Some people would say the main symbol of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa was the terrific sound of the Vuvuzela. The seemingly harmless horn caused major disturbances and problems before, during and after matches. The Vuvuzela, which typically generates a loud monotone note when blown, destroyed a whole month of excitement for many football fans around the world.
The noise it makes can lead to hearing loss for unprotected ears. Exposure to thousands of people blowing it at the same time, such as in the football grounds during an intense game, can be irritating at best and unbearable at worst.
Vivienne Michael, Chief Executive of Deafness Research UK said, “No one wants to spoil the fun, but many people attending the matches in South Africa will be unaware of the risks they are taking with their hearing. We believe it is common sense that fans should be made aware of the dangers.”
South African footy fans were used to the noise the horns made and attended every match with them. They considered it to be traditional and indigenous to their culture. However it was a different story for many other supporters. Countries including England (who made an unexpected early exit) wanted a ban on them as it was deemed a hazard to the ears. But South African fans opposed this view and FIFA agreed. They accepted that it was their traditional instrument that adds a unique experience to the World Cup for everyone.
Many players argued that the instrument made them lose concentration and that it also prevented them from hearing one another out on the pitch. France team captain Patrice Evra told the BBC that he blamed the noise generated by the Vuvuzelas for his side’s poor performance in their opening group game against Uruguay, which finished goalless. Fans complained that they couldn’t hear the commentator. Organisers and TV broadcasters also got hampered by the decibels. These problems caused by the Vuvuzela aren’t a shock to hear as the noise it makes has been likened to the buzzing of a thousand bees.
During the tournament the Vuvuzela maintained the main attraction as it was a traditional and valuable symbol of South African matches. Big players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi were even left behind in the shadow of the dominating Vuvuzela. The deafening sound can lead to serious health concerns which, for many people, was the main issue throughout the World Cup. Let’s hope it doesn’t cause this much of a problem in future years of one of the biggest sporting tournaments in the world.
Mehtap Ornek
Image: Vuvuzela Red © Berndt Meyer, 2007.
