ZURICH, Switzerland - A triumphant Nelson Mandela was draped in his national flag, while back home bells tolled and crowds sang in the streets. The World Cup, finally, is headed to South Africa.
Mandela's country was awarded the 2010 tournament Saturday, the first time soccer's treasured prize will be played in Africa.
South Africa beat Morocco and Egypt in a vote by the executive committee of the sport's governing body, FIFA. In balloting four years ago for the 2006 World Cup, South Africa lost to Germany by one vote.
"We can all applaud Africa," FIFA president Sepp Blatter said. "The victor is football. The victor is Africa."
South Africa received 14 votes during the first round, while Morocco had 10, and Egypt none. As part of a new plan to rotate the event among continents, FIFA decided only African nations could contend for this World Cup.
Tunisia, which wanted to co-host with Libya, withdrew its bid Friday. Libya was eliminated by FIFA on Saturday.
South Africa has nine stadiums in place and four more to be refurbished. The country's high crime rate was considered the biggest drawback.
PREMIER LEAGUE: Arsenal completed the first undefeated league season in 115 years at the top level of English soccer, rallying for a 2-1 home victory against Leicester. Arsenal (26-0-12) matched the feat of Preston North End in 1889, but that club won 18 and tied four.
MLS: Edson Buddle scored in the 41st minute and Jon Busch tied the franchise record with his 11th shutout to help host Columbus to its first victory of the season, 1-0 over New England. Ante Razov got his 75th career goal in the 51st minute to give Chicago a 1-all tie with the host MetroStars. Landon Donovan and Brian Ching had first-half goals to lead San Jose over host Dallas 2-1. Jaime Moreno scored in the 75th minute to give host D.C. United a 1-0 win over Kansas City. Freddy Adu didn't start, returning to being a second-half substitute.
CYCLING: Briton sprints to top
Britain's Craig Maclean won a sprint in consecutive races against Spain's Jose Antonio Villanueva Trinidad at a World Cup track meet in Sydney, Australia. Britain also won the men's team pursuit over the Netherlands. American Colby Pearce captured the men's 30-kilometer points race. New Zealand's Sarah Ulmer won the women's 3-kilometer individual pursuit, and Dutchwoman Yvonne Hijgenaar took the 500-meter time trial.
GIRO d'ITALIA: Italy's Damiano Cunego took the overall lead, capturing the seventh stage and claiming the pink jersey from countryman and teammate Gilberto Simoni. Cunego covered the 133 miles from Frosinone to Montevergine di Mercogliano in 5 hours, 26 minutes, 25 seconds.
PARIMUTUELS: Racey Dreamer takes Cup
Racey Dreamer took the early lead, fell behind at the midway point and held off a late challenge from Serazzo to win the National Hunt Cup at the Radnor Hunt races in Malvern, Pa. Racey Dreamer, ridden by Matt McCarron, covered 21/4 miles in 4 minutes, 17 seconds in the second leg of steeplechasing's Triple Crown.
THOROUGHBREDS: Storm Flag Flying scored her first stakes victory since winning the 2002 Breeders' Cup Juvenile for Fillies, rallying in the final yards to beat Passing Shot by a half-length in the Grade II $200,000 Shuvee Handicap at Belmont Park. Storm Flag Flying covered 1 mile in 1:36.
GREYHOUNDS: Cayman Went got his 30th win of the season and 13th in a row at Derby Lane. He goes for No. 14 Wednesday night at the St. Petersburg track. The record for consecutive wins is 15 set in 1958 by Membership and equaled in 1988 by Understood .
ET CETERA
OLYMPICS: Italy, Russia and South Korea joined Japan in securing spots for the women's volleyball tournament at the Summer Games in Athens.
POWERBOATS: Michael DeFrees and Jeff Harris piloted Team CRC to a victory at the Marathon Offshore Grand Prix in the Florida Keys. DeFrees drove at an average speed of 94.24 mph.
RUNNING: Steve Wilcox, 33, of St. Petersburg was the overall winner of the St. Anthony's Carillon 5K, finishing in 17:04. For the women, the top finisher was Mary Ann Protz, 48, of St. Petersburg with a time of 18:25.
SKATING: Juran Yang of Riverview won gold medals in the intermediate men's short program and free skate at the Sunshine State Games in Coral Springs.
