The 2010 FIFA World Cup is over. Actually, as I post this the final between Holland and Spain still needs to be played, but by the time most people read this it will have been something of the past. Before the World Cup the doom profits predicted that the event would be an absolute failure, that overseas supporters shouldn't come to South Africa cause they will be robbed and murdered and that the stadiums would be empty. How all of them have been proven wrong. Yes, there were a few incidents that will be pointed out by these folk to try and prove their earlier statements, but the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa was a resounding success. South Africa proved to the world that we don't have to stand back for anybody when it comes to hosting big events. Black and white stood together cheering for Bafana Bafana, and after their exit from the tournament adopted other countries to support without abandoning the event. Before the start of the World Cup the international media was looking for anything bad they could find to report on, but during it they realised how great this country is and gave it the kind of exposure it deserves, with publicity that money can't buy. We have received new stadia, new infrastructure and a renewed sense of togetherness and nation building. SOUTH AFRICA ROCKS and the legacy lives on!!!
Monday morning the soccer supporters that are still in the country would be packing their newly discovered vuvuzelas, head home and our lives would start to get back to normal. But would it ever be what it was before the tournament? Probably not quite. Let's hope all of those who visited South Africa (and in particular Port Elizabeth) would go back home and spread the word on how awesome a destination this is and to tell their friends and family to come back (home).
During this last month of 2010 FIFA World Cup themed posts I have already done a post featuring the Soccer Ball Light Structures outside the airport and although I don't think they will change the feature much after the event, I thought that I want to post another one just in case they do.
Can you believe it? The opening game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup between South Africa and Mexico took place four weeks ago and there are only two days left before its all over. People got together at pubs, offices, public viewing areas and homes to watch the big game and that continued throughout the tournament. I have a feeling there are a few folk out there that may just suffer from withdrawal symptoms after the tournament ends.
Although the official theme song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup is Shakira's Waka Waka, the song that have grabbed the imagination of the people is K'naan's Wavin' Flag. The song was chosen by Coca Cola, one of the official global sponsors of the event, to be their theme song for the World Cup. K'naan performed at the FIFA Fan Fest last Friday and drew in thousands of people wanting to hear him sing "the" song. In his own words, "I would never have thought while sitting in a little room in my house and writing this song that it would get so out of control. It's even been translated into Chinese!"
The giant puppets from a project called The Giant Match made a stop at the FIFA Fan Fest straight from their run at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival. I was amazed by how well the puppeteers handled the figures and how they interacted with the people around them.
Brazil went into an early lead and was 1-0 up at half time before 2 goals in the second half by the Dutch sent their supporters into hysteria. The Dutch now meet Uruguay in the one semi final while Germany and Spain fight it out in the other one. The two losers head back to Port Elizabeth to play in the 3/4 playoff game on Saturday 10 July 2010.
Every FIFA World Cup has its own mascot decided on by the country hosting the event. The mascot for the 2010 FIFA World Cup is a green haired leopard called Zakumi. His names comes from "ZA" which is the international abbreviation for South Africa and the "kumi" which means "10" in several African languages and refer to 2010. On Saturday we visited Greenacres Shopping Centre here in Port Elizabeth and found a Zakumi figure at each entrance. Drama Princess just loves him and I had to get a pic of her with him.
GOAL!!!
My apologies. I know this is a re post of a photo posted earlier in the year (but its sticking to the FIFA World Cup theme), but I am having internet problems at home. I will be back with something new tomorrow.
A thumbs up and peace sign for a 2010 FIFA World Cup which is going very well so far
There is a development soccer tournament being run alongside the 2010 FIFA World Cup on the B field at the Port Elizabeth Fan Fest at St Georges Park. The tournament is organised along the same lines as the World Cup with local club and school teams (male and female age group and open teams) representing the countries playing in the tournament. The competition is also into the knockout stages now some have gone to penalty shootouts.
To avoid too much traffic congestion around the stadium (as well as the fact that there isn't too much parking available), the city has implemented a Park & Ride system during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. There are three designated and secure Park & Ride areas around Port Elizabeth where soccer fans can leave their vehicles and take the shuttles to the stadium. This is the Park & Ride on the beachfront that are used mostly by those fans staying in the hotels and guesthouses in that area. Most of the minibuses are taxis that has been subcontracted during the event while the buses are part of Port Elizabeth's new Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system.
The Kings Beach parking area is one of the transport pickup points for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The majority of soccer fans staying on the beachfront would thus make use of this to get to the stadium for matches. Obviously the soccer memorabilia traders figured that out before the event and have set up shop along the walkway where the Kings Beach Flea Market would normally trade from on the weekends. The walkway is a myriad of colours and flags from all the competing countries.
With the England vs Slovenia game in Port Elizabeth last week I noticed that there were quite a few people on the beachfront offering face painting services to fans. Specially the English fans were queuing up to get the England flag either painted on their cheeks or have their whole face coloured in. I imagine that this kind of face painting would be termed war paint.
England played against Slovenia at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium last Thursday and they estimated that 20 000 England supporters descended on the city. Before the game the England fans flocked to the beachfront for a couple of beers before heading to the stadium. I popped down to the Boardwalk to see how many of them were around there and found that the place was teaming with red and white clad beer drinking English fans. The pubs must have made a fortune.
Part of the 2010 FIFA World Cup branding on the corner of Marine Drive and Walmer Boulevard with the Port Elizabeth Harbour in the background. I'm not sure if its supposed to be that way, but the sign points towards the stadium.
The city has trained 750 Host City Volunteers who has offered their time and services in areas where their support are needed. About half of them are roaming the streets around Central and on the beachfront as well as the FIFA Fan Fest at St Georges Park (and airport, some shopping centres, etc, etc) to disseminate Host City Guides and help visitors with directions, times and transport information. The other half has been deployed at the transport points to and from the stadium and Fan Fest. These volunteers are easily recognisable in their yellow and green Host City outfits. I encountered these to young ladies on the Donkin Reserve when I popped down there the other day.
