How Much Does a World Cup Cost? 30 Billion Rand

South Africa released a report outlining their World Cup expenditure today, and the bottom line is $3.7 billion . Sounds like a hefty sum, and sounds like even more in South African currency, the total being 30 billion rand (which is the 20 rand note above multiplied many many many times.) Big big numbers. Sports Minister Mike Stofile was talking about the report as part of his efforts to persuade everyone to calm down and stop panicking that South Africa might not get the job done. “This report shows we have complied with literally every guarantee we have made, we even went beyond that,” he told reporters. There have been fears about South Africa’s infrastructure, the progress of the stadiums being built and the power blackouts that have plagued the country recently, but Stofile is promising that all the stadiums will have power throughout the tournament. Let’s hope so. Because if the cost of World Cup 2010 goes any higher than 30 billion rand then I’m not sure my mathematically challenged mind will be able to understand the gigantic numbers.