Photo of the Day (6.22.10)

by Stephen Greenwood on
No matter how remote your current location, it’s a pretty safe bet that you’ve seen some trace of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa over the past 10 days. This humbling shot comes from travel photographer Austin Mann – taken at the Spain v. Switzerland game at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium.

The Moses Mabhida Stadium is capable of seating nearly 63,000 fans and features a support arch similar to that of England’s Wembley Stadium. For a virtual look around Durban from the stadium, check out Durban’s official host city page.

Do you have stories or pictures from the games in South Africa or from your own hometown? Tips for those traveling to the World Cup? Share them with us & submit pictures to the Gadling Flickr Pool!

Photo of the Day (6.1.10)

by Stephen Greenwood on
June has finally arrived, which can only mean one thing – the World Cup is just less than two weeks away! When traveling abroad, it’s easy to see that football really is the most widely played sport on Earth; scenes like this one are a familiar occurrence.

This photo was taken by Flickr user pirano, on the steps of the beautiful Sacré Cœur in Montemartre, Paris. I love the beautifully balanced black & white tones and unique perspective that offsets the distinct backdrop of Parisian buildings with photo’s subject.


Do you have a shot of people playing football in an interesting location? Care to place your bet for World Cup outcomes in the comments? Head over to Flickr, submit your photos to our pool, and you could be featured as the Photo of the Day!

Photo of the Day (5.25.10)

by Stephen Greenwood on
Today’s Photo of the Day comes out of Jasper, Alabama from Flickr user bamassippi. Taken under the stadium lights of a High School football field, I feel that this photo captures a quintessential American summer evening – and with Memorial Day right around the corner, there will hopefully be many of these summer sunsets up ahead.

Jasper is part of Walker County, which once ranked among the world’s leading producers of coal. Settled in 1815, it was named in honor of Sergeant William Jasper, a Red Stick War hero.

Do you have some simple shots that put your hometown in a new light? Share them with us! Submit to our Gadling Flickr Pool and we could feature it as our Photo of the Day!

World Cup 2010: is Johannesburg ready?

by Sean McLachlan on

With the World Cup barely two weeks away, Johannesburg has shifted into high gear to get ready.

The city’s 2010 FIFA World Cup page proudly proclaims that a huge amount of effort and money has been spent on cleaning up the city and improving infrastructure. It has spent 1.2 billion rand ($151 million) to revamp Soccer City, a giant stadium where the opening ceremony and final game will be held. Billions have also gone into other stadiums and city infrastructure.

But a report by Business Day newspaper has found the city still hasn’t finished fixing roads between the main venues, the airport, and the hotel district. It’s an open question whether these will be done in time to deal with the huge increase in traffic once the World cup gets started. Another problem is transportation for the fans. The special transport set up between the airport and the fan park won’t run at night, forcing people to use public transport.

At least fans will be going to a place that was named the city with the lowest cost of living in a 2009 survey, and if they don’t find the savings being passed onto them, they can always get away from the crowds and visit Mozambique like many South Africans are doing this year.

Daily Pampering: The only way to do the World Cup

by Tom Johansmeyer on


True fanaticism isn’t cheap. Cars, cigars and treats from bars – you can spend an absolute fortune satisfying your itch for a particular vice. Though the fans are few but fierce in the United States, soccer draws addicts around the world, and the upcoming World Cup in South Africa is sure to attract a committed crowd. If you want to put yourself in the middle of the action, don’t settle for a second-class experience. Envelope your World Cup experience in luxury, and it will be the sort of trip that you’ll use to judge the others you take for the rest of your life.

Cox & Kings has put together some itineraries that fuse exclusivity and high luxury. “Follow Team USA” includes both soccer and safari components and can be booked through late March. You’ll pick up guaranteed tickets for U.S. matches and also be able to roam through world-renowned safari camps. If you’re going to head all the way out to South Africa, you’ll want to make the most of your trip.

Each of the three “Follow Team USA” all-inclusive World Cup VIP packages runs between June 9 and June 24, 2010. All three include tickets to all three Team USA matches and bonus matches, including opener between South Africa and Mexico. You’ll enjoy the action from VIP business seats as a guest of the Los Angeles Futbol Club Foundation. Additionally, safaris are available, ranging from three nights to five. Prices range from $24,355 to $29,060 per person, depending on safari options and how late into the World Cup you plan to stay around (you can get tickets to the finals, if you can handle the tab).

Want more? Get your daily dose of pampering right here.