Journal Article

Lack of Legacy? Shadows of Surveillance after the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany

Eick, Volker

2011

Overview

The FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany saw the largest display of domestic security since 1945. More than 250000 police officers from the state and federal police, 7000 military guards, 20 000 private security contractors and an unknown number of intelligence service officers operated in the 12 host cities during the four-week event. In addition, more than 20000 volunteers took part in security and safety measures, constituting what have become known as 'pop-up armies'. Surveillance technologies were deployed, including but not limited to airborne warning and control system planes (AWACS), a variety of security robots, video surveillance cameras and radio frequency identification chips (RFID). Data banks stored more than 250000 personal data files of FIFA employees and another 10 million of those persons applying for tickets. The paper first describes how, since the early 20th century, FIFA has been embracing neoliberalism as a 'neo-communitarian entrepreneur'. Secondly, it analyses how FIFA enabled itself to set the preconditions for candidate and host cities to carry out the event. Thirdly, it develops the concept of legacy' in order to allow for an understanding of the World Cup's positive and negative impacts for all stakeholders involved. Fourthly, it examines the 2006 World Cup in Germany as a sports-related 'security assemblage', deciphering why parts of the assemblage were dismantled whereas others remained after the World Cup was over. Finally, it draws some conclusions about the role of FIFA as an incubator for a 'sustained securitisation' of host and post-host cities.

• Publisher: SAGE Publications,Sage Publications Ltd
• Subject: 20th century / Army / Banking / Cameras / Candidates / Cities / Closed circuit television / Contractors / Control systems / Economic liberalism / Electronic surveillance / Federal Republic of Germany / Football / Germany / Information gathering / Intelligence / Intelligence service / Intelligence services / Interest Groups / Legacies / Liberalism / National Security / Neoliberalism / Olympic games / Part 3. Security Technologies and Event Cities / Police / Private military industry / Private sector / Radio / Radio frequency / Radio frequency identification / Robotics / Robots / Safety / Safety measures / Securitization / Security / Security measures / Security services / Security systems / Soccer / Social control / Sporting events / Sports / Stadiums / Stakeholder / Surveillance / Surveillance of citizens / Technology / Tickets / Tournaments & championships / Volunteers