I think it was in the United States once, even though Americans do not care much about football. They have a completely different game they call football. It is more like rugby. Americans may not care about football and their team has never won the World Cup but they have to host it because their people are more willing than Asians and Africans to spend money frivolously. And that is really what FIFA cares about. It has nothing to do with where the most fans are or who joined their club first. South Afrika was the first country outside of Europe to join and it only took 100 years to host.
6 comments:
My mother was born and raised in South Africa, and her heart was always there. She loved everything about the country. I still have a beautiful Zulu shield that belonged to a Zulu friend of my grandfather's.
When I saw the movie "Out of Africa" it reminded of the story of my grandmother. I think Africa is the most interesting continent, and I would love to visit there. I do think they have their problems, though. Yesterday they interviewed some folks who live in the slums just outside of Johannesburg. I was shocked at the conditions. When I see that, in a way it makes me think that apartheid still exists, just underneath the surface. I hope they can fix it soon.
Being an American I don't follow what the rest of the world calls "football" and we call "soccer" at all, but I can see how it is a game that's popular around the world. It's pretty simple to understand and the equipment required to play is pretty minimal so even the poorest communities it wouldn't take much to get a soccer game going.
Africa is one of those places I've so far only experienced through books. I've read a few memoirs by authors who lived or spent time in South Africa, and so my impression has always been that this is one of the more advanced of the African nations. And of course, there's Nelson Mandela who at least here is viewed as a great man and a hero. Here in the US I know there is more than one street that has been renamed in his honor.
I've enjoyed following the World Cup in Japan. I think partly that is because you have such an international group of people teaching English, so there are plenty of teams to root for/ against depending on who is playing. Though it is still a bit hard to get behind a game that can end on a 0/0 tie!
Jo, apartheid is very dead. It wasn't about rich and poor. There are poor people in every country. The United States has people living in garbage cans and dying in the streets.
Alissa, all you need to play football is a ball and people. It's universally loved because it's so easy to start a game anywhere.
Grant, I was in China during one of the olympics [but not the one in China]. It was a very international experience.
Your team failed miserably, dropping out in group stage. Your prediction of Brazil or Italy is not to be. Germany will win.
South Afrika was out at the same time as Italy, the defending champions.
Your Germany prediction is a little off.
Post a Comment