Moscow has become a global mosaic of celebration.
The streets around the Kremlin, heavily guarded and snowbound for much of the year, are transformed with Latin passion and African rhythm. Everything is new for us, its new culture, its new language. It's very difficult for communication but we are very excited. The people are very nice and it looks very nice. We are all united Americans, Europeans, Asians. Everyone united. The locals have not seen anything like it. Everybody is so friendly to each other. This is an atmosphere of festivity. It's an extraordinary event much cooler than New Year. Some have traveled here even though their own countries have not qualified, like 12-year-old Abdul Jabar from Sudan.