JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) –
Fighter jets sped low over Johannesburg’s Soccer City stadium briefly drowning out the constant din of tens of thousands of vuvuzela trumpets as South Africa opened the 2010 soccer World Cup with a celebration of African culture.

The stadium, resembling a massive African cooking pot, erupted in cheers as performers took to the field to mark the first time that sports’ most watched tournament has been staged on the continent.

Reported traffic problems, though, delayed some fans, leading to the ceremony kicking off to many empty seats.

South African President Jacob Zuma declared the tournament open and FIFA President Sepp Blatter hailed it as the African cup.

“The FIFA World Cup is in Africa! The FIFA World Cup is in South Africa!” Blatter said to loud applause. “A dream has come true.”

A giant dung beetle rolled a ball across the arena as Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu danced in the stands and 1,500 performers jived to African music.

Boards displayed the colors of the 32 competing teams and banners pointed to the 9 host cities while drummers beat a constant rhythm.

But one of the loudest cheers was reserved for Nelson Mandela, whose image appeared on screens to a message of hope from him in song.

“The generosity of the human spirit can overcome all adversity. Through compassion and caring, we create … hope.”

The former South African president, who led the country out of apartheid in 1994 and whose global stature helped win the country the right to host the World Cup, canceled an appearance at the ceremony after the death of his great grand-daughter overnight.

Blatter said the spirit of Mandela was with the crowd in the stadium, and Zuma passed on a message from the 91-year-old icon.

“The game must start, you must enjoy the game,” Zuma said Mandela had told him.

About 70,000 people, a sea of green and gold, South Africa’s national team colors, listened to songs from the six African nations in the tournament — South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Algeria — and Grammy award winner R. Kelly’s anthem “Sign of a Victory.”

Pockets of Mexican fans waved banners and flags, many adding to the overwhelming noise made by vuvuzelas, the loud plastic trumpet that has quickly become a symbol of this World Cup.

South Africans have embraced the tournament in a swell of national pride not seen since Mandela was released from prison in 1990 and the first all-race election four years later.

(Editing by Jon Bramley)

World Cup kicks off in African celebration (Reuters) | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Presented by Barilla, this event features plant and recipe giveaways, family activities, gourmet olive oil and balsamic vinegar presentations and three daily chef demonstrations with tastings of delicious Barilla pasta recipes, and more.

Visitors can learn about Italian herbs at an herb cart, featuring flat leaf parsley, basil and thyme. This year, the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden is featuring an Italian vegetable bed, including Listada de Gandia eggplant, Martino’s Roma and Italian Heirloom tomatoes, Genovese basil, Giant Italian parsley, Borettana onion, Marconi peppers and Calabrese broccoli. Kids can learn about “Eating a Rainbow” at the drop-in family program. A variety of Academia Barilla products will be for sale in The Wheelbarrow and The Garden Shop.

Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5pm. Admission to the Chicago Botanic Garden and the Barilla Italian Cooking Weekend is free. Parking is $20 per car; free for members. The Chicago Botanic Garden Trolley operates between the Garden and the Glencoe Metra station on weekends, June 6 through Sept. 7. Round-trip tickets are $2; Garden members and children 5 and under ride free.

For information about the Chicago Botanic Garden’s programs and events, call 847-835-5440, or visit chicagobotanic.org.

The Chicago Botanic Garden, one of the green treasures of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, is a 385-acre living plant museum featuring 23 distinct display gardens surrounded by lakes, as well as a prairie and woodlands. With events, programs and activities for all ages, the Garden is open every day of the year, except Dec. 25. Admission is free; select event fees apply. Parking is $20 per car; free for Garden members. The Garden is located at 1000 Lake Cook Road in Glencoe, Ill. Visit chicagobotanic.org, or call 847-835-5440 for seasonal hours, images of the Garden and commuter transportation information.

About the Chicago Botanic Garden

The Chicago Botanic Garden is managed by the Chicago Horticultural Society. It opened to the public in 1972 and is home to the Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden, offering a broad array of adult classes in plant science, landscape design and gardening arts. Through the Division of Plant Science and Conservation, Garden scientists work on plant conservation, research and environmental initiatives that have global impact. The Center for Teaching and Learning brings the wonder of nature and plants to children, teens and teachers. The Garden’s Horticultural Therapy and Community Gardening programs provide nationally recognized community outreach and service programs. A program of the Chicago Botanic Garden, Windy City Harvest is an organic vegetable and plant production enterprise that provides instruction in sustainable horticulture and urban agriculture to residents of Chicago’s North Lawndale and West Side neighborhoods.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is a member of the American Public Gardens Association (APGA). The Chicago Botanic Garden is also host to Botanic Gardens Conservation International-U.S., and a member of the Center for Plant Conservation. In 2006, the Chicago Botanic Garden received the Award for Garden Excellence, given yearly by the APGA and Horticulture magazine to a public garden that exemplifies the highest standards of horticultural practices and has shown a commitment to supporting and demonstrating best gardening practices.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Julie McCaffrey, 847-835-8213
jmccaffrey@chicagobotanic.org

Experience the Flavors of Italy Saturday at Chicago Botanic Garden’s Barilla Italian Cooking Weekend | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.