Kelly S. Croslis is a Freelance Writer and stay-at-home mom to 3 active teenage girls. She uses much of what she learned and experienced in her 20 years of military life and raising her girls. Kelly is a columnist for several Online magazines and Freelances for her local newspaper. She lives with her husband and 3 girls in Pennsylvania.

WORLD CUP 2010
by Kelly S. Croslis

Every four years there are the winter Olympics or summer Olympics, the world comes together to watch the best of the best compete in a variety sports. Every four year, however, is also World cup soccer - where the world's best soccer players come together for bragging rights. World Cup 2010 will be held from June 11 through July 11 in South Africa. The World Cup soccer games are similar to the Olympics with the host nation competing for the honor of hosting the games, this year's host, South Africa, is the first African nation to host the games. The Mascot for the 2010 World cup is a Leopard with green hair, named Zakumi. His name comes from "ZA" the international abbreviation for South Africa and "kumi" a word that means "ten" in several African languages. The mascot's colors are reflecting the host nation's colors, yellow and green.

International football fans will be treated to festivities when they arrive on the Eastern Cape shores and the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. South Africa is hosting many festivals during the World Cup games including culture in Grahamstown, cultured oysters in Knysna, surfing in Jeffrey's bay and the "wild Coast." The national arts festival in Grahamstown has been conveniently scheduled over a 15 day period during the games. It is the goal of South Africa to showcase the best South Africa has to offer.

The World cup has a history that goes back to the 1920's, when in 1928 it was decided to hold an international football tournament. With only 13 teams present the first tournament was held in Uruguay in 1930. Since then, the FIFA world cup has expanded to a 32-team final tournament, preceded by a qualifying process including nearly 200 teams, over a 2 year period. Since the first games, there have been 19 tournaments and only seven different winners. Brazil holds the most championships with five, Italy is second with four titles and West Germany/Germany has three.

There has also been the introduction of the FIFA Women's world Cup, holding to date five tournaments, also held every four years. The USA has earned two championships, Germany has also earned two and Norway one. The 2003 women's world cup featured 16 teams, after only 12 in previous tournaments. The US women also hold the record for most goals in a single women's world cup when 25 goals were scored in the 1991 games.

While soccer (known as football in other countries) has gained in popularity in the United States in recent years, it has not reached the fever pitch of other countries, with the World Cup games, however, the spotlight is shown on our players and how we stand up to the world.

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