TV viewers could soon be able to cut out the annoying sound of
the vuvuzela when they watch World Cup matches.
The BBC is thinking about the possibility of offering ‘vuvuzela
free’ coverage via its red button after hundreds of complaints.
Fans say the droning sound of the plastic horns, which has been
likened to the buzzing of millions of angry bees, is drowning out
coverage and leaving them with aching eardrums.
Fans split: Some England supporters have embraced
the local custom, but others want the vuvuzela to be
banned
Vuvuzelas can generate a drone of up to 144 decibels inside
stadiums, which is louder than fireworks, a plane taking off or a
rock concert.
Now the BBC is looking into providing ‘clean’ coverage, which
would strip out most crowd noise.
A BBC spokesman said last night: ‘We have already taken steps to
minimise the noise and are continuing to monitor the situation. If
the vuvuzela continues to impact on audience enjoyment, we will
look at what other options we can take to reduce the volume
further.’
The BBC’s plans emerged after World Cup officials said yesterday
that the vuvuzela will stay at the tournament, despite earlier
claims that the horns could be banned.
Netherlands supporters blow vuvzelas as they cheer
prior to the start of the Holland vs. Denmark at Soccer City
stadium in Soweto this afternoon
A Germany fan blows a vuvuzela prior to the Group D
match between Germany and Australia at Durban Stadium last
night
Spokesman Rich Mkhondo said: ‘Vuvuzelas are here to stay and
will never be banned. Look at them as part of our culture in South
Africa to celebrate the 2010 FIFA World Cup.’
He said the noise is part of the fabric of football in Africa,
similar to English rattles, the football flares of Italy, the air
horns of Holland and the ticker tape that greets teams in South
America.
Many fans have been surprised by the noise created by the £2
plastic horns – which are blasted by thousands of supporters during
games – with some forced to wear ear plugs to combat the din.
To TV viewers the trumpets simply sound like a constant buzzing
through 90 minutes of football.
Mr Mkhondo’s confirmation that vuvuzelas would continue to be
allowed into World Cup stadia followed weekend reports that
officials were considering banning the horns.
Yesterday the England Supporters’ Band backed the use of the
vuvuzela, arguing that ‘when in Rome’ the local culture should be
respected.
Sheffield-based trumpeter John Hemmingham – who leads the
eight-man England orchestra which has not missed a game since 1996
– said the horns were a good thing.‘It’s the way South Africans
express their joy and pleasure at the tournament being here,’ he
said.
Vuvuzela ear plugs on sale outside the Rustenburg
stadium, hours before England kicked off their World Cup
campaign
A recent survey found that the sound emitted by a vuvuzela was
the equivalent to 127 decibels - louder than a drum's 122 decibels,
or a referee's whistle at 121.8 decibels.
Vuvuzelas are modern spin-offs of traditional instruments made
from spiralling kudu horns.
Van Schalkwyk said he decided to develop a plastic version after
spotting the original versions of the horn being blown at
games.
They are sold by vendors outside the grounds for the equivalent
of £2.50.
The company says it had sold 1.5 million vuvuzelas in Europe
since October in addition to the millions it has sold in South
Africa.
Masincedane Sport expects the tournament will generate sales of
up to 20 million rand (around £1.8 million).
South African shopkeepers have also reported a boom in earplug
sales as visiting fans try to avoid the noise at matches.
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo was the latest World Cup star to
voice unease about the trumpet, telling reporters that it affected
players' focus.
The vuvuzela's musical ancestor is said to be the kudu horn
(pictured) - ixilongo in isiXhosa, mhalamhala in Tshivenda - blown
to summon African villagers to meetings, according to South African
tourism chiefs.
Later versions were made of tin.
The trumpet became so popular at football matches in the late 1990s
that a company, Masincedane Sport, was formed in 2001 to
mass-produce it.
Made of plastic, they come in a variety of colours - black or
white for fans of Orlando Pirates, yellow for Kaizer Chiefs, and so
on.
There's uncertainty on the origin of the word 'vuvuzela'.
Some say it comes from the isiZulu for 'making noise'.
Others say it's from township slang related to the word
'shower', because it 'showers people with music'. Or, more
prosaically, looks a little like a shower head.
The announcement, on 15 May 2004, that South Africa would host
the 2010 Fifa World Cup gave the vuvuzela a huge boost, to say the
least - some 20 000 were sold on the day by enterprising street
vendors.
