X Africa Games

We have experienced an exciting week here in Maputo. The 10^th Africa Games are taking place here for two weeks. Events are happening all over the city include boxing, karate, cycling, soccer, swimming, canoe racing, triathlon, gymnastics, ping pong, basketball, volley ball and so on. It has been so exciting to be able to walk 15 minutes to see volleyball and basketball and hear cheers next door in the pavilion we can see from our house as the Mozambicans continue to win boxing matches.

So the other day I walked downtown to see what I could see. I passed through the crowds on the street, some going to the games others just doing normal busness. I walked right down to where there are two pavilions for basketball and volleyball. I walked right into the volleyball games without paying anything to see Cameroon and Kenya play. Wow, every bit as exciting as volleyball I have seen in the US and in a nice renovated auditorium. I am sure it would be nothing special for someone who has just come from the US where sports arenas abound but to me after 5 years in Mozambique it was like walking into the Pershing Center in Lincoln, though much smaller. These two teams happened to be the teams that one Silver and Bronze so the air was ripe with competition as Kenyans and Cameroonians danced and cheered the whole 4 matches.

Mozambique has done fairly well so far for such a poor and undeveloped country. They won their first ever medal in swimming, silver in the 100 meters. The women’s Karate won silver and the boxing is showing potential. The women’s basketball is actually quite good, basketball and football being Mozambique’s favorite sports. They have so far won all their games in front of an ecstatic Maputo crowd.

Today I went to work and I noticed there was hardly any traffic. Our maid was 45 minutes late and walked in tired and commenting on how far she had to walk. The police had stopped the traffic way out and she had to hoof it from there. The city was practically shut down most of the day. Traffic was stopped by police at all the major intersections to make way for the bicycle race that took place. Of course those in charge never told anyone when or where it would take place and it only appeared in the newspapers this morning as the morning commute, which is usually messy, was taking place. It took the city by surprise. I heard the frustration from stranded motorists throughout the day but those who were waiting just went and watched the races. You could feel the excitement in the air as bikes pass by at breakneck speeds. I decided to walk the streets and find where it was at. I had never seen a real live bike race having only watched the Tour de France and other major races on television. It turns out they were passing right by our house. Amazing! They started at 8 in the morning and now at 3 in the afternoon they are still going. We had friends that did not know it and ended up in the city. They were stranded all day and he abandoned his car and they went for ice cream.

And guess what, this will all happen again tomorrow. Tomorrow there are more bicycle races, swimming and soccer games. Saturday the basketball starts again. I hope I will get to see something.