My favorite Fussball-Trikot: Tim Wiese Trikot kaufen
from: Jaelynns Site
Olympus Pic Blog
Darlenes Weblog
Ladies and gentlemen it’s here! The countdown is on and we are about to cross the psychological number of 100 days left to go. FIFA Soccer World Cup has become the most awaited sports event in recent history not just because of its magnitude but because it comes to the world’s most colourful continent – Africa!
While the Western media still doubts South Africa’s capability to hold the tournament and always throwing jibes at the continent, the South African authorities are ready to make a buzz of this as 2nd March counts exactly 100 days to the start of this magnanimous event.
What should South Africa do to convince the world that it is ready?:
I have had to ask myself, what else will South Africa do to convince the world that it is not only ready, but capable of hosting and hosting well, the World Cup?
He continues:
The countdown, therefore, has nothing to do with the readiness of the teams, rather it tends to sensitise us to the greatest single sport spectacle on earth. And in this wise, the South Africans can be assured of my vote. The South Africans have so woven life round the World Cup that long after the competition had gone, (just one month) the legacy that will be left behind will be awesome.
The BlaBla Blog puts it into perspective (albeit more practical) by focusing on the ‘fly the flag for 2010 in South Africa event which is a celebration of this important milestone,
2 March is therefore earmarked as a day on which South Africans, here and abroad, are called upon to demonstrate their excitement for the tournament and to display their passion for the country and the beautiful game
In an interesting survey from the South African Road Safety blog, the figures show that 85 % of the South Africans believe the country’s ready to host the tournament:
a record high (85%) of South Africans supporting the preparation ahead of the World Cup has surfaced in African Response’s latest 2010 Barometer – measuring perceptions of readiness ahead of the World Cup in around the major metropolitans in South Africa
However, South Africans are cognisant of the fact that there is still work to be done ahead of the World Cup and 61% agree that we need to focus on policing and security if our visitors are to leave our shores having had a good experience in our country
The SouthAfrica WorldCupBlog was more satirical in its post titled – Here come the fat cats of FIFA…:
FIFA President Sepp Blatter joined many other dignitaries for a 100-day countdown bash in Durban. Local Organizing Committee Chief Executive Danny Jordaan will be present along with Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe. Other participating celebrities include Jay Jay Okocha, Roger Milla, Mark Fish, and Hossam Hassan.
It also highlights the issues still grappling the organisers especially on the issue of the infrastructure in particular the stadium(s):
The latest concerns surround the quality of playing surfaces that are available at both the host stadiums and at some of the training bases chosen by the participating teams.”… The fields were boggy and saturated so the English FA contracted Richard Hayden, from the Sports Turf Research Institute to work on improving their condition. He did such a good job that FIFA signed him up to work on all the problematic pitches around the training camps.
According to Soccerway.com, South Africa is still wooing fans with 100 days remaining:
President Jacob Zuma in his state of the nation address urged locals to buy more tickets and to support the games to honour former president Nelson Mandela, who lobbied to bring the World Cup here. Mandela was central in assisting the country to win the rights to host this great event. We therefore have to make the World Cup a huge success in his honour,” said Zuma. “The infrastructure, security and logistics arrangements are in place to ensure a successful tournament.
“We will deliver a great World Cup,” declares The Times Online blog:
The rising excitement across the nation is palpable and South Africa is about to show the world what Africa is capable of doing. We are a nation with major social challenges, but we will deliver a great World Cup
Finally BushRadio’s blog discusses the events arranged to mark the occasion:
The deputy president will then join a major public celebration at the Durban city hall where a range of festivities will provide a foretaste of the colour and energy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament,”
And also,
Marking the day also Bafana Bafana will play host to neighbours Namibia on Wednesday evening, kick-off at 20h30. The hosts go into the International Friendly in good form after 6-2 and 3-0 wins over Swaziland and Zimbabwe respectively.
Taxi transport in South Africa is a little different to taxi transport in many other countries. The South African taxi system combines metered taxis and the somewhat less conventional minibus taxis that, while providing an interesting look into South African culture, can be extremely difficult to navigate.
