The Hindu : Front Page : Crowds go wild as Mandela makes an appearance

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Monday, Jul 12, 2010
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Crowds go wild as Mandela makes an appearance

- PHOTOS: AP & AFP

GRACE AND GLAMOUR: The former South African President, Nelson Mandela (centre left), and his wife Graca Machel wave to the crowd as they drive across the field ahead of the World Cup final between the Netherlands and Spain at Soccer City in Johannesburg on Sunday. (Right) Colombian singer Shakira performs during the closing ceremony at the stadium.

JOHANNESBURG:Anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela waved to the crowd and Colombian singer Shakira had fans dancing in their seats as South Africa began saying farewell to the 2010 World Cup in an emotional and pulsating fashion.

Mr. Mandela had kept a low profile during the month-long tournament, having decided against attending the opening game following the death of his great-granddaughter.

Driven in a small golf cart alongside wife Grace Machel, a smiling Mr. Mandela was welcomed by a thunderous mix of vuvuzelas and roars from the crowd. He shook hands with officials before leaving the field a few minutes later.

Local music, lights

South Africa's Soccer City erupted in lights for the World Cup closing ceremony, with singers performing a melody of local music from urban hip-hop to a cappella chorals.

The blazing farewell to Africa's first World Cup began with a flyover of three Gripen fighter jets, as the calabash-shaped stadium was bathed in blue and red lights and then ignited by fireworks that appeared to set the field alight.

Performers danced into the shape of a vuvuzela that spouted lights leading to Shakira performing her song “Waka Waka,” the tournament's official anthem, with local band Freshlyground.

About 780 dancers clad in colourful urban youth gear broke into synchronised dance, sending the 85,000 fans into a celebratory frenzy.

Giant projectors illuminated a highlights reel using the pitch as a screen, showing the best moments of the 32 teams who played in games leading to the final between the Netherlands and Spain.

Performers marched across the field with lights leaving a trail of national flags behind them.

As the show started in Johannesburg, fireworks went off in Cape Town above the Castle of Good Hope, the oldest surviving Dutch colonial structure, to the cheers of thousands who gathered in a plaza to watch on a jumbo screen.

Wildlife showcase

Grammy winning South African Ladysmith Black Mambazo sang “Rain Rain Beautiful Rain” as life-size puppets of the nation's wildlife glided around the pitch, with elephants and hippos gathering at a watering hole.

A larger-than-life marimba was then projected on the field, played by performers jumping on it.

In a symbolic gesture to thank the nations who participated, illuminatedwords “thank you,” written in different languages lit up the field in the final moments.

Live broadcast

The ceremony was broadcast live to 215 countries and territories, with more than 700 million people expected to watch, according to FIFA.

— AFP

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