Well I’ll admit I’ve been caught in the hype of the world cup, am I a soccer fan, nah it wouldn’t be fair to all the true supporters of the game to say yes but I will admit to being a marketers dream when it comes to getting behind the event. For that matter most big events will just about get me in and yes I like many millions around the world all of a sudden know all there is about the game and passionately scream towards my TV when we are on the receiving end of a dodgy decisions like the odd red card or two. After all isn’t that what the games governing body wants, people to be talking about their sport and following it, supporting the players and the advertisers to encourage them to come back next time.

I was watching the lead up to one of the games with my daughters who I have also encouraged to support all things Aussie on the world stage, the two teams were lined up ready to take to the field and I said, right now the feeling the players would be going through would be excitement, the adrenaline would be starting to go, for some there would also be anxiety, it would be absolutely amazing for them, the crowd was at fever pitch and the commentators were being drowned out. When just then one of my daughters turned to me and said, Dad how would you know, have you been to the world cup? she didn’t ask the question with attitude and it was a genuine question, not a statement. It was at that point I realised the feeling the players would be experiencing was universal, it was the exact same feeling I had when entering the stadium to compete at the Paralympics and world champs and the opening ceremonies of those events.

It is the feeling that creates a memory for a lifetime and is available for anyone who aspire to be apart pf something special and does all that is required to present for that moment. It is awesome.

I explained to my girl that I had not been to the world cup but I had a pretty good idea of what it would be like, my only hope is she and my other daughters throughout their journeys get to experience that universal feeling for themselves.

For the record, with Australia out my moneys on Germany all the way.

Cheers

Donnie