Commonwealth Games 2010: earplugs at the ready for the return of the vuvuzela -29 Sep 2010

Commonwealth Games 2010: earplugs at the ready for the return of the vuvuzela

The Commonwealth Games could end up sounding an awful lot like the football World Cup. Vuvuzelas, the long plastic horns that created a constant din – and plenty of debate – last summer in South Africa, have been selling steadily in New Delhi ahead of the Games.

By Telegraph staff and agencies
Published: 5:21PM BST 29 Sep 2010

It's back: Fresh from conquering South African football stadiums, the Vuvuzela has been unleashed on New Delhi Photo: AFP
"There is a lot of demand for the vuvuzela," said Suresh Kumar, the chairman of Premier Brands, the Indian company in charge of merchandizing at the Commonwealth Games. "We have sold more than 12,000 pieces."

Loved by some and despised by others, the vuvuzela was a constant topic of conversation in South Africa. While the local football fans embraced the atmosphere it helped create at games across the country, many overseas broadcasters and viewers complained that the drone disrupted the enjoyment of watching games on television.


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Referendum: Are Premier League clubs wrong to ban vuvuzelas?The debate has not deterred Commonwealth Games organisers in the Indian capital, where 50,000 vuvuzelas were imported from China for the event. There is no plan to bring in more, even though the plastic horns are the second-best selling product behind T-shirts, Kumar said.

"People here like them because in India we associate celebrations with noise," he added. "Festivals like Diwali are always very loud."

Even Indian Sports Minister M S Gill got in on the act, standing with Commonwealth Games organising committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi and blowing a vuvuzela on Wednesday at the athletes' village.

Because of the sounds that emanated from the World Cup, several Premier League clubs and even the All England Club at Wimbledon banned vuvuzelas from their venues. Uefa has also banned them from European football competition.

The Commonwealth Games may not cause as much of an uproar for viewers overseas, however. On Tuesday, Indian Tourism Minister Kumari Selja admitted only 200,000 of the 1.7 million tickets for the games have been sold.

The vuvuzelas are selling for 250 rupees (£3.50) and organisers hope the relatively inexpensive price – inexpensive for foreigners anyway – will help sales.

"This will enable everybody to own a piece of the games," the organizing committee said on its website.