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The Ball arrives in Walvis Bay
Friday, 28 May 2010
Soccer's equivalent to the Olympic Torch, the Ball, arrived in Walvis Bay yesterday with the sound of vuvuzelas and singing children. The Mayor of Walvis Bay, Uilika Nambahu signed the Ball and noted that Namibians and the residents of Walvis Bay in particular must feel proud to be part of the epic journey of the ball. "It has crossed many borders and has been touched by a variety of people and cultures along its chosen path. That is particularly impressive as it connects all of us in a spirit of oneness and collective aspirations for a free spirited society able to pursue its own ideals and happiness."
Nambahu added that the arrival of the Ball in Walvis Bay is bound to draw the world's attention to the port city far quicker than conventional marketing and exposure techniques. "The Ball also carries with it a salient objective, that of promoting the interests and aspiration of people with disabilities. I am therefore pleased to have added my signature unreservedly to the Ball as a testimony that it touched our hearts here in Walvis Bay, and renewed my committed to the promotion and safeguarding the interests and aspirations of people with disabilities," she said.
Every four years, the Ball starts its world tour from Battersea Park in London, where the very first game of modern rules soccer took place in 1864. The Ball celebrates this moment as it gave rise to a common set of rules which enable the whole world to play together. The Ball's ultimate destination is the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup. En route to the World Cup the ball is played in organised games of football, in kick-abouts and in juggling sessions. Anyone and everyone is allowed to touch, sign and kick the Ball.
The traveling ball was the brain child of Phil Wake and Christian Wach who in 1998 at the world cup in France were inspired by the power the soccer ball had in bringing rival fans together. Infected by the World Cup bug, they began planning an overland trip to the next World Cup in Korea & Japan. The 2010 Ball was handmade in Kenya and also represents Special Olympics Africa (SOA).
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