FIFA World Cup 2010 Opening Ceremony/Inauguration Pictures in South Africa

The first World Cup on African soil began on June 11, 2010, kicked off by a colourful African-themed ceremony. Before a jubilant crowd at Soccer City, a colourfully dressed cast of African dancers paraded onto the field to start the opening ceremony of the month-long tournament.

Artists perform during the World Cup opening ceremony at Soccer City on 11th June 2010.

Planes fly over Soccer City during the opening ceremony before the World Cup group A match between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City in Johannesburg, South Africaon 11th June 2010.

Artists perform during the World Cup opening ceremony.

A performer in traditional clothes sings during the opening ceremony.

Nigerian singer Fela Kuti, centre, performs during the opening ceremony.

U.S. performer R. Kelly sings during the opening ceremony.

People watch the World Cup opening ceremony on a big screen at Trafalgar Square in London.

A South African supporter waits outside the stadium before the World Cup group A match between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City in Johannesburg.

South African football fans wave in joy during an event marking the opening day of the World Cup.

A recording of former South African President Nelson Mandela is shown on a giant display during the opening ceremony.

South African fans cheer prior to the match between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City.

Mexican fans arrive at Soccer City stadium for the opening match of the 2010 World Cup in Johannesburg.

Supporters of the South Africa team hold up a replica World Cup trophy before the group A match between South Africa and Mexico.

South African President Jacob Zuma, left, and retired Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, right, speak prior to the World Cup match between South Africa and Mexico.

Video: FIFA World Cup 2010 Theme/Official Song Wavin Flag by K’naan

“Wavin’ Flag” is the official Coca-Cola anthem for the FIFA 2010 World Cup. As you can see from the live performance below its a brillant track and one that will grow on people.

Video: FIFA World Cup 2010 Anthem by K’naan


Video of FIFA (Foot Ball) World Cup 2010 Official Song Wavin Flag by K’naan - Coca Cola Celebration Mix



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Schedule/Time Table of FIFA (Football) World Cup 2010

Schedule/Time-Table of FIFA World Cup 2010

Group A – (South Africa, Uruguay, France, Mexico)
11 June – 4.00pm Johannesburg South Africa – Mexico
11 June – 8.30pm Cape Town Uruguay – France
16 June – 8.30pm Pretoria South Africa – Uruguay
17 June – 8.30pm Polokwane France – Mexico
22 June – 4.00pm Rustenburg Mexico – Uruguay
22 June – 4.00pm Bloemfontein France – South Africa

Group B – (Argentina, Korea Republic, Greece, Nigeria)
12 June – 4.00pm Johannesburg Argentina – Nigeria
12 June – 1.30pm Port Elizabeth Korea Republic – Greece
17 June – 4.00pm Bloemfontein Greece – Nigeria
17 June – 1.30pm Johannesburg Argentina – Korea Republic
22 June – 8.30pm Durban Nigeria – Korea Republic
22 June – 8.30pm Polokwane Greece – Argentina

Group C – (England, Algeria, Slovenia, USA)
12 June – 8.30pm Rustenburg England – United States
13 June – 1.30pm Polokwane Algeria – Slovenia
18 June – 4.00pm Johannesburg Slovenia – USA
18 June – 8.30pm Cape Town England – Algeria
23 June – 4.00pm Port Elizabeth Slovenia- England
23 June – 4.00pm Pretoria USA – Algeria

Group D – (Germany, Serbia, Ghana, Australia)
13 June – 8.30pm Johannesburg Germany – Australia
13 June – 4.00pm Pretoria Serbia – Ghana
18 June – 1.30pm Port Elizabeth Germany – Serbia
19 June – 4.00pm Rustenburg Ghana – Australia
23 June – 8.30pm Johannesburg Ghana – Germany
23 June – 8.30pm Nelspruit Australia – Serbia

Group E – (Netherlands, Japan, Cameroon, Denmark)
14 June – 1.30pm Johannesburg Netherlands – Denmark
14 June – 4.00pm Bloemfontein Japan – Cameroon
19 June – 1.30pm Durban Netherlands – Japan
19 June – 8.30pm Pretoria Cameroon – Denmark
24 June – 8.30pm Rustenburg Denmark – Japan
24 June – 8.30pm Cape Town Cameroon – Netherlands

Group F – (Italy, New Zealand, Slovakia, Paraguay)
14 June – 8.30pm Cape Town Italy – Paraguay
15 June – 1.30pm Rustenburg New Zealand – Slovakia
20 June – 1.30pm Bloemfontein Slovakia – Paraguay
20 June – 4.00pm Nelspruit Italy – New Zealand
24 June – 4.00pm Johannesburg Slovakia – Italy
24 June – 4.00pm Polokwane Paraguay – New Zealand

