Zakumi: 2010 FIFA World Cup Mascot
I have watched every World Cup since 1994 (Romario vs. Roberto Baggio) and continue to look forward to each tournament which occurs every four years. The last one in Germany was exhilarating, although the team I was supporting, Germany, got knocked off in the semi-finals. Anyway, FIFA just revealed the first images of the mascot for the 2010 World Cup which will be held in South Africa, a strange choice in my opinion. The mascot is named Zakumi.
The Official Mascot, a leopard, has been designed and produced exclusively in the host country. The name is a composition of “ZA”, standing for South Africa, and “kumi” translating into “10″ in various languages across Africa. Inspired by his football idols, Zakumi has dyed his hair green as he felt it would be the perfect camouflage against the green of the football pitch.
“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,” said FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke.
Source: FIFA
It’s a freakin’ leopard.
My reaction: meh.
That’s a leopard? Are they serious? It looks more like a chipmunk with a bad skin condition to me.
Christopher Waldrop
September 23, 2008 at 6:10 am