JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – I can still remember the look on Eusebio’s face as North Korea took a 3-0 lead over his Portuguese team in the World Cup quarter-final at Goodison Park in Liverpool 44 years ago.

The Black Panther, as he was known, second best player in the world to Pele himself at the time, gathered the ball from the back of the net, turned and ran back to the centre spot with a look of grim determination which said: “That’s enough now. I’m going to sort this out even if I have to do it all by myself.”

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – I can still remember the look on Eusebio’s face as North Korea took a 3-0 lead over his Portuguese team in the World Cup quarter-final at Goodison Park in Liverpool 44 years ago.

The Black Panther, as he was known, second best player in the world to Pele himself at the time, gathered the ball from the back of the net, turned and ran back to the center spot with a look of grim determination which said: “That’s enough now. I’m going to sort this out even if I have to do it all by myself.”

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Nelson Mandela, 91-year-old former South African president, firmly intends to make a brief appearance at Friday’s World Cup opening match, organisers and his family said on Thursday.

But World Cup chief Danny Jordaan told reporters the decision on whether Mandela will appear at Soccer City for South Africa’s encounter with Mexico would be determined on the day.

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – When the first ball is kicked in an African World Cup finals on Friday at Johannesburg’s Soccer City, Danny Jordaan will have a tear in his eye, a lump in his throat and a heart brimming with emotion.

For South Africa’s World Cup chief, the opening match of the 2010 finals will represent the culmination of a 16-year-old dream and a determined crusade to bring the world’s greatest single sporting event to the African continent.

VANCOUVER (Reuters) – The Vancouver Olympics began inauspiciously but ultimately triumphed through adversity to emerge as one of the most enjoyable Winter Games in living memory.

The worried frown etched on the face of Games chief John Furlong in the troubled opening days of the 17-day sporting extravaganza had turned into a gigantic smile as the Olympics drew to an emotional close on Sunday.

VANCOUVER, Feb 28 (Reuters) – The Vancouver Olympics began
inauspiciously but ultimately triumphed through adversity to
emerge as one of the most enjoyable Winter Games in living
memory.

The worried frown etched on the face of Games chief John
Furlong in the troubled opening days of the 17-day sporting
extravaganza had turned into a gigantic smile as the Olympics
drew to an emotional close on Sunday.

VANCOUVER (Reuters) – The Vancouver Winter Olympics has sparked euphoria among Canadians and celebrations across the entire country, Games chief John Furlong told reporters on Wednesday.

Furlong, reviewing the Games a few days before Sunday’s closing ceremony, said he believed the Olympics had changed Vancouver as a city and the people who live in it.

VANCOUVER, Feb 24 (Reuters) – The Vancouver Winter Olympics
has sparked euphoria among Canadians and celebrations across the
entire country, Games chief John Furlong told reporters on
Wednesday.

Furlong, reviewing the Games a few days before Sunday’s
closing ceremony, said he believed the Olympics had changed
Vancouver as a city and the people who live in it.

VANCOUVER (Reuters) – Three days away from the opening Ceremony of the Vancouver Winter Olympics, organizers were wrestling on Tuesday with three niggling headaches they hope will disappear once the Games are under way.

Unseasonably mild weather causing snow shortages is the main worry but the threat of protesters disrupting the opening ceremony and early events and the lingering jinx of Canada never winning a gold medal as Olympic hosts are also concerns.

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – South Africa celebrated a spectacular prelude to Africa’s first World Cup finals on Friday with jubilation tempered by a tough draw for the hosts which could see them fall at the first hurdle.

South Africa play the opening match of next year’s finals against Mexico and then go on to face two former World Cup winners, Uruguay and France, in Group A.