Colombia: Dancing Police Welcome Soccer Players · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

In Medellin, Colombia, police officers welcomed soccer players at the airport, making a good impression on visitors but raising concerns about security for some locals.
The city of Medellin is hosting the FIFA U-20 World Cup, and the Football Association (FA) posted a video of the welcome the city gave to the English Sub 20 in a post titled ‘A crazy Colombian welcome‘.
Screenshot from TheFA video
The England U20 squad found their rhythm on arrival at Medellin Airport, as they were given an unexpected welcome to Colombia by the local police force.
Marxepunx who lives in Medellin [es] seems to disagree with the police's priorities:
Y justo ayer leía que no se podían disponer de algunos policías en el Centro de Medellín donde se han incrementado los robos. Es que los pocias están súper ocupados haciendo labores de “CRAZY” comité de bienvenida.
Nevertheless, it seems that for Argentinian visitors covering the World Cup this was a nice touch. On Banfield Locura [es], a blog on the Argentinian soccer team they wrote:
Fue impactante el recibimiento que tuvo el seleccionado argentino. Tanto en Bogota, primera escala, como en esta ciudad punto de concentración para los partidos de la fase clasificatoria. Danzas típicas, conjuntos lugareños, salsa, música tropical, y otros tantos ritmos más. Lo curioso, que aquí la coreografía de las mujeres eran formadas y realizadas por integrantes de la fuerza pública. Tímidamente, casi a los empujones, con un tanto de vergüenza y pudor los muchachos no pudieron negarse y ensayaron algunos pases de baile.
Es que aquí se vive y respira fútbol a cada paso, en cada rincón de esta cálida tierra colombiana. Conocen a todos, saben a la perfección “la historia” de cada uno. Los aeropuertos desbordaron cordialidad, amabilidad y porque no admiración.
The welcome given to the Argentinian selection was impressive. In Bogota, the first stop as well as in this city which was the meeting point for the games in the classifying round. Folkloric dances, regional musical groups, salsa, tropical  and several other rhythms. The curious thing was that the choreography was made up of women of the police forces. Timidly, almost having to be forced and with a bit of embarrassment and shyness the boys couldn't refuse and they tried some of the dance moves.
Because soccer is lived and breathed here in every step, every corner of this warm Colombian land. They know everyone, they know to perfection the “history” of each one. The airports were overflowing with congeniality, kindness and why not, admiration.