|
Friday, 11 June 2010 17:41 |
|
Johannesburg, South Africa. The 2010 World Cup in South Africa got under way with a spectacular and vibrant opening ceremony at the 94,000-capacity Soccer City in Johannesburg.
The ceremony was followed by the first game of the tournament between the hosts and Mexico, which ended 1-1.
Africa is staging the World Cup for the first time, with 32 nations competing in 64 games until the final on 11 July.
Nelson Mandela was due to attend the opening ceremony but withdrew following the death of his great-granddaughter.
Zenani Mandela, 13, died in a car crash when travelling home from the pre-World Cup concert in Johannesburg on Thursday.
She was one of the 91-year-old anti-apartheid icon's nine great-grandchildren.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation released a statement saying it would be "inappropriate" for Mandela, a former South African president, to be at the opening ceremony.
"We are sure that South Africans and people all over the world will stand in solidarity with Mr Mandela and his family in the aftermath of this tragedy," added the statement.
"We continue to believe that the World Cup is a momentous and historic occasion for South Africa and the continent and we are certain it will be a huge success." |
|
|
Thursday, 02 July 2009 13:45 |
|
Cristiano Ronaldo has completed his world record £80m move from Manchester United to Real Madrid after agreeing a six-year deal. |
|
Wednesday, 15 April 2009 02:08 |
A meeting between principals of Zimbabwe's inclusive government to determine the fate of Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono has been scheduled for April 20, The Zimbabwe Times can report.
The crucial meeting was initially scheduled for Monday last week but was deferred following the death of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's grandson.
|
|
Wednesday, 15 April 2009 02:04 |
|
Zimbabwe’s white commercial farmers have demanded US$5 billion in immediate compensation from the government before they can vacate their farms, their leadership said on Thursday. "The compensation is equal to the country’s present debt, about US$5 billion," Commercial Farmers’ Union (CFU) president |
|
Wednesday, 15 April 2009 02:00 |
The Zimbabwean government's decision to shelve the national currency for a year doesn't change very much because the local dollar had lost virtually all of its value and almost no one used it any more, economists said Monday.
|
|
|
Thursday, 02 July 2009 13:08 |
|
The president of the United States Soccer Federation has warned David Beckham to expect a hostile reception when he returns to LA Galaxy. |
|
Wednesday, 15 April 2009 02:06 |
Zimbabwe will not use its own local currency for at least a year, a state media reported on Sunday, while it tries to repair an economy which critics say was destroyed by President Robert Mugabe.
|
|
Wednesday, 15 April 2009 02:02 |
Zimbabwe has appealed to international agencies and organisations to fund the drafting of its first post-independence constitution that will lead to new free and fair elections as outlined under a unity deal signed between president Robert Mugabe and the opposition.
|
|
Wednesday, 15 April 2009 01:57 |
Zimbabwe's unity government has set up a 25-member parliamentary committee to spearhead the drafting of the country's first post-independence Constitution.
|
|
|
|
|
|
