Thousands of fans wave South Africa's national colours on scarves and flags during a star-studded concert that opened the World Cup at Soweto's Orlando Stadium on Thursday.
Photograph by: Radu Sigheti, Reuters, Agence France-Presse
S outh Africa began its World Cup party Thursday with revellers flocking to a star-studded concert and fan festivals on the eve of Africa's first staging of the biggest show on earth.
"This is the real kickoff," Sepp Blatter, president of FIFA, world soccer's governing body, told tens of thousands packed into Soweto's historic Orlando Stadium to watch artists who included Shakira and the Black Eyed Peas. "Football is not only a game. Football is connecting people."
South African President Jacob Zuma said Africa is showing it is capable of handling events of any size.
"Africa is hosting this tournament. South Africa is the stage," said Zuma, 68. "South Africa is rocking. South Africa is cool."
But in Cape Town, a police officer suffered a broken leg and two women broke their ankles in a crush at the entrance to the World Cup party.
"Excess people wanted to get in and started pushing," said police spokesman Frederick van Wyk. "People at the back kept moving forward and a crush ensued."
The Soweto concert began with a performance from veteran South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela in a township synonymous with the fight against whites-only rule and the country's first black president, Nelson Mandela.
And at the other end of the country, more than 15,000 people crammed into a fan park to watch local bands and a light show at the same spot from which Mandela addressed his nation 20 years ago immediately after walking free from prison.
During the apartheid years, South Africa was subjected to an international sporting and cultural boycott.
But now the one-time global pariah has the honour of hosting 300,000 foreign fans, the world's finest soccer players and some of the biggest stars in world music.
"We are excited. It's exactly what we were hoping for. The infrastructure is improved. Africans always love to have visitors," said Angie Bopape, who travelled to the Soweto concert from Rustenburg, two hours north of Johannesburg.
Vendors packed the sidewalk around the stadium, doing a brisk business in flags and vuvuzelas -- the ear-splitting plastic horns that are turning into the tournament's must-have accessory.
"I am amazed with the amount of love and kindness from everyone," said Vicky Becerra, a visitor from Mexico, whose team plays South Africa in today's opening match. "I expected more insecurity, to be honest. I want to come back."
The sense of anticipation has been increased by the unexpected upswing in form of the Bafana Bafana (the Boys) national side, which goes into today's opening match against Mexico off a 12-match unbeaten run.
After tens of thousands of people cheered on the South African team on Wednesday as it paraded through Johannesburg in an open-top bus, it was Cape Town's turn to show its support on Thursday.
"We came here to feel the vibe with the rest of Africa. Just to be here -- it's like an experience of a lifetime," said Marks Louw, 23, as he watched performers at the fan fest.
Ever since it won the right to stage the tournament six years ago, South Africa has had to fend off claims that its high crime rate, lack of infrastructure and rudimentary public transport rendered it an unsuitable choice.
Work at the 10 host stadiums finished on time while World Cup infrastructure projects are up and running, including Africa's first high-speed rail link.
But a labour dispute by public-sector workers was looming after salary talks between unions, representing 1.3 million state employees, and the government reached a deadlock.
And the spectre of crime continued to stalk visitors, with a Chinese TV crew among the latest victims robbed at gunpoint and a spokesman for Greece revealing 1,500 euros ($1,870 Cdn) in cash had been stolen at the team hotel.
"This is the real kickoff," Sepp Blatter, president of FIFA, world soccer's governing body, told tens of thousands packed into Soweto's historic Orlando Stadium to watch artists who included Shakira and the Black Eyed Peas. "Football is not only a game. Football is connecting people."
South African President Jacob Zuma said Africa is showing it is capable of handling events of any size.
"Africa is hosting this tournament. South Africa is the stage," said Zuma, 68. "South Africa is rocking. South Africa is cool."
But in Cape Town, a police officer suffered a broken leg and two women broke their ankles in a crush at the entrance to the World Cup party.
"Excess people wanted to get in and started pushing," said police spokesman Frederick van Wyk. "People at the back kept moving forward and a crush ensued."
The Soweto concert began with a performance from veteran South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela in a township synonymous with the fight against whites-only rule and the country's first black president, Nelson Mandela.
And at the other end of the country, more than 15,000 people crammed into a fan park to watch local bands and a light show at the same spot from which Mandela addressed his nation 20 years ago immediately after walking free from prison.
During the apartheid years, South Africa was subjected to an international sporting and cultural boycott.
But now the one-time global pariah has the honour of hosting 300,000 foreign fans, the world's finest soccer players and some of the biggest stars in world music.
"We are excited. It's exactly what we were hoping for. The infrastructure is improved. Africans always love to have visitors," said Angie Bopape, who travelled to the Soweto concert from Rustenburg, two hours north of Johannesburg.
Vendors packed the sidewalk around the stadium, doing a brisk business in flags and vuvuzelas -- the ear-splitting plastic horns that are turning into the tournament's must-have accessory.
"I am amazed with the amount of love and kindness from everyone," said Vicky Becerra, a visitor from Mexico, whose team plays South Africa in today's opening match. "I expected more insecurity, to be honest. I want to come back."
The sense of anticipation has been increased by the unexpected upswing in form of the Bafana Bafana (the Boys) national side, which goes into today's opening match against Mexico off a 12-match unbeaten run.
After tens of thousands of people cheered on the South African team on Wednesday as it paraded through Johannesburg in an open-top bus, it was Cape Town's turn to show its support on Thursday.
"We came here to feel the vibe with the rest of Africa. Just to be here -- it's like an experience of a lifetime," said Marks Louw, 23, as he watched performers at the fan fest.
Ever since it won the right to stage the tournament six years ago, South Africa has had to fend off claims that its high crime rate, lack of infrastructure and rudimentary public transport rendered it an unsuitable choice.
Work at the 10 host stadiums finished on time while World Cup infrastructure projects are up and running, including Africa's first high-speed rail link.
But a labour dispute by public-sector workers was looming after salary talks between unions, representing 1.3 million state employees, and the government reached a deadlock.
And the spectre of crime continued to stalk visitors, with a Chinese TV crew among the latest victims robbed at gunpoint and a spokesman for Greece revealing 1,500 euros ($1,870 Cdn) in cash had been stolen at the team hotel.
Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/South+Africa+rolls+welcome+World+party+kicks/3139741/story.html#ixzz0qWs6q138
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