Group G – (Ivory Coast, Brazil, Portugal, Korea DPR)
15 June – 4.00pm Port Elizabeth Ivory Coast – Portugal
15 June – 8.30pm Johannesburg Brazil – Korea DPR
20 June – 8.30pm Johannesburg Brazil – Ivory Coast
21 June – 1.30pm Cape Town Portugal – Korea DPR
25 June – 4.00pm Durban Portugal – Brazil
25 June – 4.00pm Nelspruit Korea DPR – Ivory Coast

Group H – (Honduras, Spain, Chile, Switzerland)
16 June – 1.30pm Nelspruit Honduras – Chile
16 June – 4.00pm Durban Spain – Switzerland
21 June – 4.00pm Port Elizabeth Chile – Switzerland
21 June – 8.30pm Johannesburg Spain – Honduras
25 June – 8.30pm Pretoria Chile – Spain
25 June – 8.30pm Bloemfontein Switzerland – Honduras

Salim-Sulaiman Performing at Nelson Mandela Smile Foundation Concert

Music Composers Salim and Sulaiman Merchant have presented an extremely powerful song to Africa titled, 'African Promise'. To add to the pluralistic sound they collaborated with leading artists from Africa, R&B Artist Loyiso Bala, Eric Wainaina and back vocals by Alisha Popat.

The song was composed, produced and recorded along with the African singers at their studio in Mumbai. Salim and Sulaiman have been presented with this opportunity by Executive Producer and Promotional Partner Mr. Karim Jamal of Win Win Win Solutions and Shelina Popat for Contact Network Ltd in South Africa & Nairobi.

The schedule for Salim and Sulaiman in South Africa is as follows:

6th June 2010: Press Conference in Nairobi

7th June 2010: Salim and Sulaiman along with Eric Wainaina & Loyiso Bala perform at the Nelson Mandela Smile Foundation Concert in Soweto, South Africa. The concert was attended by a select audience. The song was well received and given a standing ovation! Mr. Nelson Mandela's Smile Foundation help's facially disfigured children and the foundation is honoured to continue his legacy through program expansion.

8th June 2010: Performance at the African Legends Gala Dinner in honour of the football heroes and the first ambassadors of African football. The Gala dinner is at the Vodaworld centre in Johannesburg.

10th June 2010: Salim, Sulaiman, Loyiso & Eric will perform at the FIFA World Cup Kick Off Celebration Concert at the Orlando stadium in Soweto - This historic event will take place the night before the onset of the first match! The artists selected to perform at this event represent current popularity and reflect the variety of musical generations, genres and geographies of the country and African region. This event features 70% African artists and will be seen by millions of music and football fans worldwide.

12th June 2010: Press Conference at the Government VIP Lounge

12th June 2010: Launch of the song 'AFRICA You Are A STAR' by Contact network Ltd & Win Win Win Solutisons at the Carnivore Gardens, Nairobi

Salim-Sulaiman To Compose Anthem For FIFA (Football) World Cup in SA, They Will Also Perform There

It’s a feat that no Indian has achieved before. Music composers Salim Merchant and Suleiman were not only asked to compose the anthem for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, but the Bollywood duo will also open and close the football tournament in South Africa that commences on June 11 and goes on till July 11.

Salim and Suleiman - Music composers

India has reached the global stage and we are being recognised for not just the land we come from but also for the music we make.

They will be performing along with African RnB singers Loyiso Bala and Eric Wainaina who flew down to Mumbai specially to record the song.

“It’s called the African Promise,” says Salim who along with Suleiman had composed the popular track Chak De! India which had almost become like an anthem while the T20 matches were on. But the FIFA anthem, no doubt, is a bigger honour. The music composers say it all started with a friend from Africa suggesting that they compose music for the country. And thus was born the song which later reached the FIFA committee. “They loved it so much that they wanted it as the anthem of the World Cup,” says Salim, who later got in touch with Loyiso and Eric — who have done many songs on Africa’s freedom and are quite popular in their country. “The song’s written by my wife Jeanne and we will also be performing it for the Nelson Mandela Foundation after which we intend having a concert too,” adds Salim.

Watch video as Salim-Sulaiman record Anthem For FIFA with African RnB singers Loyiso Bala and Eric Wainaina

Salim and Suleiman will fly to Johannesburg in June but won’t be staying there till the end of the World Cup. “We can’t afford to. We’ll just go for the opening and the closing ceremony,” reveals Suleiman. So are they nervous? “No way,” they reply. “We don’t care if we are going to share the same stage as international celebrities, all we care about is our performance,” say the duo whose real concern is what designer clothes to wear at this big event in their lives.