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When we say that this is an African Cup that includes all the other countries and also those who competed against us. We want to see them as partners and participants in the World Cup.

Thabo Mbeki, President of South Africa
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Soccerex to put SA on world map

06 October - The imminent hosting of the 2010 Fifa World Cup™ in South Africa has opened many doors for South Africa, one of them being Soccerex, the biggest football-focused exhibition in the world.

Referees set sights on 2010 World Cup

02 October - Qualifying is already well underway for teams looking to book their place at the 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa™, but it is not just players and coaches of the various countries who are looking ahead to 2010. The world's top referees also have their sights set on South Africa.

2010 plans to be piloted during PSL match

01 October - Saturday’s Premier Soccer League clash between Orlando Pirates and Santos at Ellis Park Stadium will be used to pilot Park and Ride facilities in preparation for the 2010 Fifa World Cup™, the department of transport said on Tuesday.

Transport Month highlights 2010 progress

30 September - Preparations to welcome thousands of fans to South Africa for the 2010 Fifa World Cup™ spectacular are at an advanced stage at OR Tambo International Airport.

Government: Politics won’t affect World Cup

29 September - The unfolding changes in the Executive of the Republic of South Africa will not have any negative impact on preparations for the 2010 Fifa World Cup™.

‘Adopt a Nation’ campaign to galvanise kids

29 September - The Local Organising Committee South Africa has invited millions of school children to be part of 2010 Fifa World Cup™. The “Adopt a Nation” school programme was launched at the Nasrec Sports Precinct in Johannesburg on Saturday.

New SA president pledges best World Cup

26 September - President-elect of the Republic of South Africa, Kgalema Motlanthe, says the government remains committed to all the promises it made to Fifa and the international football community to deliver the best 2010 Fifa World Cup™.

Klerksdorp city banks on 2010 spinoffs

25 September - The City of Matlosana is ready to benefit from South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 Fifa World Cup™ with sponsorships and football development programmes already in place.

Zakumi: 2010 Fifa World Cup Official Mascot launched

22 September - Zakumi, the Official 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa™ Mascot, has made his first ever public appearance at a media launch at SABC’s Auckland Park studios in Johannesburg.

2010 World Cup Mascot launch on Monday

19 September - The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) – official broadcast partner of the 2010 Fifa World Cup™ – will on Monday unveil the long awaited Official Mascot of the 2010 Fifa World Cup. The launch will be broadcast live on SABC1.


President Mbeki's remarks during the launch of the Africa Legacy Programme during the African Union Summit of the Heads of State and Government held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

29 January 2007

I'm very very impressed chairperson with the discipline of the Heads of State and Government who are here. They've been sitting here very patiently for many hours; I think the only saving grace is that everybody has made an interesting speech.

But I want to be very brief and say that:

Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), Confederation of African Football (CAF), South African Local Organising Committee for 2010, all of them looked forward to this day when it would be possible for Sepp Blatter, for Issa Hayatou to speak to the assembly of African Heads of State and Government to say, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of CAF and that's an important achievement; important also because it coincides with the 50th anniversary of the independence of Ghana.

But also to say thank you indeed to the African Union that a decision was taken to observe this year as a year of African Football on our continent. I must say thank you very much to Chairman of the African Union President Sassou-Nguesso and chair of the commission, President Konare, for making it possible indeed for this ceremony to take place this afternoon.

Let me also say again, our humble thanks and many thanks and our profound thanks to President Sepp Blatter, President of FIFA, who indeed as he has just explained took it upon himself to make sure that the FIFA World Cup at last comes to the African Continent.

Thank you very much for that.

I must also say that I'm very glad that we have with us the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago because indeed as he indicated, the Caribbean supported our candidacy and one of the things that we have said again as both Issa Hayatou and Sepp Blatter have said is that we have to make absolutely certain that this 2010 Soccer World Cup benefits the African Continent but also benefits the African Diaspora. That is why I'm saying indeed I'm very glad indeed that Prime Minister Patrick Manning is with us here because in the planning and the things Sepp Blatter was talking about the legacy, the impact it must have on us as Africans we have always defined those Africans as Africans on the continent and Africans on the Diaspora.

So what therefore has been decided is that we should have this Africa Legacy Programme so that indeed in the manner that has already been described, we work in a systematic manner to ensure that the 2010 Soccer World Cup does indeed make a lasting impact on the continent and leaves the peoples of our continent and the Diaspora indeed with a lasting legacy.

So, in a sense today we also launch that African Legacy Programme which will improve football infrastructure on the continent, help with our administration and governance, help in other elements to make sure that indeed football, important as it is, also helps with regards to other matters including economies of our country, mobilises the youth, both in football and sports in general, and does all of these things that need to be done to make sure that we observe a campaign for "Sport for all" on our continent.

Before I sit down, I must say that we are quite certain that when the World Cup takes place in South Africa in 2010, it will be possible for everybody to see that perhaps FIFA has never had as successful a World Cup as FIFA will have on the African Continent in 2010.

So we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of CAF, we launch the year to observe to the African Football, we launch the African Legacy Programme so we proceed on our way to 2010.

There will be two results in 2010, one of them will be surely that our African peoples are better then than they are today, thanks to the role that football will play and secondly the World Cup will stay on the African continent.

I thank you.

Issued by: The Presidency
29 January 2007

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