Protocol and Festivity before World Cup

Pretoria, Jun 10. -The formality of the 60th Congress of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and an unihibited concert starring celebrities are coinciding on Thursday, a few hours before the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.

The FIFA leaders will debate issues at the Sandton Convention Center, while world-renowned artists will try to increase the prevailing festive atmosphere at the Orlando Stadium.

The world soccer governing body will assess the state of its finances and preparations for future competitions, especially the World Cup, which will begin at the majestic Soccer City in Johannesburg.

However, the spotlight will be focused on Soweto, the best-known bastion of resistance to apartheid, where celebrated musicians from Africa and other parts of the world will raise their voices.

Local figures as Hugh Masekela and Vusi Mahlasela, the Soweto Gospel Choir and the Freshlyground band will perform along with the Black Eyed Peas and Alicia Keys from the United States, Angelique Kidjo, Vieux Farka Touré and Latin Americans Juanes and Shakira.

The concert's organizers and FIFA were forced to change the list of artists participating in this event in May, after protests over the lack of African artists scheduled to perform at the World Cup, which is taking place on the African continent for the first time.

The opening show will begin at 20:00 (local time) and more than a billion people are expected to watch it. (Prensa Latina)