we will offer the fans a network of free public transport and two million free bikes.” Other details of their bid include their “Sustainable Stadium Toolkit” which utilizes more efficient waste removal, reusable beverage cups, and recycling information for fans.

For fans, the possibility of free public transport or the use of a bike could really lighten their transportation budget considering the price of gasoline in Europe. Then again, it might result in a new YouTube genre of drunk soccer hooligans on two wheels. FIFA will make their final choice on December 2, 2010.