Copa America

The most prestigious football tournament of the Americas is starting on the 26th of June and, as luck would have it, some of the worlds´ best players will be coming here to Caracas. Excitement has started to build before the event (it was a side plot in the closure of RCTV - with some claims that the tournament could be affected) and the government seems to be trying to use it to build pan-American unity of some kind. In Plaza Chacaito just outside my work, the government has been stoking the excitement with a series of display tents, one for each participating nation, each bearing the slogan ´Ecuador is America´ and so on as appropriate. The USA´s tent has been stuck in at the end and looks a little lonely with few visitors. The TV in that one hasn´t even been unpacked yet.
Each tent is stocked with some bored looking caraqueños - and they don´t seem to contain much other than photo displays of famous national attractions juxtaposed with pictures of each team in action.

Feeling is that Venezuela may not be rolled over this year as easily as in previous years. Unlike the rest of the continent, football isn´t the number one sport here, but I think the tournament will be great anyway, as, hopefully, lots of thrillseeking Brazilians, Argentinians and maybe even an adventurous gringo descend on the capital. Doubt I´ll get tickets to see Brazil, but i´m hoping all students will cancel classes so we can all watch in on TV together.

It´s the first time i have ever been in the same country as a major football tournament - and best of all, it´s one that England have absolutely no chance of winning! Venceremos!