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"An African ball made for the poorest African communities — the very embodiment of development through football in Africa."
The Ball 2010 is made by the not-for-profit Alive & Kicking in Kenya. The Ball is visiting Special Olympics projects in Africa, meeting their athletes, coaches and supporters, playing many games of Unified Football and helping to break down negative stereotypes about the intellectually disabled.
Posted on Saturday, June 12th, 2010 by Andrew Aris
“It is here. Feel it. Touch it. It is here.” Says a Bafana, Bafana grandmother as she meets The Ball and welcome us to the World Cup.
The Ball has arrived at Soccer City, just hours before the World Cup Opening Ceremony. We kick The Ball to the stadium. We juggle The Ball with fans from around the world with the stadium behind us and the roar of hundreds of Vuvuzelas all around.
Celebrate The Ball… it is here!
We call out “One Ball” and a crowd reponds in unison “One World”…
Then a Mexican fan takes charge… “When I say Una pelota everyone replies Un mundo… Una pelota… un mundo… Una pelota… un mundo…”. The crowd gathered is dancing. The Ball is held aloft and celebrated.
Next up is a French fan: “Une balle. Un monde”…
Finally a German fan: “Ein Ball. Eine Welt”…
Four Ball Carriers and The Ball
Phil and Christian stand either side of Andrew, arms interlocked. Richard is up on Andrew’s shoulders. Christian and Phil pass The Ball to Richard. Richard lifts The Ball up in the air in front of Soccer City.
The Ball is raised… the journey is over
The Ball’s epic journey is over.
There are 32 teams represented at the World Cup. 32 panels on The Ball. 32 countries The Ball has visited in the past 138 days. Over 17,000 people have kicked or headed and signed The Ball.
With an African ball, we have learned that this is Africa’s World Cup. We’ve seen that people on this continent are generous, friendly and full of life. We’ve come to care passionately about Special Olympics’ and the fantastic work that organisation is doing across Africa.
It doesn’t matter if you are black, white, orange or red…. it doesn’t matter if you are old or young…. nor if you are male or female…. it doesn’t matter if you are good at football or not and it certainly doesn’t matter whether or not you have an intellectual disability… The Ball is for everyone…
One Ball. One World.
Posted on Thursday, June 10th, 2010 by Andrew Aris
The Ball and the players are looking exhausted from 135 days on the road. The Ball has been a catalyst of love across Europe and Africa. It has brought smiles to the faces of thousands of people. It has been headed, kicked, kissed even licked. It has brought Special Olympics’ inclusive message to the attention of millions of people across Africa.
The Ball has made us (its carriers), not only aware of, but emotionally attached to the fantastic work being done by Special Olympics. Thank you to all at Special Olympics: from volunteer coaches, to parents and athletes you are doing fantastic work. You have shown us and The Ball some of the beautiful energy that this great continent has to offer.
Sometimes, when key players are injured, others rise to the occassion. While several SO South Africa staff were attending a world meeting in Marakesh, Thembile Mhlongo (Thembi) takes charge and impressively organises a fitting final Special Olympics event for The Ball at Signet Terrace Mall in Lenasia, Johannesburg.
The event starts with a short procession led by Special Olympics athletes carrying an Olympic Torch. Freestylers from Underground Soccer, show off their extensive range of ball tricks as the procession reaches its destination.
The procession
Special Olympics’ Torch and The Ball
After short speeches and a song about The Ball (”This Ball is your Ball”), performed by Phil, it is time for the football to start. Let the games begin. First up is a match on center court between Underground Soccer and a unified team representing Spirit of Football. After this show opening debacle, we won’t mention the score, the real business of Unified Football begins.
FIFA TV interview Phil
Three directors and loads of World Cup flags
At the end of the tournament there is a winning team, but everyone who participates has won. Local people have been made aware of Special Olympics, athletes have performed well in unified teams and been cheered on, SO volunteers have staged a succesful event, and The Ball has ben kicked and signed by many more people.
A Unified Team
Once again Special Olympics’ athletes are the winners
On behalf of Special Olympics. On behalf of South Africa as a whole. We want to say thank you to Spirit of Football for doing what they’ve done. Clearly you guys need to be given the highest accolade in the world in terms of your commitment to the love of the game, for bringing The Ball all the way from the UK down through Africa. For the simple reason that this World Cup belongs to Africa. If I was in FIFA or in SAFA you guys would have front row seats at the Opening Ceremony. It is one world, one football and one World Cup and it is but one humanity, one love in the world that’s all. Thank you.
– Kay Naido: Volunteer with Special Olympics South Africa
Posted on Thursday, June 10th, 2010 by The Ball
We enter South Africa in the late afternoon and pull over around 7pm near Rustenburg to do a live interview with the BBC World Service. Andrew speaks to the World Service, in the dark on a road through big 5 safari land, about the elation of arriving in South Africa, the 32nd and final country.
Phil is pleased to be in South Africa
As Andrew speaks on the phone, Christian star gazes outside. We leave that random spot and head for Johannesburg. As we arrive later at a toll booth, Christian suggests that the toll booth attendant sign The Ball.
