Mandela’s group says World Cup will help issues facing Africa, express excitement and concern

Mandela’s group says World Cup will help Africa

JOHANNESBURG — A group of international statesmen and women brought together by Nelson Mandela have expressed excitement but also some concerns at the prospect of the first World Cup being held in Africa.

The Elders include Nobel Peace Prize winners Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter and the first woman president of Ireland, Mary Robinson.

Another member, Graca Machel, a human rights campaigner who is married to Mandela, said Africa is often portrayed negatively, and the World Cup is an opportunity for it to be seen in a positive manner.

“Sports can express some of the best values we carry as a human family,” she said.

Robinson was concerned about small street vendors being pushed aside during the tournament, which starts June 11. Vendors and their advocates have complained that restriction on activity near stadiums established by FIFA, the international football body, make it difficult for hawkers to make a living.

Robinson also said the World Cup will draw attention to the problem of human trafficking. There have been concerns trafficking will increase during the World Cup because of the demand for sex workers and other workers.

The Elders also addressed crises in Zimbabwe and Israel. Jimmy Carter described Zimbabwe as “a tragedy waiting to be solved” and called for elections scheduled there next year should be fair and the outcome should be accepted peacefully.

Overnight, Israeli troops stormed at least one ship in a flotilla of vessels carrying 10,000 tons of relief supplies to Gaza.

The Elders strongly condemned the Israeli attack, saying the violence should draw the world’s attention to the suffering of Gaza’s 1.5 million people, of which most are children.