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My Cape Town |
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We were on the Grand Parade, the same spot where in 1990 an excited crowd of over 100 000 jostled to hear Nelson Mandela make his first speech following his release. The backdrop then as now was the magnificent City Hall and behind that, Table Mountain. The crowd this time was expected to be the same, spread over the seven days of the event. The key players weren’t quite in Mandela’s league but there were similarities. Having endured serious hardship, these were people ready and willing to make a better future. This was the Homeless World Cup. Mention the Homeless World Cup to anyone and the response is almost inevitable: “Well at least accommodation should be straightforward, hee hee!” Then there is a moment’s pause as they reflect on what they’ve said and, for some, a quick flush of shame. And so it should be. It’s difficult to imagine how bleak it must be to eke out a gutter existence, living literally hand to mouth, despair hovering constantly overhead. All too often we become hardened to the homelessness around us. But most of us are quick to notice it when we are abroad. It is, after all, a global issue.
Pause for a minute to picture the vast networks set up just to select each team of players. How do you contact people who by definition have no fixed address? Not by email or mobile phone, that’s for sure. And yet through the social housing network, street newspapers, posters in shelters and good old word of mouth the message was spread across five continents. It’s perhaps understandable in first world countries, but what about the wild steppes of Kazakhstan? Or desperately poor Rwanda? Or war-torn Afghanistan? Yet these and 45 other countries sent teams. Then there’s the training to arrange, the kit, the passports, the flights, accommodation, food, press... A logistical nightmare, but what a result. In the run up to this, the fourth Homeless World Cup, the lives and communities of some 10,000 players were significantly transformed. Research following the previous three cups found that the feeling of belonging, the challenge of working in a team, the process of regaining a health-oriented attitude towards life, self esteem and the simple experience of fun saw significant change in the players. After the 2005 cup over 77% of players said the experience had changed their lives forever. They’d found regular employment, come off drugs and alcohol, pursued education, improved their housing, and some were even playing for semi-professional and professional football clubs.
And the outcome? The newspapers were able to report something refreshingly different: “Russia beat newcomers Kazakhstan in the finals today by one goal to nil in front of packed crowds at the Grand Parade.” “Speaking at the press conference Russia's Captain Shelaevskiy Viatcheslav said, "One of my strongest dreams has been realised. Kazakhstan are our good neighbours and good friends. I will never forget these days. Football helped save me.' " Not everyone involved in the Homeless World Cup will find a better future for themselves. But every single person will have experienced one of life’s strongest forces - the immense power of hope and positivity against the odds. What a lesson to us all. Daisy To read more about the Homeless World Cup or to buy excellent HWC memorabilia or to make a donation go to www.streetsoccer.org . The 2007 Cup will be held in Copenhagen and the 2008 Cup in Melbourne.
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Guest House of the Month |
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Flight News31/10/06Author : Cape Business News www.cbn.co.za |
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British Airways today began operating double-daily flights to Cape Town, providing an additional 14 040 seats between the Mother City and London this summer season.
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BALLET: GISELLE
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I stood still, soaking it all in - the noise, the atmosphere, the spirit of the occasion. Music blared out of huge speakers, interspersed with bursts of cheerful commentary.
But it takes a huge amount of audacity to tackle it on a global scale.