Taxi travel in South Africa is unlike that of most other countries in the world. Catching a taxi in South Africa is a far cry from just standing on the street corner and hailing one. You won’t find them patrolling the streets waiting for you to hail them – metered taxis need to be phoned for pickup. While useful, this can be problematic when you are looking to travel to more than one destination.
With that said, should you choose to take a taxi in South Africa, metered taxis are definitely the recommended option. With efficient service and experienced drivers, they can be called from anywhere and will do door-to-door pickups. The only problem you are likely
Minibus taxis, on the other hand, make up around 90% of taxi transportation in South Africa and are used largely by locals for day-to-day transport. Somewhat unconventionally, these taxis have their own entirely unique system of functioning. With no scheduled or specific stops, minibus taxis have created a sign-language system that passengers use to flag them down. These hand signals are necessary to determine where the minibus is going and along which route. This, of course, can pose a problem for travellers who don’t know the system.
If you ARE looking to catch a minibus taxi, it is best done with a professional guide or a local who understands the system. It’s an authentic South African experience, but be warned – many of these taxis are un-roadworthy and the drivers are often reckless. Do so with caution!
Safe travels!
Earlier this year, in January, we had brought a leaked picture of the new away shirt of South Africa. We can now confirm that the design matches the one officially unveiled for the 2010 World Cup to be hosted by the same South Africa. The only difference between the leak and the officially launched shirt is an added emblem to the chest. The Adidas logo is centralised on the chest with the Football Federation logo on the right side of the chest and a badge of South Africa on the left side of the chest.
The shirt will be mainly green, with darker green parts on the bottom part of the sleeves and on the sides of the shirt. The trademark stripes of manufacturers Adidas are yellow on the shoulders and bottom parts of the sleeves. There are yellow sewn details just above the cuffs and above the lower edge of the shirt. There will be the South Africa flag on a darker green patch at the back of the neck. The shirt will be used in only the third World Cup in the nation’s history, where the team has never gone beyond the group stage. The South African have been handed a tough group A, as they will have to fight with Mexico, Uruguay and France for the top two places in the group.
Grabouw, 20 February 2010
1st
2h22′ish
Midway through the bike course I glanced down at my legs, goose flesh shriveled pistons willed on by heart and mind, heat treated to total dehydrated. As was everything else. I still could not get a sweat droplet onto my sunnies, my Enduren was nearly all out. “Kid, you’re going to blow”. Was all I could think. Had I over cooked it? I couldnt think.
Arriving into Grabouw yesterday was manic in the most positive sense. Dylan had driven me over, as he had two years (we were still listening to Faithless’ Insomnia) - we hadnt spoken much. Stopping road side for a slash meant 1 - Hydration was working and 2 - some 20 vehicles loaded with bikes laid into the hooter. Exodus to Grabouw en mass. Really brilliant to see and be a part of that feel - that momentum of outdoor lifestyle choice.
750 athletes enjoyed the Xterra Lite, which was getting into running as I arrived. They’d maxed out the transition with many having no choice but to ready their transition stash like a picnic on the cricket oval. It was noticible, the amount of youth in the Lite, so awesome.
Big shout out to Oaklands High School, for making the trip from Knysna. Hope you guys got home safely. I believe the size of the Lite is a show of new interest, and hope they’ll evolve to the full next year.
Arriving in all this was some buzz. Seems no matter how early I plan to arrive - and perhaps staying in the aircon till later yesterday was better than warmup - it always gets a little frenzied. Warmup routine, racking, tracing my race number (had forgotten my 2XU race belt), staying hydrated, dodging ques at the toilet… But made it down to swim start semi orderly.
One lap 1500m wetsuit legal swim in the most serene water. So stunning, the mountains and sky from water level. After a solid start effort, I settled in, 4th feet maybe. Felt great, comfortable, and to plan, till I noticed my feet had let go of his feet: Kent Horner, my marker for the day, had pulled a few metres with a team swimmer. I responded immediately but damage done. And again, had to swim the majority of the swim on my own. Little disappointed, as I’d really been intent on sticking. That aside, fair swim, stroke felt good, and my second outing in the V:1 2XU confirmed my suspicion’s: Legal cheating in a medium is more my fit.
