Images of Jozi 2010!

On the ball .... The big soccer ball hanging at OR Tambo International Airport.



The arrivals hall was done out like a soccer field.



The road out from OR Tambo International.

My city has never been so exciting as during this 2010 Fifa World Cup which started and ended in Soweto. Flags have festooned the city and soccer balls are everywhere plus the irrepressible spirit and friendliness to people from all over the world that are the hallmarks of Joburg. Friend and jewellery designer Kevin Friedman went around on my behalf snapping some images which capture the mood and exuberance which has enveloped Joburg for the past month.

Joburg is looking amazing, unlike Cape Town, where you wouldn't think anything was happening at all! Think of the flag opportunities, just that huge big mountain, for starters. Even the SABC building in Auckland Park has a giant flag outside that you can see for miles. Here's to Jozi 2010!



Riches from rags ... Yeoville residents have created signs out of weighted plastic bags that say: FEEL IT! IT IS HERE".



Flagging down motorists ... The highways are awash with flags from every country.



The wow factor ... entering the Nelson Mandela Bridge.





Mr Big ... the skyscraper huge picture of Ronaldo sponsored by Nike.



Spot the soccer ball ... The Telkom Tower, aka the Hillbrow Tower.



Go Bafana ... who could forget the "flowerbeds" of yellow hands at Gilloolys Interchange? They were periodically put back in place after some of them fell over!





Buy one, buy 'em all. The flag vendors were cleaning up.



Anthropomorphic ... Newtown Fan Fest's giant "Coke Man" that lights up at night.



Stars and stripes ... The American flag flies from a Sandton penthouse.



Painting vuvuzelas ... unlike a Chinese vuvu these are homegrown!



If you can maka it here, you can maka it anywhere ... Makarapas from every country on sale outside Gramadoelas restaurant at the Market Theatre.



A Jewish makarapa ... at Museum Africa where they had a collection of exotic makas.



Street art ... even the graffiti artists got in on the act.



It's electric ... despite the threatened Eskom strike.



Play ball ... The little soccer player outside the Ghana team's hotel.



Celebrating Ghana ... the party for Africa's last remaining team at Melrose Arch brought out all sorts of supporters.




The Fan Fest at Montecasino.



Well, yellow there ... The VIP lounge at the SABC media centre in the Sandton Convention Centre.



Can't miss it ... The South African flag featured large on the outside of buildings and businesses.



Er, you've got an eyelash in your eye ... some fans went the extra mile.



Hot as hell ... fans appreciate the local women.



Turn me on ... Even the lights at Soccer City were in keeping with the theme.



Subtle tribute ... PJ Powers hits a patriotic note with her takkies (sneakers).



Africa unites ... A T-shirt at Museum Africa with flags from the participating African countries on it.







A Joburg suburb supports the Holland team in the final.



Orange man ... Some people made no bones about who they were supporting!

ALL IMAGES BY KEVIN FRIEDMAN