European Commission President Jose Barroso has spoken warm words of praise and hope for South Africa in the run-up to June 11 2010, the start of the Football World Cup.
 
"I am particularly pleased that it is for the first time that an African nation hosts the World Cup," Barroso said.
 
"Like every supporter, I will be cheering on my team and hoping that we have one of the most entertaining tournaments with free flowing football and fair play. And I hope that we see the massive progress that African nations have made in being a real force in the beautiful game," he said.
 
Barroso said that football is more than a sport: "it is a universal language, a language that helps people from different cultures and backgrounds to unite".
 
Borders of culture, of language and of nationality will be forgotten thanks to the World Cup, he said.
 
South Africa and the whole African continent will make the best out of it, according to Barroso.
 
He said that he sincerely believed that after the World Cup, South Africa would go from strength to strength.
 
This legacy will not only see major improvements in the country's infrastructure.
 
"What I sincerely hope is that a sense of pride and confidence will embrace the country and the continent.
 
"South Africa is a stunning country, rich in tradition, culture and vibrancy. Football is above all about hope. It is the perfect platform for South Africa's future which it should grasp with both hands," Barroso said.
 
He wished South Africa and the African continent success, "and for all those that watch enjoyment, excitement and above all fun".
 
The United Nations is gearing up for the start of the World Cup, aiming to harness public excitement about the world’s biggest sporting event to advance efforts to slash poverty, fight hunger and tackle other key social and economic problems, the UN News Centre said.
 
With community festivals, television shows, posters, electronic games, multimedia campaigns and even a new song, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will be under the spotlight during the month-long World Cup.
 
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Johannesburg on June 8, beginning a five-nation African tour that will also take the UN chief to Burundi, Cameroon, Benin and Sierra Leone.
 
Ban held talks with South African president Jacob Zuma and later addressed the "Sports for Peace" gala dinner alongside Wilfried Lemke, the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace. In his speech Ban highlighted the unifying power of sport and underscored the importance of the MDGs, the UN News Centre said.
 
As part of the UN-wide effort, agencies that include the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have started promoting 8 Goals for Africa, a song recorded by eight artists from across the continent. A video recorded for the song will be shown in public viewing areas in South Africa throughout the World Cup.
 
The UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) is holding community events in slum neighbourhoods that aim to promote sustainable urbanisation; UNICEF is staging football festivals to raise awareness about the fight against child trafficking and exploitation; and the UN Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is screening TV programmes about racism and tolerance.
 
Numerous other events and campaigns involving UN agencies, including the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), will also be held.
 
Meanwhile, the family of South African former president Nelson Mandela said that he would make a brief appearance at the World Cup's opening ceremony in Johannesburg.
 
Family spokesperson Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela had previously said his 91-year-old grandfather was too frail to attend the ceremony and opening match, VOA reported.
 
But he told reporters on June 8 that former president Mandela would likely greet fans and players for 10 to 15 minutes before heading home.