South Africa finally lands World Cup
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-05-16 08:58

A triumphant Nelson Mandela was draped in his national flag, while back home bells tolled and crowds sang in the streets. The World Cup, finally, is headed to South Africa. Mandela's country was awarded the 2010 tournament Saturday, the first time soccer's treasured prize will be played in Africa.

Former South African President Nelson Mandela, right, holding the World Cup trophy, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, left, and other members of the South African delegation celebrate in a Saturday, May 15, 2004, after it was announced that South Africa will host the 2010 soccer World Cup. FIFA's executive committee on Saturday picked South Africa ahead of Morocco and Egypt for the first World Cup to be staged in Africa. [AP]

South Africa beat Morocco and Egypt in a vote by the executive committee of the sport's governing body, FIFA. In balloting four years ago for the 2006 World Cup, South Africa lost to Germany by one vote.

"We can all applaud Africa," FIFA president Sepp Blatter said. "The victor is football. The victor is Africa."

South Africa received 14 votes during the first round, while Morocco had 10, and Egypt none. As part of a new plan to rotate the event among continents, FIFA decided only African nations could contend for this World Cup.

Tunisia, which wanted to co-host with Libya, withdrew its bid Friday. Libya was eliminated by FIFA on Saturday.

South Africa, rated the best candidate in a report by FIFA, has nine stadiums in place and four more to be refurbished. It hosted last year's cricket World Cup and the 1995 Rugby World Cup. The country's high crime rate was considered the biggest drawback.

This was one of the final public appearances for the frail, 85-year-old Mandela, who championed South Africa's bid. He has said that during the apartheid era one of his few joys in prison was listening to World Cup soccer games on radio.

"I feel like a young man of 50," said Mandela, who hoisted the World Cup trophy after South Africa's victory was announced. Fellow Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu embraced Blatter.

Even before Blatter could declare the winner, the words "South Africa" were drowned out by supporters who saw what was written in large letters on the card. Mandela sat in the front row, draped by his flag, as South Africans chanted "Madiba, Madiba," his tribal name.

In South Africa, the announcement was broadcast live on outdoor screens. Champagne corks popped at soccer stadiums, public squares and community centers as blacks and whites united in jubilation.

"Let's all go out and celebrate," President Thabo Mbeki, raising a champagne glass, told a crowd of dancing, singing fans in the capital, Pretoria.

The vote culminated a seven-year campaign to bring the world's biggest event in team sports to a nation once plagued by apartheid and sports boycotts.

"Members of the executive committee, I hope you understand what you have done for so many people in South Africa — unemployed, no food, but now with hope," said Danny Jordaan, who led the unsuccessful 2006 bid and was also part of this team. "You have turned a dream into hope and that dream has come true today."

The South African bid committee has estimated the World Cup will be worth $3.1 billion to the nation's economy and create 160,000 jobs.

South Africa was favored in the 2006 vote. But on the third ballot, Germany won 12-11 when New Zealand's Charles Dempsey unexpectedly abstained after his confederation told him to vote for South Africa. Blatter had said that if the vote had been 12-12, he would have cast his tiebreaking ballot for South Africa.

FIFA then decided to rotate World Cup sites by continent, designating 2010 for Africa and 2014 for South America. Brazil, whose federation celebrates its centenary that year, could be the only candidate.

The United States, which hosted the tournament in 1994, hopes the rotation will allow it to bid for the 2018 World Cup, but the host continent for that year has not been determined.

Alan Rothenberg, the leader of the U.S. organizers in 1994, helped put together Morocco's bid.

"We made a great run at it, came pretty close," Rothenberg said. "We're disappointed that we didn't win, but that's the way it goes. I wish South Africa the best. I'm sure it will be a great World Cup."

Morocco's three previous bids to host the World Cup also ended in defeat.

"We salute our South African brothers for their success," said Saad Kettani, Morocco's bid chief. "We send them warm wishes for a wonderful World Cup in 2010. It will be a World Cup for the whole African continent."

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