Tournament for the people my a$$

[Albereth]

Blah blah blah complain whinge moan.... same old same old.

Roll on 2010! Roads being improved. Beachfront being repaved in Durban. Transport system being greatly improved. Google street view and directions being implemented. Foreign money pouring into our country. Priceless tourism publicity being gained at every turn of the head......

And still people moan!

Blah blah blah - reality gets pointed out and still people stick their heads in the sand! (Which makes a change from the usual place)

 

[LancelotSA]

Blah blah blah - reality gets pointed out and still people stick their heads in the sand! (Which makes a change from the usual place)

Ha ha ha so tell me now what is this reality as relates to this thread?

The OP apparently got turned away from an area which he then assumed meant that it was for VIPs only. He bitched. Another poster then pointed out that "31 000 people had entered the cordoned off area of Long Street" to join the festivities.

So what are these realities again?

Oh, and please feel free to also point out how any of those things I mentioned are not reality!

 

[Albereth]

Ha ha ha so tell me now what is this reality as relates to this thread?

The OP apparently got turned away from an area which he then assumed meant that it was for VIPs only. He bitched. Another poster then pointed out that "31 000 people had entered the cordoned off area of Long Street" to join the festivities.

So what are these realities again?

Oh, and please feel free to also point out how any of those things I mentioned are not reality!

Well, we know that Capetonians do like to bleat on a bit - if it isn't 'slow' signs not being painted, it'll be about Vaalies blocking the roads at Christmas. Funny that they never complain about the money...

But moving to another coast - seems the solution to losing blue flags is to pave the beach front. Nice. The beach front had been done up a few years back but Mad Mike let every thing run to ruin because he'd rather spend the maintenance money on useful street renaming activities. Or building a stadium that isn't really needed no matter how pretty it looks.

But if you want reality you could go and watch the 'Draw' show. Aren't you glad that you live in a country that only has black people, no traffic in the Johannesburg CBD, and is home to chimpanzees?

 

[LancelotSA]

Well, we know that Capetonians do like to bleat on a bit - if it isn't 'slow' signs not being painted, it'll be about Vaalies blocking the roads at Christmas. Funny that they never complain about the money...

But moving to another coast - seems the solution to losing blue flags is to pave the beach front. Nice. The beach front had been done up a few years back but Mad Mike let every thing run to ruin because he'd rather spend the maintenance money on useful street renaming activities. Or building a stadium that isn't really needed no matter how pretty it looks.

I think I'll refrain from taking this discussion further with you as you appear ignorant on the subject.

Current stadiums did not meet FIFAs requirements for hosting the World Cup.

The beachfront was fine. In fact about a year back I posted some pictures of the beachfront and friends overseas made comments on how great it was looking. I cycle there every week and have no issue with it. Unfortunately due to the large number of pedestrians that will be moving from the stadium it was necessary to widen the walk ways and ensure that there were no bottlenecks.

But if you want reality you could go and watch the 'Draw' show. Aren't you glad that you live in a country that only has black people, no traffic in the Johannesburg CBD, and is home to chimpanzees?

Not sure what you are implying by this statement but you sound bitter.

 

[Devill]

Long street was one big party from about 11 00 on Friday till the not so early hours of Saturday. Epic.

OP = confused.

He did not make an effort to a) go early or b) actually read up a bit before trying to get in.

At the one Stadium there was only suppose to be 10 000 people going in, they made space for 31 000....

Like you said no idea what the OP is on about.

 

[daveza]

Bit of confusion apparently - the draw at the CTICC was for VIP's only.

The free party in Long Street a few km away was for everyone.

Figures range from 30,000 to 100,000 - in a narrow street a few hundred meters long.

 

[LancelotSA]

Bit of confusion apparently - the draw at the CTICC was for VIP's only.

The free party in Long Street a few km away was for everyone.

.....

Who would've that the Long street fan park was only for VIP's

 

[Albereth]

Not sure what you are implying by this statement but you sound bitter.

Not bitter - really, really disappointed.

One of the things that we as a nation need to celebrate is our diversity - we had a promo clip that implies that the only people who live in South Africa are black. No whites, coloureds, indians, or chinese! Only blacks.

And a reason why a lot a people visit us is because of our wild life. Chimpanzees are not found naturally in South Africa. We lied to the world! I'll excuse the animals playing soccer because that happens as evidenced in that classic documetary - Bedknobs and Broomsticks.

And back to the blacks only clip - Vodacom has more people dancing in the streets. The Nelson Mandela bridge should have been full of people!

I appreciate that you may not have seen it. And it really isn't worth hunting down - not that you have too, it was played so often this weekend.

