Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Mandela leads slew of big stars at World Cup opener
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Asia Pacific
World
Mandela leads slew of big stars at World Cup opener
AFP - Friday, June 11
Send
IM Story
Print
Mandela leads slew of big stars at World Cup opener
JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - – South Africa's legendary trumpeter Hugh Masekela will jazz up the World Cup opening ceremony with American R-and-B star R Kelly, but all eyes will be on the stands for a glimpse of Nelson Mandela.
Mandela's family confirmed that the 91-year-old icon of the anti-apartheid struggle would attend the opening match, if only for a while, but no details have emerged about how or when he will arrive.
Organiser Derek Carstens promises a "big surprise" during the first seven minutes of the ceremony, but said the secret would not involve South Africa's first black president, who is increasingly frail but still beloved.
On the ground, more than 1,500 performers will showcase music and dance from the "six-pack" of African countries participating in the continent's first World Cup, Culture Minister Lulu Xingwana said.
"We're very happy that we have the best from South Africa and the best from the African continent," she said.
R Kelly will perform with the Soweto Spiritual Singers. Nigerian Afro-funk star Femi Kuti will also perform, while South Africa will pay tribute to the late opera tenor Siphiwo Ntshebe.
The 34-year-old rising star had been asked by Mandela to sing at the opening ceremony, but he died suddenly last month of bacterial meningitis.
Details about the ceremony, which is being masterminded by South African producer Lebo M, famous for his work on "The Lion King" on Broadway, had been closely guarded in the months before the event.
Carstens promised there would be one more "big surprise" during the ceremony's first seven minutes.
He said it would not involve Nobel Peace Prize-winner Mandela, whose family said Tuesday that he would make a brief appearance at the ceremony, ending weeks of uncertainty over whether the increasingly frail former president would attend.
Mandela's involvement proved critical at key moments in the campaign to bring the tournament to Africa for the first time, and FIFA president Sepp Blatter has called him "the person who got the World Cup for South Africa".
The 40-minute opening ceremony starts at 2:00pm (1200 GMT) Friday ahead of the kick-off match between South Africa and Mexico.
Organisers expect hundreds of millions of viewers to watch on television, making it one of the world's most-watched events.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Mandela leads slew of big stars at World Cup opener AFP - Friday, June 11
Israeli author scoops German literary peace prize AFP - Friday, June 11
Hollywood revives television's 'A-Team' AFP - Friday, June 11
Evita comes back to Broadway, with Ricky Martin in tow AFP - Thursday, June 10
US author Kingsolver wins top book award for women AFP - Thursday, June 10
News Search
Top Stories
Rescue underway for missing US sailor, 16: reports
US pressure on BP sends share price tumbling
US trade gap widens as Chinese imports surge
BP shares slide on oil spill fallout
Blackhawks snap NHL's longest Stanley Cup drought
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Abu Dhabi to build 'world's largest' solar plant
British students given 'sexy high-heel lessons'
Costner touts technology for Gulf spill cleanup
Finland slips back into surprise recession
BP shares slide on oil spill fallout
More Most Viewed »
Hubble catches planet being devoured by its star
The point about pain: New study sheds light on acupuncture
Clashes as Israeli forces storm Gaza aid boat: Hamas TV
Egypt unearths tomb of pharaonic army chief
Physicists solve mystery of missing neutrinos
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Friday, 11 June 2010 Defiant Iran could downgrade ties with UN atomic watchdog
Putin visits France amid warship row
China gets tough on World Cup gambling
Ex-workmate slams Kerviel's 'stratospheric' trades
Google drops background images on homepage amid outcry
US trade gap widens as Chinese imports surge
Dozens of Chinese websites warned over porn: state media
Grisly Afghan attack claims 40 lives, raises fear
Abbas: Hope eroding for two-state Mideast solution
|
Serbians flock en masse to online rich list
