2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™
A symbol of hope
 08
Jul 2006 - On Friday 7 July, the Tempodrom in Berlin
witnessed a welcoming to South Africa, and in turn South
Africa welcomed the world. The official emblem of the
2010 FIFA World Cup™ was unveiled in a vibrant ceremony
organised by the 2010 South Africa Local Organising
Committee (LOC). The host cities for the 2010 FIFA World
Cup™ also showcased their cities in order to inform
the watching world what is in store four years from
now. Molefi Oliphant, President of the South African
Football Association, summed up the occasion perfectly
when he said: "We (South Africa) are receiving
the baton from Germany, like in a race, and now we are
running our lap."
South Africa have certainly got out of the blocks quickly
and made an impressive start. The speakers at the event
included Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United
Nations, FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter and President
of the Republic of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki. They all
spoke of the continent's immense pride in the hosting
the 2010 FIFA World Cup on African soil, and the need
to 'Win in Africa, with Africa.' Indeed, CAF President
and FIFA Vice-President Issa Hayatou is so optimistic
about the success of Africa in 2010, he declared it
will 'mark the renaissance of Africa.'
The Official Emblem: dynamic and descriptive
The emblem depicts the energy and vigour of the African
continent. The inspiration for the footballing figure
over the shape of Africa is drawn from Khoi-San rock
paintings, and is also representative of its deep and
long history. Upon unveiling the emblem President Mbeki
declared: "We are showcasing a new forward-looking
and dynamic South Africa."
Danny Jordaan, CEO of the 2010 South Africa Local Organising
Committee, reflected upon the success of the event,
saying: "the unveiling of our logo will hopefully
show football fans around the world of the organisation
and sophistication which underpins South Africa. I think
that many people who left this hall with a different
perception of the country. Hopefully they have seen
that we are techno-smart and we understand the business
of the World Cup. We want to convince the world that
the 2010 World Cup will be the best World Cup ever in
the more than 100 years of FIFA football history."
Meanwhile, Mr. Blatter reiterated his belief and confidence
in the Host Country saying: "There are more than
one billion people behind the FIFA family who have said
yes to South Africa, we trust South Africa." |
