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World Cup 2010 Comment: South Africa's World Cup was a great success and receives Goal.com's stamp of approval
Goal.com looks back at the positives of the tournament...
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12 Jul 2010 14:17:00
By Peter Pedroncelli
The 2010 World Cup has come and gone, and I believe that South Africa grabbed their chance to shine as host nation with both hands and the world took notice of the success of the biggest sporting event on the planet.
There was a great deal of negativity and much was said when South Africa was awarded the right to host the 2010 World Cup, but the only way to prove the doubters wrong was through patience and perseverance. This is what South Africa and the South African people have done, and I am very proud of how the tournament has gone. The Rainbow Nation is now on the world map for all the right reasons.
It fills me with pride to be at the end of the World Cup road in South Africa, and to be able to look back at how well it all went and how the people who came to the country enjoyed their stay. The stadiums were beautiful, the security was good, the football was entertaining and the South African people were friendly and kind. That is the message I have received from the vast majority of visitors with whom I have spoken, and this is simply music to my vuvuzela tuned ears.
The only complaints were small things, with the adidas Jabulani taking the cake among the footballers, most of whom had great things to say about South Africa as well. As for the fans from foreign lands, the atmosphere created throughout the tournament allowed them to enjoy the games and the country thanks to the hospitality of my fellow South Africans and the hard work put in by the Organising Committee, police and volunteers.
When I look back on this tournament I will have a smile on my face because it has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life, and having believed in my country as the ideal host nation to stage the 2010 event, I am extremely pleased to get so much positive feedback from everyone who had a taste of the World Cup in South Africa. We were a host nation par excellence, and South Africans are proud of that.
Speaking to South Africans throughout the event was a joy, because they were all taking responsibility for the World Cup and they were proud hosts who aimed to show every visitor a good time. Today the country is suffering from a bit of a World Cup hangover, and we miss the football already, but as the tourists make their way home and the airports are the last things World Cup travellers see, we wish them well and thank them for making this tournament as special as we hoped it would be, while expectations were not only met, but surpassed in most cases.
In fact, Goal.com had a great presence in the country during the World Cup, with writers and editors from all over the world converging on South Africa for the month-long event. Here are their accounts of their time in the host nation...
Ewan Macdonald, UK
I had a fantastic trip, and what stood out for me was the friendliness of the people. No matter the circumstance there was always a South African ready with a smile and eager to assist. I have never been to such a friendly, open country. Of course South Africa has its problems but the spirit of the people is such that I know they can be overcome.
This, combined with the much-improved infrastructure and great stadiums, made South Africa an excellent choice for the World Cup. Certainly my perception of South Africa has changed completely since the tournament and I know I'm not alone in that: the country put on a superb show for us and I see it with new eyes. The important thing now is that the expense of the tournament is managed correctly, and that's a huge challenge. But the country itself welcomed the world brilliantly.
Amar Singh, UK
I think South Africa was an excellent choice and have returned to England with a generally positive view of the nation. This is largely based on the people of South Africa, the vast majority of whom were warm, friendly and incredibly proud of this moment. I would return to the country again and I believe many journalists I worked with out there feel the same way. Yes, there are profound and visible problems around crime and poverty which must be addressed but I got the sense that South Africa was absolutely heading in the right direction.
Rami Ayari, USA
My experience in South Africa has been unbelievably positive and I certainly plan on returning to the country in the future as I know that even though I managed to make it to five different cities and WC stadiums, there is so much out there that I still haven't gotten to see first hand. So as I see it, it's not a bad thing that I haven't taken in everything SA has to offer but just a great excuse to come back and check what I've missed out on. What I've found in SA is more than I ever expected. Things are much more developed than I first imagined they would be. It's strange to say that since I'm an African myself, from a somewhat similar developing nation such as Tunisia, but its the truth. I just didn't think the roads and facilities would be in such excellent condition. In Johannesburg perhaps the toughest thing has been getting around because the public transport system isn't quite up to scratch yet but once the Gautrain starts working next year from Pretoria to here and as time goes on I'm sure things will improve further.
Above all though, the people of South Africa have been the real gem of this World Cup. I've been so impressed by their hospitality, joy and warmth. Everyone I ever approached for directions or anything else was always more than willing to help and to do it with a smile. The future looks bright for South Africa and I couldn't be prouder to have been a part of this celebration. This country has so much to offer and I only hope that it continues on the path of achieving its full potential.
Jennifer Okoye, Nigeria
My World Cup experience was very exciting. South Africa made the entire African continent proud and proved the critics wrong concerning their ability to host the world. The experience has been terrific. This was my first World Cup experience, and I can’t say what the orgnisation and feeling was in the past editions, but I was privileged to talk to some journalists and fans who have been to more than two World Cups and their confession has been that this was the most exciting and magical World Cup they have attended. What stood out for me most is the infrastructure, the Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg is amazing, good roads and the zero experience on my own side in terms of the exaggerated crime rate in South Africa.
