FIFA unveiled Zakumi, the official mascot of the 2010 football World Cup, in Johannesburg at a television gala broadcast nationwide.
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The ZA in Zakumi stands for South Africa while kumi means ten in assorted African languages. The mascot has been exclusively designed in the host country which will stage the continent's first ever World Cup.
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"Zakumi represents the people, geography and spirit of South Africa, personifying in essence the 2010 FIFA World Cup. We are certain we will have a lot of fun with him in the lead-up to and during the FIFA Confederations Cup and the FIFA World Cup," FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke said.
Image: Cora Simpson and David Mbew pose with Zakumi at the SABC Renaissance Studio on Monday in Johannesburg.