by Luiz Bravim

Created on: June 21, 2010   Last Updated: June 22, 2010

For hundreds of millions across the globe, the World Cup is an opportunity to witness their favorite teams battle for pride and supremacy. The winning side earns $30 million from FIFA plus bonuses from the national association and corporate sponsors. Although only a handful are able to make the trip to South Africa, those watching at home, bars, restaurants and work are no less passionate. This edition of the World Cup features a minor annoyance with serious consequences: the vuvuzela.

Proponents argue that the ubiquitous instrument is part of South African culture and cannot be banned. A closer look reveals that the vuvuzela’s history is almost comically short; it gained popularity in the late 1970s and has only the weakest of ties to South African history. Ironically, most of the vuvuzelas used in 2010 are made in China. South Africans took to the vuvuzela as a uniting instrument in a land where 10 different languages are commonly spoken. A sample of editorials the world over reveals far more division than unity over this modern nuisance.

The vuvuzela emits an incessant buzzing sound akin to a hive of angry bees. There is no pleasing rhythm of African drums or humorous British fan-melodies attached. Its main attributes are price and the ease with which it can be picked up. There is no skill, talent or memory involved in blowing a cacophonous plastic horn.

FIFA has staged the World Cup since 1930. Recently, television revenues from the event have skyrocketed as the popularity of the sport expanded from traditional the bastions of Europe and Latin America to the newer growth-areas in Africa and Asia. Dozens of networks paid billions of dollars combined for the rights simply to air the games in their respective countries. The sound of the vuvuzela is extremely difficult to tune out. It bleeds over the announcers’ commentary, natural crowd sounds and team communication. Turning down the volume does not make a difference as the viewer merely gets a softer, but no less distinct vuvuzela experience.

Those watched the World Cups in the U.S., France, Korea/Japan and Germany recall a positive broadcast of the games. Noise from the crowd was common, but it never overwhelmed or took anything away from the sport. This has not been the case in 2010. A ban should have been implemented following complaints during the Confederations Cup staged last summer. By allowing this nonsensical instrument to continue throughout the competition, FIFA is losing viewers, future ad revenue and the opportunity to continue the sport’s expansion into capital-rich North America and the Middle East.

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