Hello one and all,
Care to join us for a little bit of colourful chaos and disturbance?
We'll be playing a game of Frisbee in order to challenge the by-laws of the Public Open Space.
We NEED your help in doing so. Come be part of our activation at the Moses Mabhida Stadium 15 March 2010. (Sky Car side)
Bring your friends and family,
WIth thanks and a 'pretty please,'
From,
Brendan and Kate
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Stadium Visit, 09 March 2010
Tuesday 9 March 2010 marked our first collective visit to the Moses Mabhida stadium. Some had visited the stadium in their individual capacity, but now it was time for the ten of us to experience it together. The initial intention was to do an educational tour through the stadium from 11am till noon. On arrival however, we were told that we didn’t qualify for the educational (free) tour, as we were not a school. We were a little confused by this given that we are university students completing an Honours degree. I really don’t know how much more educational one could get? We decided to boycott the tour of R75, and instead purchased tickets for the Sky Car.
Before embarking on the Sky Car trip the lecturer, Naretha, and I decided to make a quick trip to the “Public” toilet facilities in the stadium. I write “public” as the first sign that one is confronted with reads: “No Contractor’s Workers Allowed to Use This Facility.” So this means that the Contractor’s may use the bathrooms, but no person putting in all the work, time and effort may use the bathrooms. There is no indication of the alternate location for the ‘workers’ to use, but a few of us concurred that they were probably, and in all likelihood, substandard porta-potties*.
(* Individual toilet facilities that can be transported from place to place. Frequently found at field-hosted events such as concerts etc. They usually smell terrible, are poorly ventilated and have limited to no water supply.)
What was noted was that it is surprising, given our complicated past of segregation and discrimination, that we are still able to enforce segregated use of facilities, especially when they are deemed public. One questions why the people working for the contractors are any less deserving to use to toilet facilities, and what prejudices are held against these workers that make their use of the toilets ‘undesirable.’
In turn, it makes one question how Fifa and the stadium will begin to determine and restrict the notions of ‘public space.’ The by-laws already begin to speak of restrictions and the undesirables. There are areas referred to as Exclusion Zones, these are areas that are controlled and demarcated by the municipality, they exist around the outskirts of the stadium’s perimeter. These exclusion zones and controlled access zones create a sense of division.
Part of the reasoning behind going to stadium was to allow us to begin to question these restrictions and the space in general. In pairs we will be creating activations and interventions in different spaces around the city and stadium. Hopefully we will be able to document these through photographs, videos and written material for others to engage with.
- Kate
Before embarking on the Sky Car trip the lecturer, Naretha, and I decided to make a quick trip to the “Public” toilet facilities in the stadium. I write “public” as the first sign that one is confronted with reads: “No Contractor’s Workers Allowed to Use This Facility.” So this means that the Contractor’s may use the bathrooms, but no person putting in all the work, time and effort may use the bathrooms. There is no indication of the alternate location for the ‘workers’ to use, but a few of us concurred that they were probably, and in all likelihood, substandard porta-potties*.
(* Individual toilet facilities that can be transported from place to place. Frequently found at field-hosted events such as concerts etc. They usually smell terrible, are poorly ventilated and have limited to no water supply.)
What was noted was that it is surprising, given our complicated past of segregation and discrimination, that we are still able to enforce segregated use of facilities, especially when they are deemed public. One questions why the people working for the contractors are any less deserving to use to toilet facilities, and what prejudices are held against these workers that make their use of the toilets ‘undesirable.’
In turn, it makes one question how Fifa and the stadium will begin to determine and restrict the notions of ‘public space.’ The by-laws already begin to speak of restrictions and the undesirables. There are areas referred to as Exclusion Zones, these are areas that are controlled and demarcated by the municipality, they exist around the outskirts of the stadium’s perimeter. These exclusion zones and controlled access zones create a sense of division.
Part of the reasoning behind going to stadium was to allow us to begin to question these restrictions and the space in general. In pairs we will be creating activations and interventions in different spaces around the city and stadium. Hopefully we will be able to document these through photographs, videos and written material for others to engage with.
