Forget hot atmo. This is a supernova.

KAI PFAFFENBACH/REUTERS South African fans blow their "vuvuzela" trumpets before the 2010 World Cup opening match between Mexico and South Africa at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg. (June 11, 2010)

Seats? Check.

Ear plugs? Check.

Big, fat smile? Check.

Forty minutes before kickoff and Soccer City is beyond hopping. It's bedlam. Madness. Vuvuzela inspired chaos. Many feared that getting people in and out of this place could be an organizational disaster. It hasn't been - or maybe everybody just left at dawn. Because the place is jammers.

Impossible to describe the impact of the vuvuzela on this game. It's already deafening. Even to talk to a neighbour, you're forced to press your mouth up against his ear and scream. And then there's still a lot of 'What? WHAT?!!'

Chris Young and I were standing outside for a breather a second ago and he said to me: 'This isn't a game. This is history.'

I wish I could've stuffed you all in my suitcase - it's magic.

C.K.

Click here to view photos from the opening ceremony

Comments

[tabitha]

The cafe next to my work is playing the game and the screaming is so loud it just sounds like bees going crazy, cant even hear the announcer! wish you stuffed me in your suitcase too.

[Carla]

I wish one of you had brought a Flip video camera (or the like) to illustrate this blog first hand. I would love to have seen something shot from the back seat of that crammed Polo, f'r'instance. Or a panorama of Soccer City, shot from your seats. Oh well, we will have to make do with just words. How quaint. ; ) (Seriously, great job so far--enjoying the posts!)

[FamilyinBarrie]

The flipping background horn noise is so annoying. Can not stand the buzzing bee sound and its only worse now that SA has just scored.

[jkcullum@xplornet.com]

FIFA World Cup, great opening ceremonies, exciting first game, too bad the noise from the uvuzelas were so distracting for me and I can only imagine what it was doing to the players.

Fiddich

[eyebleaf]

Loving the dispatches so far, gents. Enjoy yourselves and be safe.