Arab World: Where the Streets are Quiet During Football Games · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Millions of people around the world are glued to their television screens, watching the World Cup's opening ceremony from South Africa – and the scene is not that different in the Arab world.
From Saudi Arabia, Khaled Alabdulrahman sums up the mood across the region:
For the next few hours the streets of Riyadh will be quiet. Thanks South Africa ;)
From Bahrain, Nivos rejoices:
World Cup opening Ceremony….the world under one roof…..WOW!!!
Still in Bahrain, Redbelt adds:
I'm so happy! World Cup is finally starting! Watching the opening ceremony with wifey.
But for some, it was work as usual. Riyadh Abdul Aziz, from Oman, tweets:
Off to MOLA to do some stuff related to our workshop this week. Not watching anything #worldcup
The opening show garnered many comments, particularly when Algerian crooner Cheb Khaled rendered Didi, which brought happy memories to tweeps.
Egyptian Alaa Abd El Fattah was pleased:
cool sheb khaled is rocking #WC2010
Saudi Arabian Rami Taibah was taken back in time:
Didi!!! LOL that song took me 17 years back…. #Worldcup  #WC2010
And Butheina, from the UAE, stood corrected:
Never thought “didi” could be brought back, but cheb Khaled just proved me wrong in #southafrica #worldcup
And there were disappointments.
Taibah wonders:
Wow is it just me or is the stadium isn't at full capacity? #disappointed #WC2010 #Worldcup
Doha-based Abdurahman Warsame was running out of patience:
beautiful music including Algerian singer Khalid, Kwaito (SA rap) singers … wow but let the games begin #wc2010
And Egyptian Ahmed Shokeir was not impressed:
إنتهاء الإحتفال بإفتتاح كأس العالم … إفتتاح متواضع وبدون إبهار ولكنه مقبول
Despite this, Eyad, from Bahrain, was not pleased it ended:
Is that it! Really? I can haz disappointment
Many viewers poured their criticism on Al Jazeera Sports, which is broadcasting the games.
Taibah writes:
Dear Al-Jazeera Sports commentator please shut up, we don't need your input. We understand whats going on #WC2010 #Worldcup  @ajenglish_sport
He continues:
I am just glad that Aljazeera Sport commentator didn't translate the lyrics too!
Butheina adds:
Why do arab commentators insist on maintaining that monotone from when tv was first invented as a one size fits all for every event #sa
For some, politics couldn't not be separated from sports.
Palestinian-Jordanian Mohammed Yousef, who lives in Saudi Arabia, hopes:
One day, Apartheid will end in Palestine and will show to the world how we can welcome them to #worldcup  #pal
And Buthenia adds:
Dear @aljazeera network: pls reinvest th truckloads of money ull make frm ad revenue frm #worldcup  into a motion picture abt #flotilla
Egyptian Mo-ha-med leaves us with a final thought:
Let's be honest. Did we really think we could organize the #WorldCup ? Can we compete with that?