The FIFA World Cup 2010 - yes, it is here

It has been in the headlines for so long that one can almost not remember what it felt like without the FIFA World Cup dominating just about everything else in South Africa as far as hot topics are concerned.

For very many it is truly a dream come true. Some couldn't really care less about sport in general and football in particular, or about large events involving big crowds. Many worry about the real economic impact the World Cup will have on the South African economy. 

Others worry for different reasons - because they are in charge of some of the major arrangements nationally or in their home city. Let's hope for their sake they will have reason to start relaxing soon.


But mostly it is remarkable how this event has everyone smiling - at least for a while.   It once again shows what a unifying force sport is in South Africa.   When the Super 14 rugby semi-final and finals were played in Soweto during the past few weeks, it became the precurser to a long, national holiday spirit that will surely last until the final has been decided at Soccer City.  It showed the Rainbow Nation's capacity to unite in a spirit of colourful, and even boisterous brother- and sisterhood. 

Visiting teams and their supporters will surely soon learn to hate the sound of thousands of vuvuzelas in the prestigious and expensive newly-built or renovated stadiums. Indeed some of us don't like the sound but have grown to tolerate it in the context and are more concerned about health issues than anything else.  I am now warning people to wear ear protection rather than to moan about the sound.  No, I am not about to acquire my own vuvuzela - but my car is flying a South African flag and its sideview mirrors are dressed in patriotic mirror socks.  I'm feeling a sense of anticipation, even though I avoid most soccer on TV (not easy to do these days).  Soccer does not count among my favourite sports. I love cricket and winter sports, like rugby and sometimes watch some tennis or athletics.  I only watch really big football matches - and certainly none of the British football league matches that South Africans seem to like even more than local clashes.   In the past I have had a passing interest, and watched some of the more interesting matches of  FIFA World Cups - but certainly did not sink into depression if a favoured team lost.

However, I know I will be drawn into watching the big matches this time: the opening match within a few days, most Bafana Bafana matches and some of the matches involving the "big gun" nations like Brazil, Spain, England, France, Italy and a few others.  It will not be the centre of my life for the next month, but it will certainly influence a lot of what I do, including the scheduling of meetings to avoid the worst traffic on match days here in the Cape and perhaps planning to watch the opening and final games with family or friends.  I will follow the news and be happy together with all the millions of other South Africans when all is going well,

But yes, I am smiling together with the rest of South Africa. There is a lot to be worried about for me personally and also nationally.  But like the rest, I will suspend worry for a while and be glad if we can pull off a really memorable event.

South Africa has hosted large sporting occasions before - most notably the 1995 Rugby World Cup (which the host nation famously won and which many of us will forever associate with a smiling Madiba and Francois Pienaar holding the cup aloft); the Africa Cup of Nations in 1996 (which the host nation again won and which helped, together with the 1995 rugby triumph to sweep the nation on a wave of goodwill through the first years of our new democracy); the Cricket World Cup in 2003 (which saw the host nation exit after the first round) and T20 World Cup (with another early exit for the Proteas).   In all these cases we showed that we can be warm, well-organised and colourful hosts to the world.

But this is the big one - the biggest single world event after the Olympic Games.  I hope for all concerned that the joy will last at least for a while and that the rest of the world will enjoy this carnival with us. 

Have fun!  Enjoy the gees!  Ayoba!