The 2010 FIFA World Cup began play on June 11, 2010 in South Africa. At its start, 32 national teams from around the world traveled to South Africa to partake in the tournament being held in nine different cities in that country.
According to the official FIFA website, the goal for the 2010 tournament is to "achieve positive social change through football by building twenty Football for Hope Centres for public health, education and football across Africa."
The following is a list of the nine South African cities hosting the games and a little bit of information about each of them obtained from the FIFA website.
1. Cape Town
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Cape Town is a large city located in South Africa. It is the second largest city in that country based on population and is the largest in land area. It is also the legislative capital of South Africa and is the provincial capital for its region. As the legislative capital of South Africa, many of the city’s functions are related to government operations. Cape Town is well known as one of Africa’s most popular tourist destinations and it is famous for its harbor, biodiversity and various landmarks like Table Mountain and the Cape Peninsula.
2. Durban
Durban is located on a large natural lagoon in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. It is the largest city in that province with a population of 3,064,624. Durban is known for its long stretch of beaches along the lagoon as well as its restaurants and sub-tropical climate with mild, sunny winters and warm summers. The city is also home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the uKhahlamba/ Drakensberg National Park, as it is where ancient human activity is shown on rock art in that area.
3. Johannesburg
Johannesburg is the business and financial center of South Africa. It is also the largest city in South Africa with a population of over 3.2 million people. It is known as the "City of Gold" and features a vibrant mix of both African and international cultures. The city is known for its high level of development but also its attention to creating an area focused on nature, culture and history. Johannesburg has over 2,000 parks as well as variety of museums and local markets.
4. Mangaung/Bloemfontein
Mangaung/Bloemfontein is located in the South African province of Free State in central South Africa. It is built on the Free State Plateau and is surrounded by grasslands and hills. The city is the judicial capital of South Africa and the provincial capital of the Free State Province. In fact, the highest court in South Africa, the Appeal Court is located in Mangaung/Bloemfontein. The city is known for its natural landscapes and its Golden Gate National Park which features the Vredefort Dome, the world's oldest impact crater.
5. Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth
Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth is located in the Eastern Cape province and has a population of 1,005,779. Its economy is based largely on tourism and the motor manufacturing industry. The city also has a long stretch of beaches and a bay that is popular with visitors. It is known as the "Friendly City" and is named after Nelson Mandela, the South African icon, who called the Eastern Cape province home. Like many other South African cities, Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth is a popular tourist destination. It is especially popular for ecotourism as five biomes meet in the province.
6. Nelspruit
Nelspruit is the capital of the Mpumalanga province and has a population of 21,541 people. The name of this province means "place where the sun rises" and the city is located on a 2,165 foot (660 m) plateau. Nelspruit's main economic sectors are agriculture and mining and it is known for its fruit industry. It is also close to several national parks, including the famous Kruger National Park.
7. Polokwane
Polokwane is officially called "place of safety" and it is located in the Limpopo province at an elevation of 4,297 feet (1,310 m). The city has a population of 508,272 people and is only 37 miles (60 km) south of the Tropic of Capricorn. Its landscape is mostly grassland but there are some areas with rocky granite hills. Polokwane is surrounded by Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It is also economic and cultural hub of Limpopo. It is also home to the largest tree in Africa, the Baobab.
8. Rustenburg
Rustenburg is in South Africa's North West Province at an elevation of 4,921 feet (1,500 m). It has a population of 395,539 people, has a subtropical climate and is surrounded by low mountains and grasslands. Rustenburg's name is derived from the Dutch and its main economic sectors are mining and agriculture. It is the platinum mining capital of the world. Rustenburg is also home to one of South Africa's richest tribes, the Bafokeng Nation and is located close to the famous Sun City resort.
9. Tshwane/Pretoria
Tshwane/Pretoria, with its population of 2.2 million, is a large city in the Gauteng Province. It is located between mountainous ridges and is in the transitional area between tropical savannah and the Highveld plateau. Tshwane/Pretoria is one of the capitals of South Africa and as such, many embassies and other governmental buildings are within the city. Museums, monuments, historical buildings and art centres also dominate in Tshwane/Pretoria.