- Kate
Saturday, March 6, 2010
How a good World Cup can be GREAT!
As I sit here and type this first blog of mine I am unhappy and disappointed. Once again the Sharks have limped out of a tough match, beaten, for the fourth consecutive time this season. Now i know this is a Soccer World Cup blog but my mopy depression has relevance.
All sports fans out there in the world know the sinking feeling of defeat, it can be sickening right down to the core fibres of your soul. Losing brings out the worst in people and no matter what we say, it hurts every time. It lowers the entire mood and attitude of the environment in which the loss is experienced.
Bafana Bafana must win matches in the World Cup! They just must. It is the X-factor upon which the hosting of a truly successful World Cup is hinged. In order for the experience of our visitors to be a memorable one, we as hosts need to step up and take centre stage. A Grandmother won't serve her best tea and cakes if the neighbour's dog has been eating her cat's food all week, so how could we expect millions of South Africans to try be polite and welcoming if they have that sinking feeling of defeat on their minds??
We as South Africans are a very proud nation, and come the 11th June every person in this country should be behind our boys, willing them on to do what we could only dream of! Only 11 carefully selected players can be chosen to carry our nations pride and hopes. Which leads me on to my next point; the actual choosing of these 11 players. So far in our build up very few have stuck up their hand, our current (I only mention this because it is uncertain if he will in fact retain this status) captain Teko Modise is woefully out of form, our only flittering striker Katlego Mphela doesn't get quality enough ball up front to maximise his talent and we can't seem to settle on a first choice keeper or find a the right combinations at the back. Our coach intends to find the right mix of players and turn these "boys into men" over the next few months with camps planned in Brazil, Germany and then back at home. I believe we have the quality, time and drive to turn our recent form around and perform in the global arena as equals, and with a proud nation behind them Bafana Bafana can make this a World Cup to remember!
Now I'm certainly not saying we'll be bad hosts if we lose matches, no. What I am saying is just imagine the tea and cake our Grannies would serve if her cat was fat and happy! :)
All sports fans out there in the world know the sinking feeling of defeat, it can be sickening right down to the core fibres of your soul. Losing brings out the worst in people and no matter what we say, it hurts every time. It lowers the entire mood and attitude of the environment in which the loss is experienced.
Bafana Bafana must win matches in the World Cup! They just must. It is the X-factor upon which the hosting of a truly successful World Cup is hinged. In order for the experience of our visitors to be a memorable one, we as hosts need to step up and take centre stage. A Grandmother won't serve her best tea and cakes if the neighbour's dog has been eating her cat's food all week, so how could we expect millions of South Africans to try be polite and welcoming if they have that sinking feeling of defeat on their minds??
We as South Africans are a very proud nation, and come the 11th June every person in this country should be behind our boys, willing them on to do what we could only dream of! Only 11 carefully selected players can be chosen to carry our nations pride and hopes. Which leads me on to my next point; the actual choosing of these 11 players. So far in our build up very few have stuck up their hand, our current (I only mention this because it is uncertain if he will in fact retain this status) captain Teko Modise is woefully out of form, our only flittering striker Katlego Mphela doesn't get quality enough ball up front to maximise his talent and we can't seem to settle on a first choice keeper or find a the right combinations at the back. Our coach intends to find the right mix of players and turn these "boys into men" over the next few months with camps planned in Brazil, Germany and then back at home. I believe we have the quality, time and drive to turn our recent form around and perform in the global arena as equals, and with a proud nation behind them Bafana Bafana can make this a World Cup to remember!
Now I'm certainly not saying we'll be bad hosts if we lose matches, no. What I am saying is just imagine the tea and cake our Grannies would serve if her cat was fat and happy! :)
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Welcome!
Hi there,
Welcome to the Vega Honours' 2010 Blog spot where we will be investigating and documenting the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
We look forward to interacting with you on this topic.
Cheers,
Durban Crew
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