JOHANNESBURG (AP) -- The first
World Cup ever held in Africa opened Friday in a dazzling burst of joy,
color and noise -- and just a tinge of sadness. Before a jubilant,
horn-blowing crowd in Soccer City, the spectacular stadium between
Johannesburg and Soweto, hundreds of African dancers in vivid greens,
reds and yellows paraded onto the field for the opening ceremony of the
monthlong tournament. Most of the fans were in the yellow jerseys of
Bafana Bafana, the host country's team, with a few pockets of green --
fans of Mexico, South Africa's foe in the opening match. The elation was
tempered by news that Nelson Mandela, the revered anti-apartheid leader
and former South African president, would not attend the ceremony. The
91-year-old Mandela is frail, and decided not to come after his
13-year-old great-granddaughter was killed in a car crash on the way
home from Thursday night's World Cup concert. (30 images)
Performers display the flags of all the teams competing during the
Opening Ceremony ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group A
match between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City Stadium on June 11,
2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Getty Images / David Cannon
Performers dance around a representation of the calabash cooking pot
which inspired the design of Soccer City Stadium, during the Opening
Ceremony ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group A match
between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City Stadium on June 11, 2010
in Johannesburg, South Africa. Getty Images / Christof Koepsel
Entertainers perform during the opening ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World
Cup on June 11, 2010 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto, suburban
Johannesburg. AFP / Getty Images / Gabriel Bouys
Performers sing during the opening ceremony before the World Cup group A
soccer match between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City in
Johannesburg, South Africa, on Friday, June 11, 2010. AP / Themba Hadebe
A drummer performs during the Opening Ceremony ahead of the 2010 FIFA
World Cup South Africa Group A match between South Africa and Mexico at
Soccer City Stadium on June 11, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Getty Images / Clive Mason
Performers dance in front of a representation of the calabash cooking
pot which inspired the design of Soccer City Stadium, during the Opening
Ceremony ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group A match
between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City Stadium on June 11, 2010
in Johannesburg, South Africa. Getty Images / Clive Mason
Artists perform during the World Cup opening ceremony at Soccer City in Johannesburg, South Africa, Friday, June 11, 2010. AP / Martin Meissner
Dancers perform during the Opening Ceremony ahead of the 2010 FIFA
World Cup South Africa Group A match between South Africa and Mexico at
Soccer City Stadium on June 11, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Getty Images / Clive Mason
South African dancers perform during the opening ceremony of the 2010
FIFA World Cup on June 11, 2010 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto,
suburban Johannesburg. South Africa and Mexico play in the opening match
of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. AFP / Getty Images / Alexander Joe
Planes fly over Soccer City during the opening ceremony before the
World Cup group A soccer match between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer
City in Johannesburg, South Africa, Friday, June 11, 2010. AP / Marcio Sanchez
Entertainers perform during the opening ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World
Cup on June 11, 2010 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto, suburban
Johannesburg. AFP / Getty Images / Christophe Simon
Entertainers perform during the opening ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World
Cup on June 11, 2010 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto, suburban
Johannesburg. AFP/ Getty Images / Gabriel Bouys
Artists perform during the opening ceremony before the World Cup group A
soccer match between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City in
Johannesburg, South Africa, Friday, June 11, 2010. AP / Marcio Sanchez
Dancers in traditional costume performs during the Opening Ceremony
ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group A match between
South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City Stadium on June 11, 2010 in
Johannesburg, South Africa. Getty Images / Michael Steele
South African dancers perform during the opening ceremony of the 2010
FIFA World Cup on June 11, 2010 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto,
suburban Johannesburg. South Africa and Mexico play in the opening match
of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. AFP / Getty Images / Roberto Schmidt
The Soweto Spiritual singers perform during the Opening Ceremony ahead
of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group A match between South
Africa and Mexico at Soccer City Stadium on June 11, 2010 in
Johannesburg, South Africa. Getty Images / Clive Mason
Dancers in traditional costume perform during the Opening Ceremony
ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group A match between
South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City Stadium on June 11, 2010 in
Johannesburg, South Africa. Getty Images / David Cannon
Entertainers perform during the opening ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World
Cup on June 11, 2010 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto, suburban
Johannesburg. AFP/ Getty Images / Gabriel Bouys
Dancers in traditional costume perform during the Opening Ceremony
ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group A match between
South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City Stadium on June 11, 2010 in
Johannesburg, South Africa. Getty Images / Cameron Spencer
Entertainers carry a beetle dummy as they perform during the opening
ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World Cup on June 11, 2010 at Soccer City
stadium in Soweto, suburban Johannesburg. AFP/ Getty Images / Gabriel Bouys
Performers carry a mock-up beetle during the opening ceremony of the
2010 FIFA World Cup on June 11, 2010 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto,
suburban Johannesburg. South Africa and Mexico play in the opening match
of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. AFP / Getty Images / Omar Torres
South African dancers perform during the opening ceremony of the 2010
FIFA World Cup on June 11, 2010 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto,
suburban Johannesburg. South Africa and Mexico play in the opening match
of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. AFP / Getty Images / Omar Torres
Dancers perform during the opening ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
on June 11, 2010 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto, suburban
Johannesburg. South Africa and Mexico play in the opening match of the
2010 FIFA World Cup. AFP / Getty Images / Omar Torres
Performers smile at the start of the opening ceremony of the 2010 FIFA
World Cup on June 11, 2010 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto, suburban
Johannesburg. South Africa and Mexico play in the opening match of the
2010 FIFA World Cup. AFP / Getty Images / Pedro Ugarte
Football fans cheer ahead of the start of the opening ceremony of the
2010 FIFA World Cup on June 11, 2010 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto,
suburban Johannesburg. South Africa and Mexico play in the opening match
of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. AFP / Getty Images / Omar Torres
South African soccer fans cheer prior to the World Cup group A soccer
match between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City in Johannesburg,
South Africa, Friday, June 11, 2010. AP / Ivan Sekretarev
South African soccer fans cheer prior to the World Cup group A soccer
match between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City in Johannesburg,
South Africa, Friday, June 11, 2010. AP / Ivan Sekretarev
A South African fan, cheers as she watches through a giant screen the
World Cup group A match between South Africa and Mexico at the beach of
Durban, South Africa, Friday, June 11, 2010. AP / Hussein Malla
A soccer fan waits for the kick-off of the World Cup group A soccer
match between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City in Johannesburg,
South Africa, Friday, June 11, 2010. AP / Mat Dunham
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