Information on each of the nine Host Cities for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™
Cape Town
Cape Town, at the foot of iconic Table Mountain, is a cosmopolitan city with beautiful natural surrounds. Green Point Stadium
Durban
The city's "golden mile", a four kilometre stretch of beaches, restaurants and promenades, holds pride of place in culturally varied Durban. Durban
Johannesburg
The city is a financial Juggernaut on the African continent. Pulsating with energy and drive, Johannesburg is a hub of culture and excitement. Ellis Park Stadium
Mangaung / Bloemfontein
Mangaung / Bloemfontein's open spaces reflect the openness of its people - friendly, warm and quietly dignified. Free State Stadium
Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth
Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth has a 40 kilometre stretch of immaculate beaches in a protected bay. Port Elizabeth Stadium
Nelspruit
Nelspruit is a product of Mother Nature's abundance with breathtaking waterfalls and forests, the area is like a Garden of Eden. Mbombela Stadium
Polokwane
Polokwane is in the land of the "upside down" tree, the baobab. The area is drenched in the history of ancient civilisations. Peter Mokaba Stadium
Rustenburg
In the heart of the savannah bushveld is the city of Rustenburg, brimming with natural beauty at the foot of the Magaliesburg Mountains. Royal Bafokeng Stadium
Tshwane/Pretoria
Tshwane/Pretoria's rich and colourful heritage makes the city come alive with a unique blend of new and old. Loftus Versfeld Stadium
Friday, October 17, 2008
Official Match Schedule
With anticipation growing ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, the official Match Schedule has been released. To find out where the games will be played in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Mangaung/Bloemfontein, Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth, Nelspruit, Polokwane, Rustenburg, Tshwane/Pretoria between 11 June and 11 July 2010.
Zakumi a Mascot with attitude
Zakumi's Story; So what can we say about him? One thing is for sure, Zakumi will be first on the dancefloor and last off it at the biggest party in the world - the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. He wants to dance and entertain as many people as he can. He is an animator for fans, players and officials, for schoolchildren, teenagers and big kids alike!
Needless to say, he is extremely proud to be the Official Mascot and determined to be the best host for everyone visiting his beloved country. He symbolizes South Africa and the rest of the African continent through his self-confidence, pride, hospitality, social skills and warm-heartedness.
Zakumi is a jolly, self-confident, adventurous, spontaneous, and actually quite shrewd little fellow. He loves to perform and always follows his instinct and intuition, yet sometimes has the tendency to exaggerate a bit. You will often find him fooling about and teasing people but not in a mean way. He is warm-hearted and caring, and wants to make as many friends as possible.
He loves to play football as it is a great way to connect with others and break down language barriers. He always carries his football around which he will use to invite people to play with him.
Zakumi loves football. At one time he decided to dye his hair green as he felt it would be the perfect camouflage against the green of the football pitch; a bit like his rosette spots are when hunting in the wilderness!He does have one striking weakness. With all his energy, he needs frequent rests. Occasionally, in-between performances on stage, he may suddenly fall asleep on the spot at the most random times! But rest assured, these are only short breaks that a leopard of his calibre needs to recharge his batteries.
Over the last years he has travelled the whole of Africa where the leopard habitat is good (pretty much everywhere from open savannahs, forests, jungles to mountainous areas, even deserts). He has therefore learned to adapt to new environments; enjoying the diversity in nature and people across the African continent
The name ‘Zakumi' is a composition of ‘ZA' standing for South Africa and ‘kumi', which translates translates into ‘10' in various languages across Africa.
Zakumi's main priority is to turn the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa into one huge, joyful and unforgettable party and show the thousands of international guests the warmth and spirit of the African continent.
"He wants to create a good mood for the fans and raise the excitement for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the first on African soil. He is a proud South African and wants to ensure that the world will come together in South Africa," explained Lucas Radebe, South Africa's football icon and close friend of Zakumi.
Needless to say, he is extremely proud to be the Official Mascot and determined to be the best host for everyone visiting his beloved country. He symbolizes South Africa and the rest of the African continent through his self-confidence, pride, hospitality, social skills and warm-heartedness.
Zakumi is a jolly, self-confident, adventurous, spontaneous, and actually quite shrewd little fellow. He loves to perform and always follows his instinct and intuition, yet sometimes has the tendency to exaggerate a bit. You will often find him fooling about and teasing people but not in a mean way. He is warm-hearted and caring, and wants to make as many friends as possible.
He loves to play football as it is a great way to connect with others and break down language barriers. He always carries his football around which he will use to invite people to play with him.
