So here we are. The day before the biggest sporting event in the world begins.
The tension and atmosphere surrounding this World Cup is one that I cannot recall feeling. In my lifetime I can remember back to the Mexico 86 World Cup and each one has always played it’s part in making football what it is today (apart from 94!)
I remember watching the 1990 World Cup when the late great Sir Bobby Robson’s men bravely reached the semi-finals. I remember the epic semi final against Germany when we had the tears of Gazza, the dreaded penalty shoot out and the expected exit. Never before has the whole country come to a complete stand still. With an estimated audience of 31 million only Charles and Diana’s wedding has provided a larger audience.
But here we are some twenty years later and the World Cup is heading to South Africa. In 1990 South Africa was a completely different place to what it is now. Nelson Mandela was released from prison. There was a vast overhaul in the political climate when the National Party took the first steps towards ending racial discrimination. This was by raising the ban on opposing parties including the ANC. Mandela’s 27 year imprisonment ended and he was a free man. In 1994 South Africa held it’s first ever multi-racial elections and Mandela became president with a landslide victory. But the country would not change overnight, unprecedented levels of crime, high unemployment and one of the highest HIV recorded cases around.
Twenty years ago it would have been deemed impossible to hold an event such as the World Cup yet miracles can happen. Tomorrow when a frail 91 year old Nelson Mandela addresses the world it will not only be one of is last public speeches but it will be closure for a country that has come full circle.
Just like the Olympics in China in 2008 the expected troubles and violence did not happen and we were given possibly the best Olympic Games in history. Whilst the world’s eyes of scrutiny will be watching South Africa I feel that this may also be the greatest World Cup ever.