World Cup 2010 Kicks First Ball

The biggest international football tournament, World Cup 2010, is starting Friday in Johannesburg, South Africa, a historical event for the country, which is hosting the tournament for the first time.

A 40-minute opening ceremony of the long-awaited 19th edition will kick off at the 94 000-capacity Soccer City two hours before the first game between the hosts and Mexico at 1700 GMT+2.

The official celebrations began Thursday with a 3-hour concert at Soweto's Orlando stadium. Popular international singers, among which Alicia Keys, Black Eyed Peas, and African Amadou & Mariam and Hugh Masekela, entertained the 30 000 people audience, as well as the TV viewers in around 215 countries.

The official World Cup 2010 anthem was sung by pop star Shakira. She performed the “Waka Waka (This time for Africa)” song, backed by local band Freshlyground.

South Africa president Jacob Zuma is expected to be at the official opening ceremony at Soccer City. Ex-president Nelson Mandela's plan to make an appearance is presently in doubt. Mandela's great-granddaughter died in a car accident when coming back from the World Cup concert Thursday evening.

The historic tournament is organized every 4 years, starting 1930 in Uruguay. The only exceptions were in 1942 and 1946, due to the World Wars.

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