The people are very hospitable and peaceful. Virtually everywhere in South Africa is beautiful, There were a few challenges. Transportation was very expensive and most times not readily available, so I trekked a lot to matches and my hotel, as the shuttle buses for media cover only designated media hotels. Also the volunteers had difficulty the first week of the event in directing people to various locations in the stadium and of course the weather was cold at times. I recall a particular night at the Ellis Park Stadium during the match between Brazil and North Korea which was very cold. In summary, South Africa was indeed a good choice as host, and I hope other African countries will learn from these legacies and that the negative perception of the western world over Africa will change. I will definitely come back to South Africa for holidays and other events. It’s the place to be. Long live South Africa!
Noah David, USA
I was impressed with the entire South African experience. Although there were minor issues with getting around (many roads were so new they didn't appear on my GPS) and it was frustrating at times how long it took to find out about things like parking passes and whether my media ticket request had been accepted. I felt safe and thought it was a great atmosphere. The South African people were amazing and very proud to host the event. It reminded me of Germany in that way; the citizens were so happy to have something they could be proud of. I would like to go back at some point, this time as a tourist.
Zac Rigg, USA
South Africa left me greatly impressed - with the infrastructure, with the warmth of the people, with the games in general. I spent my time in Port Elizabeth, a seaside city featuring moderate temperatures, spacious roads, and which wouldn't seem out of place in Europe. The only cues I was in Africa were the vibrant way people accepted me immediately and the shanty towns just outside of the city.
As much as I dislike Sepp Blatter, his decision to have the World Cup in South Africa was the correct one. The only caveats have been a few muggings and some shoddy pitches. Otherwise Africa has given the world a unique and wholly pleasing tournament.
Takashi Sugiyama, Japan
In Japan almost all of the journalists including me were afraid to go to South Africa because it is reported that SA is a very dangerous country. But I spent a really nice time in the rainbow nation. Also I heard in Japan that South Africans are very nice people and it is true. Thanks to the warm people, my time in SA was beautiful. The people are proud to host the World Cup and the football fans from all over the world.
Everybody enjoyed the festival which ran through the month and they shared the pleasure with all the tourists. A bus driver told me that it is true that the crime rate is high in some places, but I never felt any fear and the police must have worked very hard. Seeing is believing and I thought I should see the things myself. Of course I know there are some poor townships and I saw this, but the things are changing with the World Cup. I want to see how SA changes with my own eyes in a few years.
So it seems that the people from all parts of the globe enjoyed their stay in South Africa for the 2010 event, and it makes South Africans very proud to have welcomed the world, and treated them with respect, friendship and hospitality. Come back soon...
There was a great deal of negativity and much was said when South Africa was awarded the right to host the 2010 World Cup, but the only way to prove the doubters wrong was through patience and perseverance. This is what South Africa and the South African people have done, and I am very proud of how the tournament has gone. The Rainbow Nation is now on the world map for all the right reasons.
It fills me with pride to be at the end of the World Cup road in South Africa, and to be able to look back at how well it all went and how the people who came to the country enjoyed their stay. The stadiums were beautiful, the security was good, the football was entertaining and the South African people were friendly and kind. That is the message I have received from the vast majority of visitors with whom I have spoken, and this is simply music to my vuvuzela tuned ears.
Fans were pleased to have made the trip
The only complaints were small things, with the adidas Jabulani taking the cake among the footballers, most of whom had great things to say about South Africa as well. As for the fans from foreign lands, the atmosphere created throughout the tournament allowed them to enjoy the games and the country thanks to the hospitality of my fellow South Africans and the hard work put in by the Organising Committee, police and volunteers.
When I look back on this tournament I will have a smile on my face because it has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life, and having believed in my country as the ideal host nation to stage the 2010 event, I am extremely pleased to get so much positive feedback from everyone who had a taste of the World Cup in South Africa. We were a host nation par excellence, and South Africans are proud of that.
Speaking to South Africans throughout the event was a joy, because they were all taking responsibility for the World Cup and they were proud hosts who aimed to show every visitor a good time. Today the country is suffering from a bit of a World Cup hangover, and we miss the football already, but as the tourists make their way home and the airports are the last things World Cup travellers see, we wish them well and thank them for making this tournament as special as we hoped it would be, while expectations were not only met, but surpassed in most cases.
Friendly South Africans impressed the fans
In fact, Goal.com had a great presence in the country during the World Cup, with writers and editors from all over the world converging on South Africa for the month-long event. Here are their accounts of their time in the host nation...
Ewan Macdonald, UK
I had a fantastic trip, and what stood out for me was the friendliness of the people. No matter the circumstance there was always a South African ready with a smile and eager to assist. I have never been to such a friendly, open country. Of course South Africa has its problems but the spirit of the people is such that I know they can be overcome.
This, combined with the much-improved infrastructure and great stadiums, made South Africa an excellent choice for the World Cup. Certainly my perception of South Africa has changed completely since the tournament and I know I'm not alone in that: the country put on a superb show for us and I see it with new eyes. The important thing now is that the expense of the tournament is managed correctly, and that's a huge challenge. But the country itself welcomed the world brilliantly.
