FIFA unveiled Zakumi, the official mascot of the 2010 football World Cup, in Johannesburg at a television gala broadcast nationwide.

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The ZA in Zakumi stands for South Africa [Images] while kumi means ten in assorted African languages. The mascot has been exclusively designed in the host country which will stage the continent's first ever World Cup.

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"Zakumi represents the people, geography and spirit of South Africa, personifying in essence the 2010 FIFA World Cup. 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," FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke said.