A big Mauruuru, by Joan Cusco Letter by Joan Cusco, FIFA Beach Soccer Committee member, to the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2013 Tahiti LOC 15 Oct 2013 Travelling around the world, organizing Sports events has been my everyday reality for the past 25 years. It’s been a long time, a long career, and up to this point very few things get to surprise me. But I have to admit that, for the first time ever, I find myself combating mixed feelings. Of course I am happy to be back home, with my family and friends, specially after the magnificent FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup we have experienced. I could not feel more satisfied… But, at the same time, I cannot help feeling sad, -overwhelmingly sad, indeed- after having left all the people that during this month has put all their soul in making our stay a true dream. Having to say goodbye to all these people who lit up our lives with their energy, their spirit and their happiness has been really tough. The way everyone has behaved, giving the best of themselves at the same time they built a sweet and welcoming atmosphere, and precisely in such difficult economical situation for the whole region, just leaves me speechless. It is so much of a gift what they have given us, only with their being there, with their smile and the devotion with which they performed the duty they were given. It is so touching… I had never been in a place where people are so warm, so kind, so happy, regardless the level of life. Everyone seemed to have the power to make you feel better, just everyone… During these days I inherited the word Iaorana, and I discovered the power it has in its inside, the strong meaning it carries. It is not only hello”, “good morning”, “good afternoon” or “welcome but also thank you”, “have a great day”, “thank you for support”, “we love you”, “happy that you are here”, and so many others.... We came to Tahiti knowing that we would enjoy an amazing landscape, a vivid nature, which you almost give for granted when you travel to the French Polynesia, but we leave even more stunned by the people and their human intensity. We thought we were going to have a great experience, but were not supposed to encounter a significant learning, and, instead, we left with a strong life… Our legacy is, and will always be, to have brought home the thousands of smiles we were rewarded with. The true success of this FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup is its people. I have no doubt about it. The energy, positivism they transmitted, and the professionalism with which all tasks were performed, I just cannot forget. Moreover, their honest engagement with their region is the best prove that only good things are just around the corner. Besides, I also wanted to note something I found very very significant. For the first time in my life, not one single robbery has been committed. And this is something really difficult to happen with such a large delegation, such a large amount of people involved in all areas, hotels, offices, etc. with so different origins and cultures. This is another of the successes of Tahiti 2013. One of the main memories I bring back home, and which I will keep as a true gift happened on the night of the semifinals. When we got to pick up the cars to go back to the stadium, after dinner and when everybody had just left, we found a group of 10 volunteers at the parking, playing a beautiful Polynesian music. We could not help getting close to them, sat and enjoy what was just happening. Indeed, I was even given the chance to join them and play the local drum!! I have not enough words to describe that moment… And this is just a small example among many… Now, we are all only thinking when are we going to be back... The drum skeeps beating in everyone’s heart, and will keep doing for a long, long, long time…
Posted on: Tue, 15 Oct 2013 09:48:25 +0000
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