National News

Mandela to attend World Cup

2010-06-03 10:25
Email | Print
Related Links

Johannesburg - Former president Nelson Mandela will attend the opening and closing ceremonies of the FIFA World Cup, which kicks off next week, the sports minister said on Thursday.

"Mandela has demanded to attend the World Cup. He requested four tickets for the opening and closing ceremonies, and the organisers have granted his wish," Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile said in The Star newspaper.

The Mandela family previously said that the elderly statesman was too frail to go to stadiums during the World Cup and would not attend the games. Because of his advanced age, Mandela's schedule is often not announced until the last minute.

Mandela, who turns 92 next month, campaigned for the World Cup to come to South Africa and was present in Zurich in 2004 when the country was named the event's host.

"For us this was a natural thing to do. If there is one person you could point out (deserving of the World Cup) we must say it is Madiba, and it's befitting that he be there," Stofile said, referring to Mandela by his clan name.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Thursday said he hoped Mandela would attend the opening of the tournament at Johannesburg's new Soccer City stadium near Soweto, Mandela's old neighbourhood.

Follow Sport24 on Twitter and Facebook

 

Live Video Streaming
Show full schedule
Video Highlights
Show more videos
Sport Talk
  • Cheering for the underdogs
    So, after weeks of football we’re down to just two teams – Ivory Coast and Zambia – who will...
    • Breaking News

    Updated: Hottest SWC WAGs

    Updated: Hottest SWC 2010 WAGs

    Daily SWC Galleries

    Latest World Cup action with our daily galleries.

    Logs
    P W PTS
    P W PTS
    P W PTS
    P W PTS
    P W PTS
    P W PTS
    P W PTS
    P W PTS
    Previous Results

    Date Home Team Result Away Team
    Vote

    World Cup 2010 is over and the country is returning to normal - but have you moved on yet?

    Twitter Follow Sport24 on Twitter

    Newsletters Sign up for Sport24's Morning Glory newsletter

    Blogs Yes your opinion counts. Get it out there

    WIN Enter and win with Sport24!

    Mobile Sport24 on your mobile phone - WAP, alerts, downloads, services

    BlackBerry Stay in the loop on your BlackBerry

    iPhone Latest Sport24 news on your iPhone

    Facebook "Like" Sport24's Facebook page

    TV schedule Plan your couch time with our searchable sport TV guide

    RSS Feeds Sport news delivered really simply.

     
    There are new stories on the homepage. Click here to see them.