Cape Town stadium in Greenpoint
During the two year run up to the world cup, international visitors quizzed me during tours about our preparations. Were we worried about crime or terrorism? Would the stadium be ready? Will our roadworks be completed in time? Do we have enough electricity?
Their enquiries were fuelled by their home media and an international arrivals airport which looked like nothing more than a building site. Not to mention the road works on hospital bend on the way to their hotels.
I remained upbeat, calm and confident that everything would operate professionally and that South Africa could put on an event that would compare with anybody in the world.
Thankfully I have been proved right. While the global recession and us being a long haul destination has reduced the number of anticipated visitors, those who did venture the long trek have been nothing short of full of praises.
During tours in between the games, international fans described their excitement on the fan walk and admiration for the stadium. Many guests attended games around South Africa and four years ago in Germany and commented how the fan walk enhanced their soccer experience.
England fans along the fan walk
Houses, businesses and cars draped national flags with the obvious number of duel citizens bearing the South African flag alongside their mother country. Strangers spoke excitedly to each other in supermarket queues about the games and more females now understand the offside rule!
Cape Town was blessed with mostly sunny days with crisp blue skies while she was wall-wall with international film crew – all conducting their reports and interviews with backdrops of Table Mountain and the ocean. In between the matches, media entered the game reserves (call that a job??), and filmed animals in the wild. How can anybody not want to come here?
With the number of smaller countries qualifying we have improved our geography and knowledge of international flags and anthems. As teams departed the competition, the street vendors had fewer flags and scarves to sell, being reduced to Spain and Holland for July 11.
Cape Town also proved they could host international celebrities and leaders as dignitries made last minute plans to support their country in the Quarter and Semi-finals. I am sure that Angela Merkel enjoyed the warm hospitality of dining at Helen Zille’s home after the Germany V Argentina match as she must tire of formal enterntainment.
Leonardo DiCaprio, Paris Hilton, Mick Jagger and Morgan Freeman were amongst the many celebrities who graced our shores and it should not be under estimated their influence on twitter with several million followers.
All good things must come to an end and now we have returned to school and work with many exciting stories to share about matches we attended or watched on big screens, and the international visitors we met during these uplifting 4 weeks. Thank you very much!
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Having attended the World Cup myself I have nothing but praise for the organisational skills and welcome from the South Africans, it was particularly lovely to see flags of ALL nations on cars and in house windows , it just shows how many people have chosen to make SA their home. It was only a shame that some of the football did not live up to the fabulous atmosphere and stunning stadia. In respect of the comments you made regarding ‘reduced numbers’, it was widely reported that this was the third most successful World Cup ever, which considering the long haul destination and current global recession was nothing short of a miracle. I’m sure SA will justifiably reap the benefits from increased tourists in the next few years from repeat ‘family’ visits and those that were inticed from the media back drops and winter?? climate. Well done SA and good luck with your Olympic bid, if the World Cup was anything to go by, it will be a piece of cake for you.!!!
I share your sentiments Lesley. Happily, die-hard cynics in my social circle have embraced South Africa as their own country after the fabulous month we all enjoyed here.
Thanks very much Michael for your comments.
best wishes
Lesley
Lovely piece – I had lots of pre WC questions when I was in Portugal. So pleased we have been vindicated. What a wonderful thing South Africa has done. And it taught me a whole bunch about the game as well, will certainly be watching more soccer on TV in future. Luv luv Michael