Mandela appears at final, crowns S Africa's WC
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
JOHANNESBURG, July 12 (AFP): Nelson Mandela crowned South Africa's World Cup with an appearance from the field at the closing ceremony, as 700 million viewers tuned in to watch the Dutch play Spain.
He flashed his famous smile and waved to the more than 80,000 fans as he circled the pitch alongside his wife Graca Machel in an open-air vehicle, in a brief but proud moment the nation had long waited for.
He was greeted by cheers of "Madiba", his clan name used affectionately by his compatriots, which rang louder than applause for any of the stars at the closing show that illuminated the stands in fireworks and lights.
His family had earlier hit out at FIFA "pressure" and he only decided two hours earlier to join 17 world leaders, royalty and a raft of Hollywood stars who have jetted into Johannesburg.
Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela, his grandson, told AFP that the 91-year-old hero of the anti-apartheid struggle would probably return home to watch the game.
Football's governing body FIFA has voiced hope that Mandela could even hand the trophy to the winner, something his grandson doubted.
He flashed his famous smile and waved to the more than 80,000 fans as he circled the pitch alongside his wife Graca Machel in an open-air vehicle, in a brief but proud moment the nation had long waited for.
He was greeted by cheers of "Madiba", his clan name used affectionately by his compatriots, which rang louder than applause for any of the stars at the closing show that illuminated the stands in fireworks and lights.
His family had earlier hit out at FIFA "pressure" and he only decided two hours earlier to join 17 world leaders, royalty and a raft of Hollywood stars who have jetted into Johannesburg.
Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela, his grandson, told AFP that the 91-year-old hero of the anti-apartheid struggle would probably return home to watch the game.
Football's governing body FIFA has voiced hope that Mandela could even hand the trophy to the winner, something his grandson doubted.