After years of preparation, the World Cup finally gets underway in South Africa today, the first time it has taken place in the continent of Africa.

• LIVE: Opening ceremony at 1230 BST

The open ceremony begins at 2pm (1200GMT) in Johannesburg's Soccer City but there are doubts whether former president Nelson Mandela will attend after it was revealed his 13-year-old great-granddaughter had been killed in a car crash as she returned from the pre-World Cup concert.

The ailing Mandela was due attend some of the 40-minute opening celebrations which are expected to be watched by almost a billion people in 215 countries.

"South Africa has come alive, and will never be the same after this World Cup," said President Jacob Zuma. "Nelson Mandela worked hard so that we could win the right to host this tournament. We dedicate the World Cup to him.

"There are a few moments that define a nation's history. We stand on the threshold of one."

On Thursday night there was a massive concert at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto where 30,000 watched Shakira, Alicia Keys, the Black Eyed Peas as well as local musicians such as Hugh Masekela.

Danny Jordaan, the chief executive of the local organising committee, said: "For me it will be a dream come true. It's a great moment in the World Cup's 80-year history.

"People said no African country could ever deliver this event. But we are showing that we can't just match what others have done but that we can do even better. Now the doubters are the believers."

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