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World Cup: Mandela to attend opener, final

By Kevin Baxter
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Nelson Mandela will attend next week’s World Cup opener between Mexico and host South Africa, government officials confirmed Thursday.

Earlier reports said the 91-year-old former South African president and Nobel Peace Prize winner was thought to be too frail to brave what are expected to be chilly temperatures at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg.

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Now, however, Makhankesi Stofile, South Africa’s Minister of Sport and Recreation, is saying Mandela has requested four tickets to the game -- a request he quickly honored. Mandela is also expected to attend the Cup final on July 11.

-- Kevin Baxter in Brussels

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Kevin Baxter

Kevin Baxter writes about soccer and other things for the Los Angeles Times, where he has worked for 27 years. He has covered seven World Cups, four Olympic Games, six World Series and a Super Bowl and has contributed to three Pulitzer Prize-winning series at The Times and Miami Herald. An essay he wrote in fifth grade was voted best in the class. He has a cool dog.

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