FIFA Soccer World Cup 2010 South Africa Closing Ceremony Road to the Final
Posted: Tuesday, July 06, 2010
by Michael Gaffley
flatlinetochange
The world cup experience is an object lesson for the world about peaceful co-existence. People went to South Africa from all over the world not knowing what to expect. They went with set stereotypes and preconceived notions about Africa. Most if not all of them came away from this experience seeing South Africa and Africa in a different light. This is the encouragement and teachable moment for us all; we do our best when we are having fun. Take your inspiration from the many unfolding stories of how they were helped, served and entertained by people whom they did not know before. The only thing that they knew was what the biased media fed them.
More than 500,000 visitors to South Africa enjoyed the world cup season in South Africa. Yes, I know it was cold and rainy and windy but it was the greatest world cup ever. Never in the history of the world was cup there so much fear and anxiety about the venue. I fielded numerous phone calls and dialogues about safety in South Africa the main questions was what about the high crime rate? " Should we get personal body guards was the questions from most of my colleagues and friends that planned to go to South Africa for world cup 2010.
No sooner had they arrived to discover that South Africa is not a jungle with world class soccer stadiums. They discovered the friendly peoples of South Africa. They discovered our state of the art Gautrain that bulleted them to Sandton in a heartbeat. They discovered our first world shopping malls. They went on safari in between. They visited our pristine beaches. They enjoyed our wine routes and wine tasting. Oh and they just loved our food.
Most of my friends came back and confirmed that they will go back to South Africa fairly soon. One even bought a piece of property. My friends could not stop talking about their delightful experience in South Africa. They talked and could not be stopped. Most of my friends were in awe of the majesty of Table Mountain in the Mother City, Cape Town. They marveled at the grandeur of Soccer City in Johannesburg and Green Point Stadium in Cape Town. They loved the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. They were in awe at the sight of Soweto and Alexandria. They visited Robben Island, Chapmans Peak, Hout Bay and Cape Point. They loved the East Rand and The Drakensberg Mountains.
The peoples of South Africa did not just put forward their best behavior; that is just the way we are. WE are friendly and our hospitality is second best to none. The peoples of South Africa are kind and know how to entertain. Soccer world cup reunified our nation. We had high hopes for Bafana Bafana and were so sad when they made an early exit. The fiasco involving Team Ghana will be low point of this world cup for me. Team USA was robbed and so was England and so was Mexico. The greatest cheat was the handball of the player form Uruguay whose name I will not immortalize because he is a soccer villain.
My final will be played between the Netherlands and Germany with the Netherlands being crown soccer world cup champions 2010. Watch out for Bafana Bafana in 2014. I will be in Brazil to cheer them on (D.V.) VIVA South Africa! Viva President Zuma! VIVA!
Let the world cup experience move you to take risks, to break down the barriers and to unite the world. Let this experience inspire you to cross the borders and to say hello to your neighbors.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)500,000! I didn't realize that many people came. I'm sad that it's nearly over, but I'm really pleased that everybody had a good time. And I totally agree with you, we do our best when we're having fun.lets stay a fun loving country. I think I am ready to go back.
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