People in the soccer world talk about the passion of the fans, and the display of pride has been nothing short of amazing since the World Cup kicked off three weeks ago.
Tons of fans from around the world spent thousands of dollars, pounds, euros, pesos, real and many other currencies to get to the Southern Hemisphere. And they have had to spend, as prices for hotel rooms and nearly every other accommodation drastically increased.
Going into the quarterfinals, paid attendance was 2.69 million, Danny Jordaan, chief executive of the local organizing committee, said last week.
“The signs are there,” Jordaan said. “The South African fans have been superb. The spirit inside the country has been one of the outstanding features of this World Cup.”
According to the South African government, the event will have a gross impact of 9.3 billion rand (about $1.2 billion) on the country’s economy. An estimated 373,000 tourists will have visited South Africa during the Cup, each spending an estimated $4,000.
But undeterred, they have come wearing the bright colors of their nations — from face paint to crazy costumes. They have united in the stands, and despite their differences, they all have one thing in common: smiles.