Zakumi loves football. At one time he decided to dye his hair green as he felt it would be the perfect camouflage against the green of the football pitch; a bit like his rosette spots are when hunting in the wilderness!He does have one striking weakness. With all his energy, he needs frequent rests. Occasionally, in-between performances on stage, he may suddenly fall asleep on the spot at the most random times! But rest assured, these are only short breaks that a leopard of his calibre needs to recharge his batteries.
Over the last years he has travelled the whole of Africa where the leopard habitat is good (pretty much everywhere from open savannahs, forests, jungles to mountainous areas, even deserts). He has therefore learned to adapt to new environments; enjoying the diversity in nature and people across the African continent
The name ‘Zakumi' is a composition of ‘ZA' standing for South Africa and ‘kumi', which translates translates into ‘10' in various languages across Africa.
Zakumi's main priority is to turn the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa into one huge, joyful and unforgettable party and show the thousands of international guests the warmth and spirit of the African continent.
"He wants to create a good mood for the fans and raise the excitement for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the first on African soil. He is a proud South African and wants to ensure that the world will come together in South Africa," explained Lucas Radebe, South Africa's football icon and close friend of Zakumi.
2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa
Unofficial 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa blog. Features news, information about venues, photo gallery, and organizing committee details.
The world's biggest sporting event is coming to Africa for the first time in its 78-year-old history - The 2010 Fifa World CupTM. Here are quick facts about South Africa.
South Africa’s dreams of hosting the FIFA World CupTM took root several years before that exhilarating day of 15 May 2004, when it was announced that football’s showpiece would be coming here in 2010.
In fact, South Africa was a favourite in the bidding for the 2006 World Cup, but controversially lost the race to Germany by a single point after one FIFA delegate (New Zealand’s Charles Dempsey) unexpectedly abstained from voting – even though his confederation had told him to cast his ballot for South Africa.
But that huge disappointment for South Africa was softened by a decision by FIFA to rotate World Cup sites by continent – designating the 2010 tournament one that would be held in Africa.
From the beginning of the bid process South Africa committed that the 2010 World Cup would be an African World Cup, which would provide momentum to growth and development and the African renaissance. South Africa would be Africa’s stage and the bid book proclaimed: “Africa’s time has come, and South Africa is ready”.
When the moment for the announcement arrived, FIFA’s president, Sepp Blatter, painstakingly removed from an envelope the card that named the host of the 2010 World Cup. But even before he could declare the winner, his words were drowned out by supporters who had spotted the country’s name in large letters on the card.
After South Africa’s victory was announced, Mandela hoisted the World Cup trophy and Tutu embraced Blatter. “I feel like a young man of 15,” said Mandela, who was 85 at the time.
Back home, the announcement was broadcast live on outdoor screens. South Africans poured on to the streets, waving flags, dancing and blowing on vuvuzelas – the horns that have become an emblem of local football. Massive celebrations took place across the continent.
“We can all applaud Africa,” Blatter said. “The victor is football. The victor is Africa.”
The world's biggest sporting event is coming to Africa for the first time in its 78-year-old history - The 2010 Fifa World CupTM. Here are quick facts about South Africa.
South Africa’s dreams of hosting the FIFA World CupTM took root several years before that exhilarating day of 15 May 2004, when it was announced that football’s showpiece would be coming here in 2010.
In fact, South Africa was a favourite in the bidding for the 2006 World Cup, but controversially lost the race to Germany by a single point after one FIFA delegate (New Zealand’s Charles Dempsey) unexpectedly abstained from voting – even though his confederation had told him to cast his ballot for South Africa.
But that huge disappointment for South Africa was softened by a decision by FIFA to rotate World Cup sites by continent – designating the 2010 tournament one that would be held in Africa.
From the beginning of the bid process South Africa committed that the 2010 World Cup would be an African World Cup, which would provide momentum to growth and development and the African renaissance. South Africa would be Africa’s stage and the bid book proclaimed: “Africa’s time has come, and South Africa is ready”.
When the moment for the announcement arrived, FIFA’s president, Sepp Blatter, painstakingly removed from an envelope the card that named the host of the 2010 World Cup. But even before he could declare the winner, his words were drowned out by supporters who had spotted the country’s name in large letters on the card.
After South Africa’s victory was announced, Mandela hoisted the World Cup trophy and Tutu embraced Blatter. “I feel like a young man of 15,” said Mandela, who was 85 at the time.
Back home, the announcement was broadcast live on outdoor screens. South Africans poured on to the streets, waving flags, dancing and blowing on vuvuzelas – the horns that have become an emblem of local football. Massive celebrations took place across the continent.
“We can all applaud Africa,” Blatter said. “The victor is football. The victor is Africa.”
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