Amar Singh, UK
I think South Africa was an excellent choice and have returned to England with a generally positive view of the nation. This is largely based on the people of South Africa, the vast majority of whom were warm, friendly and incredibly proud of this moment. I would return to the country again and I believe many journalists I worked with out there feel the same way. Yes, there are profound and visible problems around crime and poverty which must be addressed but I got the sense that South Africa was absolutely heading in the right direction.
Rami Ayari, USA
My experience in South Africa has been unbelievably positive and I certainly plan on returning to the country in the future as I know that even though I managed to make it to five different cities and WC stadiums, there is so much out there that I still haven't gotten to see first hand. So as I see it, it's not a bad thing that I haven't taken in everything SA has to offer but just a great excuse to come back and check what I've missed out on. What I've found in SA is more than I ever expected. Things are much more developed than I first imagined they would be. It's strange to say that since I'm an African myself, from a somewhat similar developing nation such as Tunisia, but its the truth. I just didn't think the roads and facilities would be in such excellent condition. In Johannesburg perhaps the toughest thing has been getting around because the public transport system isn't quite up to scratch yet but once the Gautrain starts working next year from Pretoria to here and as time goes on I'm sure things will improve further.
Above all though, the people of South Africa have been the real gem of this World Cup. I've been so impressed by their hospitality, joy and warmth. Everyone I ever approached for directions or anything else was always more than willing to help and to do it with a smile. The future looks bright for South Africa and I couldn't be prouder to have been a part of this celebration. This country has so much to offer and I only hope that it continues on the path of achieving its full potential.
This World Cup will be a great memory for those in South Africa
Jennifer Okoye, Nigeria
My World Cup experience was very exciting. South Africa made the entire African continent proud and proved the critics wrong concerning their ability to host the world. The experience has been terrific. This was my first World Cup experience, and I can’t say what the orgnisation and feeling was in the past editions, but I was privileged to talk to some journalists and fans who have been to more than two World Cups and their confession has been that this was the most exciting and magical World Cup they have attended. What stood out for me most is the infrastructure, the Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg is amazing, good roads and the zero experience on my own side in terms of the exaggerated crime rate in South Africa.
The people are very hospitable and peaceful. Virtually everywhere in South Africa is beautiful, There were a few challenges. Transportation was very expensive and most times not readily available, so I trekked a lot to matches and my hotel, as the shuttle buses for media cover only designated media hotels. Also the volunteers had difficulty the first week of the event in directing people to various locations in the stadium and of course the weather was cold at times. I recall a particular night at the Ellis Park Stadium during the match between Brazil and North Korea which was very cold. In summary, South Africa was indeed a good choice as host, and I hope other African countries will learn from these legacies and that the negative perception of the western world over Africa will change. I will definitely come back to South Africa for holidays and other events. It’s the place to be. Long live South Africa!
Noah David, USA
I was impressed with the entire South African experience. Although there were minor issues with getting around (many roads were so new they didn't appear on my GPS) and it was frustrating at times how long it took to find out about things like parking passes and whether my media ticket request had been accepted. I felt safe and thought it was a great atmosphere. The South African people were amazing and very proud to host the event. It reminded me of Germany in that way; the citizens were so happy to have something they could be proud of. I would like to go back at some point, this time as a tourist.
Dutch fans enjoyed their time in South Africa
Zac Rigg, USA
South Africa left me greatly impressed - with the infrastructure, with the warmth of the people, with the games in general. I spent my time in Port Elizabeth, a seaside city featuring moderate temperatures, spacious roads, and which wouldn't seem out of place in Europe. The only cues I was in Africa were the vibrant way people accepted me immediately and the shanty towns just outside of the city.
As much as I dislike Sepp Blatter, his decision to have the World Cup in South Africa was the correct one. The only caveats have been a few muggings and some shoddy pitches. Otherwise Africa has given the world a unique and wholly pleasing tournament.
Takashi Sugiyama, Japan
In Japan almost all of the journalists including me were afraid to go to South Africa because it is reported that SA is a very dangerous country. But I spent a really nice time in the rainbow nation. Also I heard in Japan that South Africans are very nice people and it is true. Thanks to the warm people, my time in SA was beautiful. The people are proud to host the World Cup and the football fans from all over the world.
Everybody enjoyed the festival which ran through the month and they shared the pleasure with all the tourists. A bus driver told me that it is true that the crime rate is high in some places, but I never felt any fear and the police must have worked very hard. Seeing is believing and I thought I should see the things myself. Of course I know there are some poor townships and I saw this, but the things are changing with the World Cup. I want to see how SA changes with my own eyes in a few years.
Spain celebrate their historic maiden World Cup triumph
So it seems that the people from all parts of the globe enjoyed their stay in South Africa for the 2010 event, and it makes South Africans very proud to have welcomed the world, and treated them with respect, friendship and hospitality. Come back soon...
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