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2010 Cup will be 'miracle of South Africa'"We come from a country where football is not simply a game but an enduring passion," said Mbeki at the launch of South Africa's takeover from 2006 hosts Germany in Berlin. "We come from a place where our hearts beat in unison as we celebrate a shared destiny and love for the beautiful game," Mbeki added. Mbeki hoped the tournament would be for South Africa what Germany's 1954 World Cup final victory over Hungary ? the so-called 'Miracle of Berne' ? became for the 2006 hosts. Germany's win in the Swiss capital 52 years ago marked not only success on the pitch but the beginning of the nation's new self-confidence and the economic boom years after World War Two. "We are confident the 2010 World Cup will do the same to consolidate our self-respect and our dignity (as was) gained when we attained our freedom and democracy in 1994," said Mbeki. "In a unique way (this) will help our own nation and the continent of Africa also to bask in the 'miracle of South Africa'," he added. Soccer is one of the country's most popular sports, but the national team only returned to the international stage in 1992, when FIFA lifted its more than 30-year ban targeted at the apartheid regime. Mbeki said the country was ready to face the tough challenge of organising the World Cup and would rely on expertise gained during the tournament in Germany, which will end with the final played between Italy and France tomorrow. In 2010, the world's 32 best soccer nations will meet to fight for the FIFA trophy in 10 stadiums located in nine host cities in southern Africa's most economically powerful country. "BEST EVER" To celebrate the handover, Mbeki was joined by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, African Union officials and FIFA President Sepp Blatter. Ghanaian Annan said he was sorry Germany had not made it into the final after they lost 2-0 to Italy on Tuesday, but added, that what they left behind should be a consolation. "They already won by organising the best World Cup ever and by uniting the entire German nation behind their glorious effort," said Annan in a speech at the ceremony, adding that soccer as a universal language had helped to transport a new image of the host nation to the rest of the world. "Today the whole world knows that Germans can speak football," he said. Blatter said he was excited that the most prestigious tournament within the "beautiful game" would be hosted in Africa for the first time and swept aside criticism that the nation was not ready for the organisational task. "Of course, it will not be like this World Cup in Germany - there will be a lot of drums and a lot of music," Blatter told the cheering and clapping audience. "We said yes to South Africa, we trust you South Africa and we also do it for your future," he added.
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