THE World Cup begins today with near chaos in Chicago over ticket sales, telecommunications and the searing heat that threatens to turn the opening game between Germany and Bolivia into a test of stamina and little else.
Most Bolivian and German fans arrived with tickets already confirmed, only to find that these were not immediately available. Americans, not particularly interested in soccer but happy to pay minimal prices for the opening pageant that includes balladeer Richard Marx and superstar Diana Ross, snapped up thousands which came on the market last week.
Disgruntled German and Bolivian fans were gathered outside the Soldier Field stadium where the opening game in the 15th World Cup will be played (2.30 am tomorrow Hong Kong time), in temperatures which could reach almost 38 degrees Celsius.
The lead-up to the opening game has been marred by behind-the-scenes bickering between American sponsors Sprint and Mastercard which has led to far-from-effective telecommunications network, leaving members of the media fuming in frustration.
Amateur volunteers manning all World Cup desks have been unable to handle the mass influx of fans, media, officials and others. Distribution of some tickets two days before the opener was abruptly halted because staff could not cope with the demand.
They were then put on sale yesterday at 6.30 am and were still being distributed hours later with sweating, overworked staff desperately trying to clear the backlog.
The problem for the Germans and the Bolivians meanwhile will be the heat.
