Johannesburg: The mascot of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa has been unveiled. The mascot is a leopard named Zakumi, who made his official debut on Monday.
The "Za" in his name stands for South Africa's initials in Afrikaans and "Kumi" stands for No. 10 in most African languages, which signifies the year 2010.
The mascot has been a traditional part of every World Cup for the last 40 years.
A performer in a Zakumi costume kicked around a football with Mark Fish, who helped lead South Africa to the African Cup of Nations title in 1996.
Zakumi was given a biography and name evoking South Africa's history and hopes. The character was "born" June 16, 1994, tournament organisers said.
The year is when apartheid ended and the date is celebrated as Youth Day to mark the Soweto uprising of 1976, remembered as the day when young South Africans struck a blow against white rule.
Tim Modise, spokesman for the South African organising committee, said Zakumi also can be understood as "come here" in southern African languages.
The idea, design and realisation of the mascot all came from South Africa, including Cora Simpson, whose company just east of Johannesburg built the costume for Monday's launch.
The World Cup "brings business to my company," Simpson said.
Her initial contract with the organizing committee was worth less than about $31,000, but Simpson said it would open other opportunities and had spread optimism among her staff of about 30.
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