SA to host 2010 World Cup

Zurich:

South Africa won the right to host the 2010 World Cup finals, the first to be played in Africa, football's world governing body FIFA announced today. "The 2010 World Cup will be organised by South Africa," said FIFA president Sepp Blatter. Blatter said only one round of voting of FIFA' 24-member Executive Committee was required to produce a winner. The South African delegation, including former President Nelson Mandela, erupted in noisy celebrations after finally overcoming the disappointment of losing to Germany by a single vote in the race to host the 2006 World Cup. Morocco failed in its fourth bid, despite hoping to become both the first African and the first Arab country to host football's showpiece. (PTI)