Vuvuzela: the Soundtrack of the 2010 World Cup    [09-07-2010] The 2010 World Cup will come to an end soon. Soccer fans all over the world will be focusing on their daily lives again once this international sports festival is over. However, everyone will remember one special sound for a long time - the vuvuzela! This week, let’s learn about the 2010 World Cup's instrument. There are many things to say about the 2010 World Cup. It is the first World Cup ever to be held on the African continent. It is also the first World Cup for the Korean team to advance to the round of 16 on foreign ground. But there is one more special thing to talk about for this World Cup. How can we forget about the buzzing sound of the vuvuzela? The vuvuzela is a trumpet-like plastic blowing horn. It is about 1-meter-long. You need some lip and lung strength to blow a vuvuzela and make a loud sound. Many people find the sound of the instrument very annoying. The sound made by the vuvuzela has been compared with a stampede of noisy elephants or a huge hive of angry bees. So, how noisy is the sound of the vuvuzela? According to some researchers, they have found evidence that vuvuzelas can cause permanent hearing damage! The sound of the vuvuzela is very irritating for both soccer fans and players. FIFA even considered banning the instrument at soccer stadiums. However, the international football association decided to allow the vuvuzela because it has a long tradition in South Africa. “That is what South African football is all about - noise, excitement, dancing, shouting, and enjoyment,” said Sepp Blatter, the FIFA President. The vuvuzela was originally made from a kudu horn. In ancient times, it was used to summon people to gatherings in South Africa. The vuvuzela is also a symbol of hope and unity for South Africans. If you visit Cape Town, the second-most populous city in South Africa, you can see the world’s biggest vuvuzela. It is over 35 meters long!     출처: 어린이 영자신문 키즈타임즈 (www.kidstimes.net)