Thaindian News

Johannesburg, June 12 (DPA) The football World Cup in South Africa can serve as a catalyst for the entire African continent, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon says.
“It is an absolute honour to be here for the first-ever World Cup on African soil,” Ban said in an interview posted Saturday on the website of football’s ruling body FIFA.

“Africa is the clear winner here. It’s a victory for this continent and a winning moment for all those who view sport as instrumental in our efforts to bring peace and prosperity to every

corner of the world.”

Ban named the World Cup, which started Friday, “an extraordinary moment in history.” The secretary general attended the opening ceremony and the first game between South Africa and Mexico in Johannesburg.

“I firmly believe that Africa could be seeing its renaissance with the coming of the World Cup to South Africa … South Africa and the entire African continent must take advantage of the benefits created by the World Cup,” he said.

“The South African leadership with President (Jacob) Zuma and former President (Nelson) Mandela is a beacon for other African leaders to follow. It is my hope and the hope of the entire United

Nations system that this FIFA World Cup will serve as a catalyst for further development in the country, the region and the continent.”

Ban said that the UN and FIFA have common objectives and agreed that sport can be a unifying force. he recalled the rugby World Cup in South Africa, Iraq’s Asian Cup triumph and the two Koreas marching together at Olympic opening ceremonies.