T Mbeki: Unveiling of the FIFA Soccer World Cup South Africa 2010
emblem

7 July 2006

Programme Directors, Tumi Makgabo and Marcus Ziegler,
Your Excellency, President of FIFA, Joseph Sepp Blatter,
Your Excellency, UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan,
Your Excellency, CAF President, Issa Hayatou,
Your Excellency, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Alpha Omar
Konare,
Your Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Distinguished guests,
Distinguished members of the media,
Musicians,
Soccer ambassadors, fans and friends,
Ladies and gentlemen:

I am truly delighted to address you on this auspicious occasion - indeed a
double celebration of the unveiling of the FIFA Soccer World Cup 2010 South
Africa Emblem and the 14th anniversary of the re-entry of South Africa to the
international football arena which took place on the 7th July 1992.

On behalf of the Organising Committee South Africa, the government and the
people of South Africa, we wish to express our heartfelt thanks to FIFA, the
Organising Committee Germany, the government and people of Germany for their
magnanimous gesture in allowing us the privilege of unveiling the 2010 Emblem
during this glittering sporting tournament in Berlin.

May I also congratulate FIFA, the Organising Committee Germany and the
government and people of Germany for hosting a magnificent tournament and for
sharing your world-class wisdom and expertise with our 2010 Organising
Committee.

It is fitting that, on 9 July, Germany hands over to South Africa the
hosting of the FIFA Soccer World Cup 2010 in this city of Berlin. I am saying
it is fitting because the Brandenburg Gate, in all its glorious splendour,
stands testament to the changing fortunes of Germany from a divided to a
re-united nation in a spirit of reconciliation, togetherness and growing
prosperity on both sides of the Gate.

Indeed, the Brandenburg Gate is now a symbol of German resilience, pride,
dignity and joy. As Germans will recall, it was football that played such a
pivotal role after the Second World War in re-defining and healing the trauma
of a devastated nation.

Who can forget Helmut Rahn's magnificent winning goal that brought victory
to the underdogs, Germany, against the favourites, Hungary, in that memorable
1954 FIFA World Cup in Berne? Indeed, the "Miracle of Berne", as it then became
known, was widely considered to be one of the major catalysts in Germany's
economic recovery as it ensured a growing and prospering soccer industry.

For Franz Beckenbauer, that historic World Cup day when German hearts beat
in unison was not simply a sporting victory. As he says: "The Boss (as Helmut
Rahn was called) contributed to the most important success in German sporting
history. - Germany became someone again. We gave ourselves the feeling of
self-respect again." (From www.sportsillustrated.com 2003)

We are confident that the 2010 Soccer World Cup will do the same to
consolidate our self-respect and dignity gained when we attained our freedom
and democracy in 1994 and in a unique way help our own nation and the continent
of Africa also to bask in the "Miracle of South Africa".

This will clearly be a special tribute to many South Africans and Africans
who have triumphed over the pernicious system of apartheid which even denied a
black child the right to play football with a white child. The 2010 Soccer
World Cup belongs to the many Africans, who in many parts of the world engage
in a continuous struggle against racism and xenophobia.

As many of us in this room are aware, everyday we take important steps to
reunite what was a divided nation. We continue to work together to ensure that
every South African enjoy dignity, freedom and justice and that our children
grow up in an environment that nurtures their talents, infusing the spirit of
resilience and determination even in the face of difficult challenges.

This is the same spirit that helped us overcome such formidable trials and
tribulations as presented by the system of apartheid. In many ways this spirit
has for years been best manifested within the game of football as players,
administrators and fans defied and outmanoeuvred the apartheid system to keep
the game alive.

Mr. President, it was football that helped keep the high spirits of those
jailed on Robben Island and in other prisons in our country. It was football
that helped to boost the morale of those in exile; indeed, football was a
source of comfort and solace and an inspiration for a better future for those
living in the poorest of circumstances.

It was fifty years ago, in 1956, when the then Minister of Interior in
apartheid South Africa, T.E. Donges, drew up the first official apartheid sport
policy and legally segregated sport in our country.

However, this could not destroy the determination of our soccer players. In
that same year, fifty years ago, black South African players such as Stephen
Mokone, David Julius and, in 1958, Darius Dhlomo surmounted all these racist
obstacles and signed contracts with Cardiff City, Sporting Lisbon and the
Heracles Clubs respectively. By 1965, Leeds United winger, Albert Johanneson
became the first Black South African to play in an English FA Cup Final.

All Africans, the most ardent of football fans and players, rejoiced in
FIFA's decision to impose sanctions against South Africa in 1976 because they
understood very well that, that action was part of the struggle for freedom. At
the same time, while the rest of the world enjoyed the fruits of football
fortunes, South Africans, even though enduring forced segregation in sport,
also packed football stadiums and with meagre resources kept the game
alive.

We are indeed very happy that the resilience, patience and love for the
beautiful game by these masses of our people, was vindicated, on the 15th May
2004, when President Blatter announced that football's Golden Trophy would
finally be going home to Africa. In that glorious moment, FIFA helped with the
process of the restoration of our self-respect and dignity and rewarded all the
African football lovers by bringing the beautiful game to the mother
continent.

Indeed, the ancient kudu horn resonates across the Tempodrom heralding
ardent and passionate supporters of FIFA's "beacon of hope", football, to grace
the shores of the final missing ring - Africa, the cradle of humanity - in the
Olympic ideal of the original Olympic Football Tournament, the forerunner of
the FIFA Soccer World Cup.

