Land of Song to remain Vuvuzela-free

18th June 2010

Cardiff today became the first city in the UK and possibly the world to announce that its three main sporting stadia have placed a blanket ban on the vuvuzela. 

The vuvuzela, the horn-type instrument played by fans of a number of nations in the football world cup in South Africa, has generated a heated debate with a love it or loathe it response around the world. Over quarter of a million people have signed up to a petition on facebook, calling for a ban on the vuvuzela. The web site, www.banvuvuzela.com also shows 89,332 people in favour of a ban with 9,634 recording their support for the instrument.

Now, in the latest developments in this heated debate, Cardiff’s three main sporting arenas, the 74,000 seat Millennium Stadium, the 27,500 seat Cardiff City Stadium and the 17,000 seat SWALEC Stadium where last year’s First Ashes Test between England and Australia was played, have all said that the vuvuzela would not be welcome.

Richard Thomas commenting on behalf of the organisation responsible for promoting the city said, “What could be more rousing for a team than hearing the collective voices of thousands of their compatriots, singing traditional hymns and arias. As a Welshman, I can testify at first hand how that feels - the hairs standing upright on the back of the neck. The singing generates the passion and the atmosphere or the ‘hwyl’ as we say in Wales.  I’m not surprised that the Welsh capital city has taken this decision – Vuvuzela or Bread of Heaven? - no contest really!”           

He added, “I don’t think these sentiments are particular to the Welsh. Our English neighbours have shown imagination in their songs at recent football world cups and I can imagine the reaction at the SWALEC Stadium to the deafening of ‘Jerusalem’ when England’s cricketers take on Australia in Cardiff next week. Fortunately, the decision taken by the stadia in Cardiff means that won’t happen – much to the relief of vast majority of fans I’m sure.” 

“Alan Hamer, Glamorgan Crickets Chief Executive said, “We don’t need the added noise to create an atmosphere in the SWALEC Stadium as we have such a fantastic ambience, our Welsh support are typically vocal in song for our domestic games, as I’m sure the supporters will be at our England v Australia International on Thursday.”

Gerry Toms, Stadium Manager at the Millennium Stadium said, “Air horns are already banned for all our rugby and football matches and we’re now extending that to the vuvuzela.  It’s the signing and the roar of the crowd you’ll hear at the Millennium Stadium and we’re taking this small step to ensure that this tradition survives long into the future.

These sentiments were echoed by Cardiff City Stadium, home to the city’s football and rugby clubs who were conscious of the it importance of protecting the traditional atmosphere generated at Football and Rugby stadia in the capital. 

Back to latest news here.