Zakumi the leopard has been unveiled as the official mascot of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The character was designed and produced in South Africa before being given its own biography, setting 1994 as the mascot's birth year, in respect of the country's democracy year. The abbreviation 'ZA' refers to the initials of South Africa in Afrikaans language, while 'Kumi' means '10' in various African languages. "Zakumi represents the people, geography and spirit of South Africa, personifying in essence the 2010 FIFA World Cup," said FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke. "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."