Iraqi Shi'ite blocs announce merger
|
China reverses stance with Iran sanctions support
Swiss national Goeldi freed from Libya jail-lawyer
|
China wants more dialogue on Iran nuclear issue
Slums, displaced show challenges for Colombia leader
|
Japan fail to get boost after being held by Zimbabwe
China, Russia seek new Iran nuclear talks
US drone strike kills three in Pakistan: officials
US fears for Myanmar refugees ahead of polls
US official: Fair Myanmar vote a must for refugees
Kewell fit and "up for" German battle
Australia pull out of 2018 World Cup bid
China's currency policy dampening global reforms: US
Thai PM reopens probe into Thaksin's 'war on drugs'
Blatter joins Twitterati in time for World Cup
|
China trade surplus soars in May on export boom
Global markets surge on upbeat growth prospects
Nigerian villagers face child deaths for gold digging
Egypt to make Alexandria first smoke-free city
China's currency policy threatens global reforms: US
Mandela leads slew of big stars at World Cup opener
Shiseido sees rising labour costs in China
Red, La Cage lead tight race for Tony Awards
|
Report details suicide attempt by Larry King's wife
|
Edinburgh Fringe grows bigger than ever
|
Thousands rock Soweto at World Cup concert
|
Shawn Johnson tells court she feared accused stalker
|
Iran leader in China after about-face on sanctions
Iran defies sanctions as West plans harsher measures
|
Putin visits France amid warship row
Twitter launches own site for World Cup
Rescue under way for missing US sailor, 16
FBI opens probe into hack of AT&T website
BP chairman summoned to Obama meeting over oil spill
Kyrgyzstan says 17 killed, 201 wounded in riots
|
Katy Perry Earns Second #1 With "California Gurls"
US more than doubles oil leak estimate
Twitter buys Web analytics firm
Abbas: Hope eroding for two-state Mideast solution
|
Colombia's Santos has strong lead for runoff: poll
|
"Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" Coming To DVD
Obama Congratulates Aquino As New Philippine Leader
Japan PM warns of eventual default if debt not fixed
|
Guantanamo Prisoners Focus of Habeas Report Released By Former FBI Director
Army Secretary Axes Arlington Cemetery Officials Over Burial Anomalies
Heads dumped in Guatemala capital
|
Dell Announces Settlement Talks With SEC Over Intel Relationship
On the brink of extinction, tigers need man as never before
Mandela relative's death clouds Cup start
|
BREAKING NEWS: Indian Team Completes Access To Mumbai Terror Suspect David Headley
U.S. Markets Rise On Foreign Growth Prospects
Calderon demands probe of U.S. border deaths
|
"Glee" To Debut Clothing, Games, Books And More This Fall
U.S. Senate Threatens China With Economic Sanctions Over Trade Imbalance
Hope for two-state solution 'beginning to erode': Abbas
Obama urges support for Iranian 'freedom'
Mexican president demands US probe of teen's death
Rare photo of slave children found in NC attic
Missing US yacht girl found safe in Indian Ocean
Minimum and maximum temperatures in Celsius
US casino cheat knows all the tricks of the trade
China police bust huge counterfeit ring
FBI begins probe into AT&T iPad security breach
|
Chinese man convicted for selling son on Internet
Iran's Ahmadinejad blasts nuclear powers on China visit
U.S. industry eyes win in IT trade case versus EU
|
News
Honda says two China plants to resume production
Britain's Standard Chartered lists in Mumbai
'US drone strike kills 3 militants in Pakistan'
China's inflation outstrips government target
Taiwan court cuts ex president's jail term
Japan PM: 'risk of collapse' from debt mountain
New Japan govt's corporate tax cut plans: minister
North Korea eye toppling mighty Brazil
US: China currency policy threatens global reforms
Japanese minister to resign over postal reform
Fujitsu, Toshiba to merge mobile operations
Designer from Nepal who cracked New York
India April factory production jumps 17.6 percent
India April industrial production surged 17.6 pct
US casino cheating expert knows all the tricks of the trade
Designer from Nepal who cracked New York
And the winner is... Zulu sangoma reveals all
Scotland tops list for lifestyle health risks: study
Fourth Twilight film will be split in two
|
Rare exhibition of homosexual art opens in Warsaw
Obama Congratulates Aquino As New Philippine Leader
Taiwan pulls movies from Shanghai festival
How much does movie marketing matter?