It's a noisy thing, so there's no surprise some don't like it.
Journalist Jon Qwelane once quipped that he had taken to watching
football matches at home - with the volume turned low - because of
what he described as 'an instrument of hell'.
'It is difficult for anyone on the pitch to concentrate,' the
Real Madrid star told a press conference.
'A lot of players don't like them, but they are going to have to
get used to them.'
France captain Patrice Evra has blamed the noise for waking the
team in their hotel and stopping the players from hearing each
other on the pitch.
And Argentina's Lionel Messi complained they made it impossible
for players to communicate on the pitch.
But England defender Jamie Carragher said he's been asked to
take some back.
'My kids have been on the phone and they want two. I've got two
in my bag already,' Carragher added.
The vuvuzela also secured support from the England Supporters'
Band as the travelling musicians vowed to compete with the
deafening sound of the vuvuzela.
The brass orchestra, which has not missed an England game home
or away since 1996, promised 'the band will play on' despite the
din of the South African horns.
After England took on the US in Rustenburg on Saturday, football
pundit Chris Kamara complained the noise was stopping fans from
generating chants around the ground.
But Mr Hemmingham said: 'We didn't have any problem. The fans
around us were all singing along. And a lot of our fans were
joining in with us using their vuvuzelas. It all added to the
atmosphere.
'There was definitely a different vibe about the place.
'The South Africans are loving it. And when in Rome, you just have
to go along with it.
'I bet there is not a single South African player complaining
about the vuvuzela. They see it as more than just a noise, it's
about the whole spirit of the thing.'
He added: 'They have certainly created a great new market in ear
plugs.'
Travelling England fans are subjected to the vuvuzela not just
at the stadiums but also around town, early in the morning and late
at night.
Mr Hemmingham said: 'You hear them when you land at the airport,
you hear them in the shopping malls, and the streets are full of
them - it's a 24-hour a day experience.'
But England fans at home are being turned off by the annoying
buzz.
Research revealed six out of ten fans who watch games at home
are now doing so with the volume turned down to cut out the
incessant horn-blowing.
Loud and proud: An advertising board with a man
blowing a vuvuzela is seen in Pretoria
One in four said the noise was ruining their enjoyment of the
tournament and seven out of ten want the vuvuzelas banned
completely from stadiums.
A string of vuvuzela tales also emerged from the study,
including one old lady who rang her cable provider to complain
about the 'loud buzzing' coming from her television.
Another pensioner called pest control in over the weekend amid
fears her house was being attacked by a swarm of bees as she
watched England draw with the USA.
It also emerged thousands of husbands have been asked to turn
the volume down by long-suffering wives due to the infuriating hum
which accompanies every game.
In the run-up to the World Cup experts revealed the noise from
the vuvuzelas is similar to that generated by a chainsaw.
A spokesman for OnePoll.com, which carried out the research
said: 'The Vuvuzelas are even more unpopular than Robert Green at
the moment.'
'They are incredibly annoying. Walking around the strees you can
hear the buzz coming from people's houses.
'They really are spoiling the enjoyment of the competition for
millions of viewers.
'Women are finding them particularly annoying and they are
causing people who would have liked to watch games to avoid them
because of the noise.
'One respondent said he had watched every game so far with the
sound turned down.' OnePoll carried out the study among 3,000
fans via their iPhones.
Meanwhile, help could be at hand for TV viewers put off by the
constant droning - an internet download promises to eliminate the
sound from broadcasts.
Fans play the £2.45 MP3 file on their HiFi or computer while
watching football and it uses 'active noise cancellation' to
silence the horns.
The download generates a series of inverted sound waves that
'clash' with the waves of the vuvuzela to effectively cancel each
other out.
Italy's Mauro Camoranesi (right) and Simone Pepe
pretend to play the vuvuzela during a training session at Cape
Town's Green Point Stadium
The download lasts 45 minutes - enough for one half of football
- and can be put on repeat for the second half.
The website, antivuvuzelafilter.com, says: 'This is your chance
to enjoy the FIFA World Cup 2010 WITHOUT the annoying vuvuzela
noise!
'Get rid of the vuvuzela noise through active noise
cancellation.'
For maximum effect, antivuvuzelafilter.com say their download
should be played through a speaker placed next to the television
and set to the same volume.
If done properly it should make the vuvuzelas 'so faint as to be
inaudible to human ears'.
