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2010 World Cup mascot 'Zakumi' unveiled
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Soccer Mascot for 2010 World Cup in
South Africa 'Zakumi'. Picture: presstv.ir
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The mascot for 2010 FIFA World
Cup 'Zakumi' has been officially introduced for the first time to South
African public on national television.
The bright yellow Leopard, with black spots, curly green hair, green shorts
and a white T-shirt was welcomed by Local Organizing Committee CEO Danny
Jordaan, FIFA Director of Marketing Thierry Weil, as well as other delegates
and football celebrities.
The name Zakumi is broken down into 'Za', standing for South Africa and
'kumi' which translates to the number 'ten' in various languages throughout
Africa.
At the mascot's introduction at a state TV studio, a performer in a Zakumi
costume kicked around a football with Mark Fish, who helped lead South
Africa to the African Cup of Nations title in 1996.
FIFA first introduced mascots in 1966 with World Cup Willie - a Union
Jack-clad English Lion.
Others included the orange-shaped Naranjito in Spain in 1982, the 'ciao'
stick-figure in Italian colors in 1990 and Footix, a French cockerel,
in 1998.
Presstv.ir,
24 Sep 2008
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