I watched the opening of the Beijing Olympics and was blown away. I had hopes for this 'show' but it was a let down and probably put people off from coming to visit us. Yes - they'll come for the soccer but as an advertisement for South Africa sans football I am afraid it was a flop.

 

[Stickfigure]

Not bitter - really, really disappointed.

One of the things that we as a nation need to celebrate is our diversity - we had a promo clip that implies that the only people who live in South Africa are black. No whites, coloureds, indians, or chinese! Only blacks.

So true. Was watching that with my cousin and his friend and we were all commenting on how there were only black people. The only white person I saw was a 7 year old farm boy. And no Coloureds, Indians, Chinese etc as you mentioned.

 

[daveza]

N - we had a promo clip that implies that the only people who live in South Africa are black.

as an advertisement for South Africa sans football I am afraid it was a flop.

I have to agree - the blacks only video clip was astonishing. Fair enough, let's not show the world the squatter camps next to the brand new airport, the charming zulu religious ceremonies or the bullet riddled taxis but hello - there are whites, coloureds, indians , chinese, here as well - who actually know something about football.

As for the presentation I was underwhelmed. Jazzart dancers with the same boring choreography, lip-synced songs - and what exactly happened with the backing tape for the female singer ?! Sounded like an old stretched TDK cassette. LBM and Mango Groove too expensive ?

I hope the opening ceremony has a bit more imagination than this school concert.

PS: Yes, one white kid at a railway station.

 

[Albereth]

As for the presentation I was underwhelmed. Jazzart dancers with the same boring choreography, lip-synced songs - and what exactly happened with the backing tape for the female singer ?! Sounded like an old stretched TDK cassette. LBM and Mango Groove too expensive ?

The lip sync was terrible - couldn't they get Millini Vanilli? They are just as South African as the woman from west Africa.

I thought the Soweto Gospel Choir were okay even if the one person looked like she had eaten all the people missing from the Mandela bridge shot in the promo clip.

I couldn't get over the Zakumi bit. Why couldn't they have cut to the audience? It would have been a great laugh to have seen Zumatello and the others going wtf? when the presenter chick was supposedly talking to the leopard.

And David Beckham should not let his wife dress him.

And why couldn't we have had Ryk Neethling and Caster Semenya up on stage instead of the dude with the teeth and Ntini?

 

[LancelotSA]

One of the things that we as a nation need to celebrate is our diversity - we had a promo clip that implies that the only people who live in South Africa are black. No whites, coloureds, indians, or chinese! Only blacks.

It has been pointed out by others that there may have been two whites. A farm boy and a kid at a railway station. Perhaps these are the same person. If this is the case then it would be interesting to see how many black people were in the clip. If we were to represent demographics there should be one white person for every 8 black people!

I watched the opening of the Beijing Olympics and was blown away. I had hopes for this 'show' but it was a let down and probably put people off from coming to visit us. Yes - they'll come for the soccer but as an advertisement for South Africa sans football I am afraid it was a flop.

This was a draw. Hardly fair to compare it to an opening ceremony. Even then you are comparing a country with growth in double digits to us. The budgets probably differ substantially!

Someone mentioned lip synching in the draw. Anyone recall the pretty and "ugly" Chinese girls in the Olympic opening.

It has been pointed out by another that some people will watch all these things just to find fault. I did not see a flop. You will see a flop in anything SA does.

 

[LancelotSA]

The lip sync was terrible - couldn't they get Millini Vanilli? They are just as South African as the woman from west Africa.

I thought the Soweto Gospel Choir were okay even if the one person looked like she had eaten all the people missing from the Mandela bridge shot in the promo clip.

I couldn't get over the Zakumi bit. Why couldn't they have cut to the audience? It would have been a great laugh to have seen Zumatello and the others going wtf? when the presenter chick was supposedly talking to the leopard.

And David Beckham should not let his wife dress him.

And why couldn't we have had Ryk Neethling and Caster Semenya up on stage instead of the dude with the teeth and Ntini?

Seriously, you are one sad individual. It has often been stated by the local organising committee, and FIFA, that this is Africa's world cup. It is a chance for the continent to show off. I think it was great that we had other Africans present, and part of the draw!

"Dude with the teeth"? Seriously?!?! Do you have an idea about any sport? Me thinks not. Haile Gebrselassie is only one of the greatest long distance runners of all time

And it is great to see your condemnation of all things does not just stop with all things South African but includes overweight people. Screw the fact that she could sing, all you can comment on is her size. You're a real nice guy.

 

[The_Right_Honourable_Brit]

It has been pointed out by another that some people will watch all these things just to find fault. I did not see a flop. You will see a flop in anything SA does.

Likewise, you'll never find a fault with anything to do with the SWC or Ruan Pienaar . Same side of the same coin. I'd like to know what would have to happen for you to label the SWC as a 'disaster' ? Or can optimists never mention that word? I'd like to store it for future reference.

 

[daveza]

It has often been stated by the local organising committee, and FIFA, that this is Africa's world cup.

If any other African country was helping to foot the bill for the 2010 WC I would buy into this.

Whatever FIFA say ( and they say a lot of things ) this is South Africa's World Cup.

We got it, we paid for it and we host it. I don't see why we should share the glory.

 

[Stickfigure]

It has been pointed out by others that there may have been two whites. A farm boy and a kid at a railway station. Perhaps these are the same person. If this is the case then it would be interesting to see how many black people were in the clip. If we were to represent demographics there should be one white person for every 8 black people!

The white farm boy is the railway boy. So one white person in total. If I remember correctly (i could be wrong) they probably showed about 30-40 (maybe more) black people.

 

[LancelotSA]

Likewise, you'll never find a fault with anything to do with the SWC or Ruan Pienaar . Same side of the same coin. I'd like to know what would have to happen for you to label the SWC as a 'disaster' ? Or can optimists never mention that word? I'd like to store it for future reference.

No, it is in fact the exact opposite side of the coin!

Someone brought up the Olympics. There were plenty things there that could have been pointed out as going "wrong" but there is no joy for you guys in that. Instead you want to see SA fail at everything. For some reason that gives you a little bit of joy.

If something goes wrong at the SWC then so be it. Things happen during live events. During the IPL we had a dog run on the field. People went mad. How the hell can they let that happen! SA is useless. Blah blah. These things happen elsewhere too. So be it.

By all accounts the draw ran smoothly. The things pointed out as total failures are all opinion! A pessimist will see a fat lady singing as a terrible thing. An optimist will think it is great that we show that our country favours talent over looks.

 

[Albereth]

It has been pointed out by others that there may have been two whites. A farm boy and a kid at a railway station. Perhaps these are the same person. If this is the case then it would be interesting to see how many black people were in the clip. If we were to represent demographics there should be one white person for every 8 black people!



This was a draw. Hardly fair to compare it to an opening ceremony. Even then you are comparing a country with growth in double digits to us. The budgets probably differ substantially!

Someone mentioned lip synching in the draw. Anyone recall the pretty and "ugly" Chinese girls in the Olympic opening.

It has been pointed out by another that some people will watch all these things just to find fault. I did not see a flop. You will see a flop in anything SA does.

Umm - there were a few white folk parking off being served by blacks too. But the impression you have is that there are only black people in South Africa.

Yes, my expectation was high and I most certainly didn't go looking for fault - it was shoved in my face.

And Charlize was a sparkling gem.

People won't recall the 'pretty' and the 'ugly' girls because the 'ugly' girl wasn't in the opening - only her music was. And someone had had to point that out - you would not have noticed it. Whereas this event, as someone quite brilliant has already pointed out, shoved it in your face.

Flop? No, the draw wasn't a flop. The spelling of the team names was correct, there were no duplicate numbers, no arguments about what teams were in what pools. The need to split teams so the continents were represented was all done very well. The technical part went very well.

The packaging left a lot to be desired.

And maybe it wasn't a flop for some people. But I'd suggest that those people are either still waiting for the cheque to clear from the SABC or are only good enough to shine in a world of mediocrity rather than aspiring to greatness with the precious few of us.

 

[Albereth]

If any other African country was helping to foot the bill for the 2010 WC I would buy into this.

Whatever FIFA say ( and they say a lot of things ) this is South Africa's World Cup.

We got it, we paid for it and we host it. I don't see why we should share the glory.

I wish that I could agree with you - but this is FIFA's world cup being held in South Africa.

 

[Albereth]

Seriously, you are one sad individual. It has often been stated by the local organising committee, and FIFA, that this is Africa's world cup. It is a chance for the continent to show off. I think it was great that we had other Africans present, and part of the draw!

"Dude with the teeth"? Seriously?!?! Do you have an idea about any sport? Me thinks not. Haile Gebrselassie is only one of the greatest long distance runners of all time

And it is great to see your condemnation of all things does not just stop with all things South African but includes overweight people. Screw the fact that she could sing, all you can comment on is her size. You're a real nice guy.

LOL - I am quite aware of who Moderately Gebrselassie is - I just didn't know that he was from Kenya. Or maybe I just heard that wrong.

If you were to look at what I wrote about the SGC you might find that I didn't only comment about the size of the lady in question. But now that you mention it - I couldn't comment about her singing abilities. We didn't get a chance to witness them.