JOHANNESBURG -Africa's first football World Cup began in an explosion of colour and emotion at an opening ceremony in Johannesburg's Soccer City yesterday, blighted by the absence of a grief-stricken Nelson Mandela. Fans wept openly as five planes swept over the stadium and the iconic township of Soweto before 1,500 performers piled on to the pitch for a choreographed dance routine which saw them create a map of Africa. From Johannesburg townships to Ghana's sprawling slums, millions of Africans danced in the streets and beamed with pride as the continent's first World Cup kicked off. Mandela was missing after his great granddaughter was killed in a car crash on the way back from an eve of tournament concert but his words were interspersed in an opening song, imploring fans to "overcome all adversity". Artists from the five African teams competing in the finals then took to the stage, including Khaled, the Algerian king of rai music, and South Africa's legendary trumpeter Hugh Masekela. Organisers had hoped that Mandela would wow the crowds with an appearance but he was instead mourning the death of his 13-year-old granddaughter Zenani Mandela in a crash that police said was caused by a drunk driver. The stadium, the largest in Africa, buzzed with the sound of thousands of vuvuzela trumpets as the jets flew overhead, but the stands were only partially full as many fans battled gridlock traffic to reach the venue. Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu was in the crowds, dressed in a yellow and green scarf and beanie to support the Bafana Bafana national side. 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. A giant dung beetle rolled a ball across the arena as Desmond Tutu danced in the stands and 1,500 performers jived to African music. Boards displayed the colours of the 32 competing teams and banners pointed to the nine host cities while drummers beat a constant rythm. But one of the loudest cheers was reserved for 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." About 70,000 people, a sea of green and gold, South Africa's national team colours, 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. Before a jubilant, horn-blowing crowd in Soccer City, the spectacular stadium between Johannesburg and Soweto, hundreds of African dancers in vivid greens, reds and yellows paraded onto the field for the opening ceremony of the month-long tournament. Most of the fans were in the yellow jerseys of Bafana Bafana ��" the host country's team ��" which was playing Mexico following the pageantry. Several other icons of the antiapartheid struggle in South Africa were on hand ��" including Mandela's former wife, Winnie, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who at one point was dancing in his seat to the music. Former South Africa President F.W. De Klerk, who shared a Nobel Peace Prize with Mandela for negotiating an end to white-minority rule, also was present, organisers said. Other VIPs included the presidents of South Africa and Mexico ��" Jacob Zuma and Felipe Calderon ��" and US Vice President Joe Biden. It was not an occasion for those who like it quiet. Many of the fans came equipped with vuvuzelas ��" the plastic horns which emit a loud and distinctive blare. Incredibly, the din from the was briefly drowned out by the overflight of military jets just before the ceremony started. The public address announcer then begged the crowd to ease up on the horns so the global television audience could hear the music. The plea met with limited success. Cast members brought out large placards with the flags of the 32 nations competing in the tournament, holding them high as a final burst of fireworks ended the show.
