Many nations claim to have the most committed World Cup fans. But how many of them are willing to ship a customized double-decker bus across the world?
Oranje Fans, the official fan group of the Dutch national team, are doing just that. According to the group’s website, the bus will be arriving in the port city of Durban and will make its way across the country as the team plays in at least three different cities. It will be parked in a central city location on game days, and will lead the fans’ parade to the stadium—just as it did in Euro 2008.
But perhaps the best part of Dutch fans’ tournament plans is not their bus, but their accommodations. They have rented out several large resorts across the country to accommodate the roughly 6,000 supporters expected to attend, and many will literally be camping on resort grounds.
“De Oranjecamping is for everyone who supports the Dutch national team, loves togetherness, a big party and going on holiday,” Wieke de Vries, a spokesperson for the group,told the Cape Argus.“The guests will stay at a camping venue that suits camping and party needs.”
And then the whole world
went deaf
If you’re attending the 2010 World Cup, some German scientists have a message for you: plug your ears.
According to a new study out of Stuttgart, vuvuzelas—the plastic horns that will flood soccer stadiums at this summer’s tournament—can achieve dangerously high sound levels. Scientists compared the plastic horns to other soccer noisemakers, including air horns, samba drums, cowbells, rattles, and—that’s right—the singing of a VfB Stuttgart supporter, and found that the plastic horn was the loudest of them all. (It should be noted, however, that a VfB Stuttgart fan’s volume varies with lung capacity and sobriety.)
Given that FIFA has turned down several appeals to have the horns banned, and thousands are expected at each match, The Sideline’s advice is this: listen to the scientists and bring your earplugs.
The perils of watching
soccer at home
Just as watching soccer in a South African stadium might be harmful to your hearing, watching soccer at home might be equally hazardous—to your home and your friends.
According to a new survey by Lightspeed Research, a quarter of World Cup fans claim to have injured themselves or a friend while celebrating a goal during the tournament, while another 21 percent said they have broken or otherwise damaged furniture.
Meanwhile, the most common source of property damage for at-home spectators is no surprise: beer. A full 53 percent of respondents admitted they have stained the carpet or couch by spilling beer during a game.
At the same time, 42 percent of respondents said that no amount of money could persuade them to give up the remote when their team is playing, so it would appear there is only one solution for those seeking to keep themselves and their living rooms safe during the tournament: helmets and plastic.
So you think you can diski
dance?
There’s a dance contest of sorts taking place in South Africa, and several groups are vying for the title of “best” World Cup dance. Here are the contenders:
The Diski
Created by the South African tourism bureau to generate excitement around soccer and South African culture, the diski dance is basically a celebration of different soccer moves. (“Diski” is what people in the townships call soccer.) Since arriving in South Africa two weeks ago, The Sideline has seen no fewer than three impromptu street performances. Check it out here.
The Waka Waka
Shakira is promoting a dance called the Waka Waka, a companion to her World Cup song of the same name. Fans of the Colombian pop star are also being encouraged to learn the moves and to upload their own performances, all to help raise money for her educational charity. Check it out here.
The Scooter
Finally, South Africa’s number one soccer fan, Machaka, (yes, South Africa has an official “number one soccer fan”) has created a dance he calls “The Scooter,” and he claims it will be the official dance of Bafana Bafana—and the best dance of the tournament.
"A scooter is very fast and can move through cars very quickly,” Machaka told South Africa’s Star. “We came up with the name because our boys will not be waiting for anyone, instead they will zoom past every team in the World Cup.” Unfortunately, the dance is not yet available online.
