Every four years, there is a major gathering of soccer fans somewhere in the world. Why? The answer is simple, the FIFA World Cup. This morning, the 2010 edition is set to begin (actually within less than half an hour of this posting).
What makes this year's event most noteworthy is the fact that it's not being held in Brazil, Spain or any of the other countries which are most well-known in the soccer world, but rather in the midst of Soweto, in South Africa. The past decades have witnessed amazing development and advancements for South Africa which in some ways is still budding onto the world stage. The next four weeks will cetainly help the effort, allowing many parts of the world, who have not yet had the chance to appreciate the beauty and complexity of that sub-equatorial country to get better aquainted.
Amid great joy and celebration, there is a note of sadness this morning too with the news of the sudden death of one of Nelson Mandella's granddaughters, who was actually at the opening celebrations last night, but was the victim of an automobile accident as she returned home.
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