What ball? We realise we are missing something…. something very important… The Ball! It has somehow rolled out of the van. Panic. We search the van high and low. Andrew is beside himself. In 131 days to date The Ball has hardly left his sight. His reoccuring dream of The Ball being lost is suddenly a reality.
Andrew and Phil panic
Richard, our driver, calms the situation: “I know where we stopped. We’ll find it.”
Andrew is not so sure. He’s starting to dream up a rescue operation that would include national guard troops and radio stations. He’s imagining us spending the rest of our time in SA looking for The Ball. Phil turns the video camera on and films as the action unfolds.
In the dark, in total stress, we turn back, hunting The Ball.
“That looked like something, over there” says Christian. So we turn around and slowly comb the roadside’s grassy fringe.
“It’s The Ball” screams Phil. “It’s The Ball!” And he bounds out of the van… and holds The Ball aloft. “Andrew, give that ball a kiss and promise you’ll never let it out of the net again.” Andrew roars with relief and kisses it.
A relieved Andrew kisses The Ball
Richard celebrates
Four grown men embrace. Close to tears…it’s a moment of pure emotion, pumped up with adrenalin and smoothed by Klipdrift – South African brandy.
What panic. What ecstasy.
The Ball is here.
Long live The Ball.
There is only one Ball.
One Ball. One World.
Published on June 7th, 2010 by The Ball
Hats and Ball
The Ball and the former 1st Lady
Stamped and Signed The Ball can enter Botswana
Zebras waiting for The Ball to arrive
DHL Botswana in da Haus
Theo Walcott sports 3 Lions Shirt with pride despite World Cup cold shoulder
England prepare for World Cup with barefoot match in Botswana
Published on June 7th, 2010 by Christian Wach
We sometimes wonder what we’re doing when we visit schools. Why are we here? What are the children learning? But sometimes, there is no doubt — and this rehabilitation centre for the severely disabled epitomises the certainty that we sometimes have.
Footballing (and writing) ability is not important
The children in this school are too incapacitated to [...]
Published on June 7th, 2010 by The Ball
The Ball is greeted in spectacular style at the latest school visit here in Botswana. So far, it’s been schools, schools, schools all the way in Botswana — Special Olympics seem determined to show us what they are doing on the ground here, and we are duly impressed by what’s occurring.
The Ball… The Ball
Suburban Gaborone [...]
Published on June 6th, 2010 by The Ball
It’s an early start after a crazy dash through the Kalahari where we got excited by our first South Africa street sign…
Our first sign of South Africa
Our first school visit takes us to Segopotso School in Kanye, where 700 school children are eagerly awaiting The Ball. Christian is determined that every single one of them [...]
Published on June 6th, 2010 by The Ball
Bruce Heyns of DHL receives The Ball at the border
Keep out! Everywhere walls in Africa look like this
Namibian beauties: two DJs get their hands on The Ball
Need head? The Ball gives it
Balls from outer space, meteorites in Windhoek
Battle of the sexes: whose ball is it anyway?
Corner pockets for goalposts? Right on cue
Border guards give a [...]
Published on June 5th, 2010 by The Ball
Dov Weintraub, diamond cutter extraordinaire, simply has to sign The Ball and have his picture taken with it. He’s completely mad about football. He’s got tickets to the Opening Ceremony of the World Cup.
Dov Weintraub watches as his son signs The Ball
Here in Windhoek, Dov runs Almod Diamonds of Namibia and invites us over to [...]
Published on June 5th, 2010 by The Ball
We arrive at the school with The Ball and a giant replica. Alarmingly for us, the teachers are nowhere to be seen. Andrew talks to the kids about The Ball, but struggles to make himself heard above the cacophony of chatter.
Mayhem and cacophony greets The Ball
The children crowd around to sign both balls. And game [...]
Published on June 5th, 2010 by Andrew Aris
We bump into New Zealand’s best ever footballer — 1982 World Cup legend Winton Rufer and ask him about the Spirit of Football. His response:
Winton Rufer, Frankie Fredericks and The Ball
“Well, we saw a little bit of it today in Windhoek, Namibia with the game Global United against African Allstars. It’s a celebration of the [...]
The Ball 2010 left Battersea Park on 24th Jan 2010 is heading to the Opening Ceremony in Johannesburg for the 11th June 2010.
Pass the ball on! Until the start of the 2010 World Cup, all footballs donated via Alive & Kicking's website go to Special Olympics programmes in sub-Saharan Africa.
Published on June 12th, 2010
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Published on June 10th, 2010
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Published on June 7th, 2010
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Published on June 4th, 2010
Hello folks – thanks for your comments, but I think that perhaps there is a...
I too have been touched by your teams plight in fighting for education of those...
I just watched the television program about your team and its mission. I’ve also read...
I just saw the story of the albino football play and must say my hat goes of to them,and I...
A great journey and a great World Cup that will hopefully benefit many in South Africa
The Ball 2006 (Teamgeist) travelled from Battersea Park, London and headed to the Opening Ceremony in Munich, Germany.
The Ball 2002 (Fevernova) was carried 7000 miles across Europe and Asia to the World Cup finals in Korea & Japan.
