KUWAIT CITY, June 11: The expected crowd did not materialize on the first day of the World Cup as people obviously chose to stay home to avoid the sizzling temperature Friday.
It was a disappointing day as far as the different hotels, restaurants and other venues that undertook elaborate preparations like putting up large screens, extra amenities and raffle draws with valuable prizes to host and serve a large turnout of football fanatics on opening day of the world’s premier football tournament.
Empty tables met this reporter in some of the venues that advertised showing World Cup games. “It’s to be expected on the first day,” says Peter Hrb, assistant restaurant manager of Ayam Zaman restaurant at Crowne Plaza Hotel which had large 4’x 6’screen.
“Aside from being a Friday not to mention, the extreme heat today, it’s not marquee teams that are playing in the opening game, but expect a big crowd when the likes of Brazil, Spain, Germany, England or France are scheduled to play,” he added.
Peter also said that based on his experience, the crowds only start to come around the middle of the week and onwards, and the number rises during the second round when the field will have been winnowed and the favorites emerge. He then hastened to add that perhaps a good crowd will turn up Saturday to witness the match between Argentina and Nigeria.

With the exclusive support and cooperation of the Embassy of South Africa in Kuwait, the Movenpick Hotel & Resort Al Bida’a will stage a unique event not seen before in Kuwait, a month-long festival of football to show all the World Cup 2010 matches live on large screens.
Movenpick Hotel & Resort Al Bida’a has teamed up with Al Andalous Trading, Gulf Bank and Wataniya Airways to offer all football fans in Kuwait the chance to watch the FIFA World Cup 2010 live on large screens daily for the entire duration of the month-long staging of the world’s most popular game from the opening ceremony on June 11 until the finals and awarding ceremony on July 11, 2010, in the hotel’s spacious Al Mahara tent.
Movenpick Hotel and Resort Al Bida’a blurred borders to bring South Africa to Kuwait at the opening ceremony of the World Cup 2010. The ceremony was held on June 11 at Al Mahara Tent under the patronage of the South African Ambassador and in the presence of key officials and renowned journalists.
The event kicked off by a short speech by the General Manager of the hotel Gary Moran, in which he highlighted what the hotel is doing for the World Cup 2010 from showing all the matches live from South Africa to the valuable prizes awaiting to be won.