Countdown to FIFA World Cup 2010

The clock for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa is ticking down. There is excitement in the air as South Africans prepare to host teams from 32 countries who will compete for the prestigious trophy. As the first Sub-Saharan African country to be selected to host this premier soccer event, South Africa is filled with pride and joy.

It is impossible to miss the sense of elation when you visit the country. Landing at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, you are bombarded with posters and memorabilia to mark this historic event.

World Cup 2010 will kick off on June 11 at 4 pm with a matchup between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City in Johannesburg. Matches are also slated for refurbished stadiums in Cape Town, Pretoria, Polokwane, Durban, and several other South African cities. The championship match will be held on July 11 at Soccer City in Johannesburg.

Along with 64 matches that will thrill soccer fans worldwide, South Africa plans a wide range of cultural and entertainment events throughout the country for the amusement of locals and visitors alike.

Preparing for this event, however, has not been a completely smooth ride or without some controversy - not all of it within South Africa. As late as May 14, for instance, even though the stadiums are allegedly prepared for the matches, some of the infrastructure is still under construction. The airport in Johannesburg, for instance, has shifted areas to accommodate the expected influx of foreign guests, but the result is unfortunately confusion rather than orderliness. Check-in counters, for instance, are in some instances, opposite departure gates, requiring long treks to board planes. A lot of signage is not yet in place, and people arriving who are not familiar with the layout of the airport can spend precious minutes trying to puzzle out where to go. For the first time arrivals, the only advice that can be offered is, be prepared for long lines to get through immigration and to your baggage.

One might think, upon arrival at the airport, that souvenirs of World Cup 2010 are available everywhere. You can't move about the airport without encountering them. Once you leave the airport, though, it is a different matter. A friend of mine who was recently in Johannesburg, said that she had to search over a dozen stores to find one of the lion dolls that is the mascot of the event. Another word of advice; be prepared to pay a premium if you buy at the airport.

Another annoyance at the airport is the presence of touts whose goal is to separate the unwary traveler from his or her money. These guys - and I've only seen men do this - appear friendly and helpful as they offer to carry your bags or show you where to go. In the end, though, they insist on being tipped. Recently, during a visit to Johannesburg on business, I was followed from the arrival gate to the exit by one, who, even though I clearly knew where I was going, wanted to guide me. At the door, he became irate when he demanded a tip, and I ignored him. While I've heard on reports of them becoming physical, this particular gentleman became decidedly hostile at not receiving a gratuity. I assume it was only my 50 pound weight advantage that kept it from escalating - that and the fact that I refused to engage him in conversation.

Controversy relating to the World Cup has not, however, been limited to South Africa itself. Neighboring Zimbabwe, hoping to cash in on the event, offered to provide training facilities to visiting teams. The only taker was the North Korean team, which was slated to use the stadium in the southern town of Bulawayo. This stirred a heated response from local residents who remember that it was the North Koreans who trained the unit that was involved in the brutal killing of some 20,000 Ndebele in that area during the purges of the 1980s. At this writing, this issue has still not been resolved.

Lest the reader think that I'm negative about World Cup 2010, be assured I'm not. This promises to be a landmark event in world soccer, for soccer fans and non-soccer fans alike. I'll leave it to the experts to handicap the winner of the trophy, and settle for saying that if you want to be a part of history, dust off your passport - and head for South Africa in June.

References:

http://www.flysaa.com a portal to South African Airways where you can book flights and accommodations and see a calendar of planned events.

http://www.blythedale.co.za

http://www.airportshopping.co.za

http://www.kznwildlife.com for the visitor who wants to see some of the natural wonders of South Africa after the games.

http://www.globalicons.co.za for entertainment packages in Cape Town.

http://www.shearwatervictoriafalls.com

http://www.inyati.co.za a private game preserve.