The inaugural FIFA Soccer World Cup in Uruguay may well have been the
turning point for the enormous success and passion that is so evident in Pele's
beautiful game, jogo bonito, across South America. And soon the magnificent
FIFA Golden Trophy heads to the Southern Hemisphere once again to inspire and
uplift a continent, from the gold mines of South Africa to the undulating
golden sands of Tunisia.

We have declared this century the African century. In this regard, few would
argue that FIFA, President Blatter and the rest of the Executive Committee have
made an enormous contribution towards the realisation of this goal by taking
the biggest sporting event to Africa. In this way, you have proved that you are
the supreme ambassadors of football and through your decision you have
communicated a positive message to the billions of young people across the
world for whom the golden ball or the golden shoe is the ultimate prayer of
hope out of poverty, underdevelopment and marginalisation.

Indeed, we are inspired by President Blatter's words in Senegal in May 2006
when he said:

"Football is all about hope. Hope of a better world, hope for youngsters,
hope that you will be able to give people's lives a purpose, and school them
for life."

(From "Senegal notch the 100th Goal, 4 May 2006 in www.fifa.com )

Your Excellencies, I am sure that you would understand our joy as FIFA took
a clear and correct stand against racism. We who have endured centuries of this
cancer are indeed pleased that FIFA is leading the world in its public stance
against racism, anti-corruption, anti-doping and drug abuse.

We are prepared, Mr. President to be your foot soldiers in this struggle and
we will do whatever possible to ensure the success of the vision adopted by the
FIFA Congress in June, which states: "Develop the game, touch the world, build
a better future."

Undoubtedly, FIFA is proving, by its word and deed, that the world can
succeed against the many and varied global challenges through fair and
equitable partnerships based on human solidarity, co-operation, fair play and
universality.

Today, we have no doubt that FIFA is Africa's Partner of Hope. Accordingly,
as Africans together with FIFA we can let our hearts, spirit, mind and bodies
talk the same universal language. But our partnership will not end in Africa.
Clearly, in time, our shared purpose and solidarity will touch many people and
reach the entire world - from the eager child in FIFA's 100th Goal Project in
Senegal and Vila Brasilandia in Sao Paulo to the children of the Solomon
Islands and Kazakhstan.

The Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire, the Hawks of Togo, the Black Stars of Ghana
and the Olympic football champions, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon have
caught the eyes of the football world with their talents. We are happy that
these artists whose work is displayed in the field of play will join many of
their brothers and sisters as South Africa, on behalf of Africa, welcome the
world to the cradle of humanity.

This will be part of the African football journey that would undoubtedly
reach, sooner than later, a glorious destination of excellence and dominance.
The unveiling of this Emblem is part of the continuation of this journey of
consolidating the progress, the glorious passion and dazzling display of
football in Africa and ensuring that we move forward faster.

We thank especially FIFA, President Blatter and the entire leadership for
helping us to move faster on this journey. We thank CAF, particularly that son
of Africa, Issa Hayatou, together with his committee for their sterling
leadership as we march forward. Today we unveil this Emblem because in our
march we are led by these giants of global and continental football.

South Africa was given the opportunity to host the 2010 FIFA World CUP
because among others, Molefi Oliphant, Irvan Khoza and Danny Jordaan worked
tirelessly on this important project. Indeed, we are meeting today because of
the work of our own gifted 2010 African Ambassadors: George Weah, Roger Milla,
Abedi Pele, Kalusha Bwalya, Lucas Radebe, Philimon Masinga and many others
across our continent.

Today, in the Tempodrom, as we unveil the 2010 Emblem, we showcase in the
Exhibition Hall a new forward-looking and dynamic South Africa with
cutting-edge broadcast technology required by FIFA such as high definition
television via broadband and television on mobile and handheld telephones. This
is part of the facilities that will be available when we meet in 2010.

There are many specialised South Africa groups that have visited Germany
since the beginning of the World Cup. These are the people that will be in
charge of various day to day duties during the 2010 Soccer World Cup. I am
confident that the experience that they got from this country would ensure that
the 2010 Soccer World Cup will not only be successful but memorable.

Clearly, what they learned in this country will add to the experience that
South Africans have, coming from having been privileged to host, among other
international events, the African Cup of Nations, the Rugby World Cup, the
Cricket World Cup and the Women's Golf World Cup.

Dear friends, in the same spirit of FIFA's new African 2010 project, we too
invite you to "Win in Africa with Africa."

We invite football fans of the world to journey to a tourist paradise across
our magnificent continent of Africa. For the 2010 Soccer World Cup will stand
out as a unique event that celebrates Africa in all its magnificent splendour,
richness, vibrancy, diversity and glory.

Just as the sound is powerfully amplified in the spirals of the kudu horn,
we see hope, connections and prosperity merging between the ancient roots and
the infinite possibilities of tomorrow. May the party in Germany continue to
spread the magic and joy and pass this to South Africa, where the vuvuzela, our
homemade football trumpet, will welcome football fans from across the
world.

Again, dear friends, we come from a place where football is not simply a
game but an enduring passion; we come from a place where our hearts beat in
unison as we celebrate a shared destiny and love for the beautiful game with
the human family.

Africa is ready. Africa's time has come.

Africa is calling: Come home to Africa in 2010 - Kommen Sie heim nach Afrika
in 2010.

Thank you.

Issued by: The Presidency
7 July 2006
Source: SAPA