Spectators lined the entire swim exit to transition pathway - like a corridor of pumping support. Kent had 37 seconds lead onto the bike. 37seconds means:
I get to watch him for a while, being the chaser and not the chased.
Can gauge relative strength, by speed of gap closing.
And psychologically toughen the challenge by passing. Passing is horrible.
I biked up alongside Kent on a small hike-a-bike section, one trying to out walk the other. For all our speedy training, there we were, one foot infront of the other at snails pace. I managed to mount a meter before, and pushed down with all I had sitting on the front edge of my saddle. The gradient was ride-able but still hurtful, into a sandy left, and onto the fire road withouth glancing back. The heat was sweltering. I kept pressure, trying to stay smooth with a high cadence. I wanted but couldnt get out of the saddle. Only later did I look back, on a switch back, to check the damages. I had 200m. Thats all I needed.
After a bike setup with Jeroen Swart at Sport Science Institute 10 days ago, I’ve been getting comfi with an entirely new position. Its power. I could not recommend his expertise more. Especially my climbing feels to be more comfortable and in control. I’d been out to Grabouw 5 times in the past two weeks. But the course is like a cameleon, ever changing. The rock that wasnt there, the branch that had been moved. I picked my way down loose terrain, slid out on pine needles for a light crash, kept sipping Enduren, and felt like I was on.
But then it stopped, the power sensation.
Had I over cooked it? How could I be on empty so soon?
I throttle back. I needed my coffee fix in the morning, but its a diuretic? Maybe I shouldnt have. Before I can dictate this flow of thoughts, I’ve lost focus and energy and a few precious seconds. My mouth was dry, my skin was dry.
I stopped at the drinks station, unclipped, and knocked back three cups of water. Never before have I stopped on the bike at an aid station. It was time well spent. Together with easing off from from full tilt, I got to the final climb before the rock garden holding it together as best I could. My old man was out in the sun, with precious information. 3′ he said. I needed to hear that. Partly as a boost and partly as security for taking less risks through the sketchy single track.
I loved the rock garden in pre-riding. So testing. So perfect for my full suspension Epic. Now it was tricky getting my hazey mind to control my hands. Like a ragdoll.
From here it was a a quick push to transition. A quick push to more water, to more Enduren. Its strange, feeling so on the edge, so close to shutdown, but only pushing at 80%.
Shuffled to the first water point, and got a 4′50 bike end split there, as well as 6 water saches. Between them, and the swim in the stream crossing, I got my core temp down, and blood flowing more to muscles than skin for cooling. I’d thankfully got friendly with this climb last weekend, and felt like I knew exactly what needed to be done. Aid station to aid station.
Having seen Chad Gordon numerous times in Grabouw over the past weeks for chiro treatment - I’d jogged on the beach finish a handful of times in the past month. This time it was not alone, not without arrows, not without my sister there going crazy, or a crowd on the far side, or a chopper keeping pace.
I wanted this one. I needed this one.
My sense of relief was like a wave you didnt know was building. Grateful. To have talent and opportunity from my father in Heaven. Grateful to have family and friends present, to have new coach beaming, to have Specialized’s Global Marketing Manager present for my first outing in his Specialized kit design. Grateful to be on the board, to finish after last years mechanical. Grateful to end the chapter and start the next block.
Seems it stretched out to 7min by the finish, to Kent Horner. He’s a class act, and suffered in the heat. Would have been a closer race had conditions been normal. Third was Nico Pfitzenmaier, a German now residing in the Cape. Mari Rabie won the ladies race without hesitation - amazing effort. Michelle Lombardi 2nd, and Hanli Booyens 3rd.
This morning my stomach hurts more than my limbs. Had a feast last night. Off to catch up and plan with coach in a moment, maybe after another Zambian coffee, and late afternoon I’m joining a kids duathlon in Grabouw.
If you were in the 70% that survived and finished the full:
What a champion. Congrats to you.
[Some more images here on triathlonteam.org]
