World Cup 2022 - Fifa has failed us

Fifa made a massive mistake today in selecting Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup (I was hoping for Belgium/Netherlands for 2018, but I can accept the choice of Russia). Already this year FIFA have shown that they are out of touch with fans and players. Refusing to implement goal line technology because if they did the game "wouldn't be the same at all levels" is one example, no one believes or expects the game to be the same at all levels. Choosing Qatar shows that they have no idea what the World Cup means to fans. The World Cup is not just about the games themselves or grand air-conditioned stadiums. The World Cup is the world's greatest grassroots event. It is about impromtu parties in the streets and meeting people from around the world in local pubs. It is about cheap hotels and saving up for airline tickets. None of that will be possible in Qatar. A place known for glamour, opulence and wealth is not an appropriate host for the world's game. Many fans have additional cause to be uncomfortable as homosexuality is illegal in Qatar (when asked about this issue FIFA head Blatter stated that homosexuals should refrain from sexual activity if they attend the World Cup) and women have the same constrained role they have in the rest of the Arab world. Not to mention it is 115 degrees in Qatar in July, who knows what effect that will have on the players and fans. Anyone who feels cheated because the two countries selected, Russia and Qatar, are the only two who had billionaire oil barrons in their delegation is right to feel that way.

World Cup Round Up

We didn't end up updating much during the trip, I guess that shows we were having a good time. The pictures tell the story, with an assit from the video I made on the flight home. Enjoy, trip take-aways below.

Photos on in my picasa album.





People told us that Cape Town would remind us of San Francisco, and it does. The coastline is probably even better, even more beautiful than Big Sur. We could easily have just stayed there and been very happy :)

Kalk Bay is the place to stay for an extended visit in Cape Town, it is a beautiful and lively harbor town where you can easily spend relaxing mornings and nights when going in to the city for all the sights. I highly recommend both Kalk Bay Guesthouse and the Chartfield Guest house. Both are run by wonderful people who added a great deal to our trip.

The World Cup is everything you can imagine it to be and more. People from all around the world arrive to celebrate and love on each other. It is unbridled joy like I have never experienced. Julie likes to joke with me that I found my dance there, and the truth is I just needed to party with thousands of people who I know are soccer fans! You will find me in Brazil in 2014, I guarantee it.

USA vs England and Some Driving w Jane and Joe

Julie and I went into town for the USA vs England match and watched it at the fan fest. Basically a fan fest is a giant screen and a mass of people, pretty much the perfect way to watch a match. 

The US fans were doing all sorts of cheers, but by far the most awesome were the cheers from the Obama campaign! "YES WE CAN" is the new patriotism, which I think is very awesome.

There was live music before the match, and lots of great dancing before and after. There aint no party like a soccer hooligan party.

That is Taylor Ahlgren, also a Stanford Soccer alum. He works with Grassroots Soccer in Cape Town.

USA! USA! USA!

That is Simon's Town from the cliffs above town. Simons town is two towns south of Kalk Bay.

Simon's town is a Navy Base, and there is an old battery on the cliff.

Joe swam in that water, but just going up to the shins was enough for me :)

South Africa World Cup 2010

Julie and I are here! We are staying in Kalk Bay, a perfect quiet little town an hour train ride outside of the center of Cape Town to the South. Our guest house is beautiful, with a balcony overlooking the sea (picture below). We arrived late Thursday evening (Joe and Jane were sooo kind and picked us up at the airport). On Friday we jumped right in, watching the opening match (SA vs Mexico) in the center of town and then we went to our first World Cup match, France vs Uruguay. The match itself was average, a 0-0 draw, but the stadium and atmosphere were perfect. Julie was one of many who wore earplugs to prevent long term damage, but I would allow no barriers between me and the madness of the vuvuzelas :) Tonight is USA vs England, we will head back in to town to meet up with Taylor Ahlgren and watch a classic US victory! Select photos below, I am uploading them all here. Youtube is blocked on our network, so I am uploading videos to facebook. Check them out there, they are awesome. I will upload to youtube and post them here when I get back.

The view from our balcony.

You need this kind of focus for face painting like that.

Paaaaarty! This was the impromptu party/parade in Green Market Square before the SA-Mexico match.

Julie is a natural on the vuvunzela of course.

Amazing stadium! We rep'ed France for the match. We will be sure to covered in yellow for future pictures (except tonight when we will have on red white and blue!).