Fireworks light up sky as Africa hosts first WC

Agencies

Johannesburg, 11 June 2010: The world’s largest sporting spectacle starts on Friday as it is Bafana Bafana against Mehico in the first match and later Uruguay takes on France in the FIFA World Cup 2010.

Ahead of the opening ceremony, fireworks lit up the sky over Soweto in Johannesburg as 30,000 people watched local and international superstars in a concert.

Security was tight, but the atmosphere was jovial as Cape Town opened its official Fan Fest for the World Cup. Crowds queued up for hours to enter the Grand Parade in the heart of the city, where matches will be shown live and musical acts will entertain South Africans and tourists alike.

Police kept a close eye on fans in the park while hired security screened the thousands of people who entered the facility. Nearly 4,00,000 tourists visiting South Africa are expected to put the ’Mother City’ of Western Cape on their itinerary.

The month-long event kicks off on Friday with the opening match between hosts South Africa and Mexico which will take place at 7.30 pm Indian time.

And trust the Soccer City stadium to be an ocean of colour with loud local horns called Vuvuzelas.

South Africa’s former president Nelson Mandela is set to attend part of the opening ceremony and the opening game. He will be present on Friday, but will not attend the entire opening game as his family is worried about his health.

The World Cup kicks off with a 40-minute opening ceremony at Soccer City. American R’n’B star R Kelly is one of 1,581 performers who will perform in the opening ceremony ahead of the game between the hosts South Africa and Mexico.
South Africa have never progressed beyond the group stage at the World Cup, though they have only taken part in two previous tournaments, in 1998 and 2002.

Defending champions Italy start on Monday with a match against Paraguay, Brazil face North Korea in their first game on Tuesday and Euro 2008 winners Spain start their bid for a first World Cup win by taking on Switzerland on Wednesday.

Some of the world’s best players like Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, David Villa and Fernando Torres will feature in this edition of the World Cup.

But some big names will be missing because of injury, such as England duo Rio Ferdinand and David Beckham, Germany skipper Michael Ballack, Ghana midfielder Michael Essien and Portugal winger Nani.

In all, 32 teams will participate in this year’s World Cup with total of 64 games to be played. The final will take place on July 11 at the Soccer City stadium here.