Jo-burg

Well, welcome to Jo-burg. I flew here the day after I arrived in Cape Town. With my backpack filled with spartan supplies, I ventured out of the airport and into the biggest city in South Africa. Above, you can see the premier stadium of Jo-burg. This is where many games are played, and the eventual host stadium of the World Cup finals. Despite many beliefs the World Cup is not held in one place like the Olympics, but in several places all over South Africa. This place, however, it the golden child of Bafana Bafana Football (soccer for all unknowing Americans). Bafana Bafana? It literally means, "the boys, the boys" It is the name of the South African national soccer team. From the airport to the city, streets were lined with flags, ridiculous decorations, and other tributes to the Cup. This place really is (despite what the critics say) ready for the World Cup. Once we got to our hostile and settled down, we got back on a bus and spent the day going about the city seeing sights such as parliament, the city hall, and going to the top of the tallest building in SA which is 20 or so stories shorter than the Sears tower in Chicago.
At the base of the tower was the official display of jerseys (by Nike) to be used in the Cup. We were informed by staff on the science between the jerseys and the cleats. Nike created about 4 different cleats for football players just to serve different purposes to different players. One was created for speed, one for control, one for accuracy, and one classic kangaroo skinned shoe. The one I am pictured by below is to be worn by both Drogba and Messi. This place lives, breathes, and talks soccer non-stop. The only sport that compares would be Rugby, but it is overshadowed, and rightfully so.

Yes, this is a statue made of Coca-Cola crates. SA is sponsored by Coke. You would not be in SA if you did not see a Coke ad always in view.
Below is a statue made completely of yellow soccer balls. This was hanging right above the Nike station and had banners around it displaying the teams competing in the World Cup.
Our visit was not very long at all in Jo-burg. We soon went to the outskirts where we lived in our hostile for two days and leaned about life in Soweto. That is to come in the next issue. But while we learned a bit about Jo-burg, I found something a little more interest in the culture around sports in this place. I would say 2 in 5 people are wearing their Bafana Bafana shirts and others in support of other teams. This city really is supportive of sports not only in the Cup but culturally as well. Much of the countries unity can be attributed to sports (see Invictus). I can see it even happening now. Tribes and nations of Africa are coming together and looking to fight a good fight. People are together, jobs are being created, and their economy who has been having difficulty lately, is seeing benefits.