|
U.S. Teen Sailor In Solo Circumnavigation Bid Lost At Sea
Special Report: Guy Hands, Citigroup and the fight for EMI
|
Army Secretary Axes Arlington Cemetery Officials Over Burial Anomalies
Oldest Leather Shoe Found In Armenia Is 5,500 Years Old
Katy Perry heats up U.S. singles chart
|
No Parking Sign Goes Up In Front Of Park Car Ticketed Driver To Dispute Fine In Court
Woman Having Sex On Picnic Table Charged With Adultery, Public Lewdness
World Cup poses a challenge for studios
|
Joan Rivers documentary provides laughs, poignancy
|
US Silent Films Come Home From New Zealand
Texas Principal Fired For Child Neglect
Karate Kid and A-Team updates duel at box office
|
Study: Personality Shown To Predict Fertility
Carpenters lead guitarist Tony Peluso dies
|
Files Released In Roethlisberger Sex Assault Investigation
Bomb kills 9 in Afghan south: provincial official
Pope begs forgiveness for 'abuse of the little ones'
Aborigines to view Japanese spacecraft on landing
2 US troops, 11 Afghan civilians killed in south
Iraq suicide bomb kills 2 U.S. soldiers, 3 Iraqis
|
Kyrgyzstan imposes emergency as clashes kill 37
Ahmadinejad calls UN resolution 'worthless paper'
Ahmadinejad blasts US, says Israel is 'doomed'
Katy Perry Earns Second #1 With "California Gurls"
Obama has made 'big mistake' with Iran: Ahmadinejad
Ahmadinejad calls resolution 'worthless paper'
Iran slams US after China about-face on sanctions
U.S., NATO urge patience with slow Afghan progress
|
9 Afghan civilians killed by mine blast in south
9 Afghan civilians killed in mine blast
Iceland passes gay marriage law in unanimous vote
|
Somali pirates free British-flagged ship
|
Iran says U.S. kidnaps, illegally detains Iranians
|
Pope begs forgiveness for sexual abuse scandal
|
Attack on military convoy injures 14 in east Turkey
|
China sentences school attacker to death
Sudanese killers of US envoy 'escape from prison'
Police in China's Xinjiang hold anti-riot exercise
Conflict seen between 2 deals for 9/11 responders
S.Korea, Russia probe rocket failure
Farm Worker Pleads Not Guilty To 12 Animal Abuse Counts
Interview: Bill Clinton to Dems, 'Never give up'
Actress Ashley Judd Invites Obama To Witness Rape Of Appalachia
Japanese minister resigns over vexed postal issue
CT Man Trapped Under Furnace Nearly Amputates Own Arm In Escape Bid
Botox Found To Ease Pain Of Nerve Disorder
Federal Agents Seize Imported Chinese Honey
Murder Trial Of Former BART Officer Begins
S.Korea to brief UN on ship sinking
Summit Officially Splits "Breaking Dawn" Into 2 Films
Wall Street rally pushes Asian markets higher
"Look Who's Talking" To Make Nick At Nite Debut
Motorola, RIM end licensing dispute
|
India's industrial output up 17.6 percent
Reliance Ind. pays $1B for India broadband winner
India to make Bollywood Hitler movie
Reliance Industries pays $1 billion for Infotel
UK hip-hop on verge of breaking U.S. :Diddy
|
Rapper Dr. Dre loses claims against former label
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights