Beautiful Game breaks down more barriers

You've done a good job here. Excellent that you've been able to explain and demonstrate how the many troubles that South Africa faced were overshadowed by the biggest sporting event in the world. I've been to South Africa, it really isn't as bad as people say it is (not where I went anyway). There are security guards on every street corner till 6, and consequently you know very well not to go out alone!

I don't know what you thought South Africa was like before the WC. Hate to say it but having people from different backgrounds in the same event is hardly unheard of in the modern world.

Jimbo I was impressed by the size of the concerts... the acts they had.... but moved by the whole African aspect to it... It is a real shame that Zac & the other mods can bring themselves to put up the lyrics that K’naan sang at the WC ... I posted about 7:30 and they went for moderation... FGS how hard is it to publish ... has been played on youtube and broadcast into Australian homes ... it does speak some real issues and as I said as good as Dylan ever penned... Move over that groups like the .. Black Eyed Peas .... sung with such conviction and even as I said barged their way onto the stage during K'naan performance to me says Black USA is playing this stuff ... if black US picks up on this stuff then look for a change in US sports... Jimbo click on K'naan link... listen to the first say 40 sec... then go to about 3:15 and see the Black Eyed Peas guy get on stage and listen when K'naan he slows down the tempo.. in the last bit ... it is realy good stuff nay excellent...

Great article Mid capturing some of the emotion of the tournament, emotion generated by the music. Yes, there was lots of anti-football and anti-South Africa stories before the world cup to prick up the ears of the anti-soccer people, but nothing bad ever eventuated, only good. There was so much more to this tournament than just the football and that's what a WC is all about. The reality was that there were lots of feel good stories about fans having a good time and enjoying the atmosphere and the friendliness and happiness of the African people. The World Cup was an outstanding success, like all the WCs have been so far. Our journey to hosting a WC continues this week with the delegates in town inspecting our facilities and our ability to host such a huge event. It would be great to win the right to hold a WC here. I remember how the Olympics were great for Sydney and have left a lasting legacy. I'd imagine a huge WC party in Sydney in 2022 is going to be even better.

My favourite bit was the fat old druggie with the sheer vest for life. Fat old druggies probably shouldn't wear anything sheer, certainly not vests and certainly not for life.

Nice work, Midfielder. The truth is, no other event - sporting or non-sporting - captures the emotions and attention of the whole world: every religion (including atheists!), every race, rich and poor, educated and illiterate. The 2010 WC went off without a hitch. You are right. Prior to the WC, the naysayers were hoping and waiting for the negative stories to emerge - about violence against the tourists; hooliganism amongst the tourists; poor service and infrastructure problems. Mates of mine (including German mates), who went to Sth Africa, said it was as much fun as Germany 2006.

Sorry Midi . . . but on this one I'm with the moderators !

I can see why they edited it ....

So soccer is the answer to world peace! Let's ditch the Miss World competition, and have a soccer world cup every year.

Posted the lyrics about 20 minutes ago to "waving Flag" as sung at the WC, they are still waiting moderation ... just a little test to see if this post goes tho or if I am on some kinda watch list now..

The original title was.. Let’s Rejoice in the Beautiful Game Article with 90% of links taken out but if you try hard you could find them... The world Cup has finished 209 nations competed represented by the final 32 with Spain winning. For me there were many highlights but what struck me most of all was the South African feel to the World Cup. I can still see Mike Monroe on Channel 7 ( now there’s a coincidence Ch 7) putting the boot in just before the WC. According to Mike and many in the seven news room go and risk your life if you dare go to the WC in Africa. So what happen, well like all world cups it was an international community getting together to cerebrate things with the centre being football. The world wide Football Family came together as always in good will and in the spirit of fun. I watched the opening concert and it blew me away. Shakira sang Waka Waka http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRpeEdMmmQ0 .. god she gorgeous her song has when the various youtubes are added together has had over 200 hits. This world cup version has over 120 million hits… The opening concern as a whole over 500 million hits I am told. What most moved me was the pride shown by the African performers and many of the Black US acts. The Black Eyed Peas in their introduction to “I Got the Feeling” http://www.youtube.com/2010FIFAWorldCupVEVO#p/u/9/LLCaOBj7ZHU showed great pride in being African. Also..”Meet me half way had a feeling about it “.. For me they looked very proud to be there and representing the US to their home land like we have survived. John Legend – “Wake Up Everybody” had a great feel to it, a terrific performance and a huge credit to him. K’naan sang “wavinflag” http://www.youtube.com/2010FIFAWorldCupVEVO it is very powerful as good as Dylan ever penned. Some unkind critics termed it the Coka a Cola song HHHHMMMM very unfair. K’naan was “Born in Somalia, K'naan spent his childhood in Mogadishu and lived there during the Somali Civil war. He is Muslim, whose name, means "traveler" in the Somali language. He spent the early years of his life listening to the hip-hop records sent to him from America by his father, who had left Somalia earlier. At thirteen he left with his mother and via New York moved to Canada. In Canada K'naan taught himself hip hop and rap diction, copying the lyrics and style of US groups. Part of the lyrics from Wavin Flag… During the singing of this part of the song the lead male singer from the Black Eyed Peas pushed himself on to the stage to sing [watch from 3:15]. For this part K’nann slowed down [about4:25] the tempo to very slow and almost sang in a whisper the audience knew the words and cheered as he came to this part. So many wars, settling scores Bringin' us promises leaving us poor I heard them say love is the way Love is the answer that's what they say But look how they treat us Make us believers We fight there battles Then they deceive us Try to control us They couldn't hold us Cause we just move forward Just like buffalo soldiers (But we strugglin) Fighting to eat (And we wonderingg) When we'll be free So we patiently wait For that faithfully day It's not far away I ask who else or what other organisation could put on the show FIFA did. Not only break down many stereotypes about Africa and South Africa in particular. The WC CD, two marvellous concerts that challenged the thinking of many, a brilliant opening ceremony. We cheered and again fell in love with an old fat druggie who with his sheer vest for life, love for his country and man hugs made us feel good. Who else would put Shakira a Latian American bombshell and in K’naan a Somalian Muslim on the same concert and allow a song with the rebellious words of wavin flag be sent across all parts of the world. Who else today would commission such works, who else would allow our fat over weight former druggie so much freedom with the media. As an aside the African pride and feel in this WC could be a tipping point in the US … meaning black Americans by and large ignore football, if they now take to football in greater numbers it could change sport in the US. China want the WC now so how do I close … OK with part of the middle bit of K’nann WC performance… Staying forever young Singing songs underneath the sun Let’s rejoice in the beautiful game

Sometimes I wonder aloud why I tried so hard .. this article has been changed so much and all the links taken out. The title has been changed ... Mods when you change something to this degree its better to reject the article.... I also fail to understand why there was not a single word that mocked anyone or any sport ... The original article was about music and the WC ... Given if I posted all the links it would take forever to get tho Maybe I will post the original article and see if I can get a link or too tho...