WC explodes with colour

Colours dominate the grand opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup 2010 at the Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Africa's first football World Cup began with an explosion of colour and emotion in a ceremony in Johannesburg's Soccer City Friday, but blighted by the absence of a heartbroken Nelson Mandela.
Fans wept openly as five planes swept over the stadium and the iconic township of Soweto before 1,500 performers piled on to the pitch for a choreographed dance routine which saw them create a map of Africa.
Mandela was missing after his great granddaughter was killed in a car crash on the way back from an eve of tournament concert but his words were interspersed in an opening song, imploring fans to "overcome all adversity".
Artists from the six African teams competing in the finals then took to the stage, including Khaled, the Algerian king of rai music, Nigeria's Femi Kuti and South Africa's legendary trumpeter Hugh Masekela. The Cameroon national ballet performed as did Ghanaian band Osibisa.
Organisers had hoped South Africa's first black president Mandela would wow the crowds with an appearance but he was instead mourning the death of 13-year-old Zenani Mandela in a crash police said was caused by a drunk driver.
Mandela is 91 and has been in frail health.
"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," said his foundation. "Madiba will be there with you in spirit."
Zenani Mandela's death is the latest tragedy to hit the Nobel laureate. One of his sons died of AIDS while another was killed in a car crash during Mandela's 27 years in jail as a prisoner of the whites-only apartheid regime.
"The nation shares your loss and mourns with you, especially on the day on which our dreams and hopes come alive," said South African President Jacob Zuma.
In a letter to Mandela, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said he had been stunned "to hear the unspeakably tragic news."
Both men were present at the opening, alongside 78-year-old Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu who danced along in a yellow and green South African team strip.
The ground was far from full for the opening ceremony as park and ride buses struggled through traffic jams and a special train service suffered delays.
Ever since it was awarded the tournament six years ago, South Africa has had to fend off accusations that its poor infrastructure and high crime rate meant it could not stage an event of such magnitude.
The hosts hope that a successful tournament with world renowned names such as Argentina's Lionel Messi, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and England's Wayne Rooney will overturn perceptions of Africa as the hopeless continent -- a place regarded by many as synonymous with war, famine and AIDS.
"The World Cup must make the world see the beautiful land scape, humanity, progress and vibrant spirit that is in this continent," Zuma told visiting heads of state.
"They will see that this continent is not about wars and conflict. It is a continent of peoples who love peace, harmony and sustainable development."
All the stadiums and World Cup infrastructure projects have been completed on time although crime is still a worry. Journalists have been robbed at gunpoint and thieves have even stolen cash from the rooms of the Greek team.
The first of the tournament's 63 matches, between South Africa's Bafana Bafana team and Mexico, followed the opening ceremony at Soccer City, a showpiece arena rebuilt to resemble an African cooking pot, lying just a long kick from Soweto.
Hundreds of dancers filled Soccer City with the sights and sounds of Africa for the opening ceremony. The stadium, the largest in Africa, buzzed with the sound of thousands of vuvuzela trumpets as five jets flew overhead.
Mandela delivered a videotape message spliced into one of the songs, welcoming the World Cup to South Africa and imploring fans "to overcome all adversaries".
A traditional African praise singer in animal skins opened the 40-minute show, as dancers lined up along the compass points indicating the eight other host cities around South Africa.
A giant dung beetle puppet pushed across the pitch an oversize version of the official World Cup football, as dancers then unfurled stretches of cloth to make a map of Africa, with footprints showing the migration of humankind across the continent.
Legendary trumpeter Masekela and American R-and-B star R Kelly headlined the event.
R Kelly was joined by the Soweto Spiritual Singers to perform his hit "Sign of Victory", before the 32 competing teams were announced with cut-outs of their flags spinning on the field.