(Image source from: 5 World Cup opening ceremony facts we bet you didn't know})
With hours to go before the Brazilians raise the curtains to what's arguably the world's most popular sporting event - the FIFA World Cup 2014 - in Sao Paulo tonight, we present to you an engaging list of five World Cup opening ceremony facts that we bet you didn't have much clue about. Read on:
2010 – South Africa
South Africa's maiden World Cup opened to a lavish musical concert in Johannesburg with several top national stars lighting up the evening with their grand performances. However, South Africa's greatest star, former president Nelson Mandela, gave it a miss, as his great-granddaughter was killed in a tragic car crash earlier that day. However, he made it to the final match between Spain and Netherlands, never mind for a brief period.
2006 – Germany
German supermodel Claudia Schiffer strolled onto the Munich field with Brazilian legend and three-time World Cup winner Pele in tow. However, their pitch-presence was marred by two figures dressed as fairytale characters Hansel and Gretel and a group of polka dancers and their hornblower partners, who clearly did not wish to leave the scene.
2002 – South Korea/Japan
In 2002, it was South Korea and its arch rival Japan who co-hosted the event, with the Koreans hosting the opening ceremony and the Japanese setting the stage for the final. The two nations co-hosting the event meant that all was peaceful and well between them. However, the cold war became apparent as Japanese Emperor Akihito decided to give the opening ceremony a skip. Not just that, the then newly elected FIFA chief Sepp Blatter was roundly booed as he made his first speech as president at a World Cup finals.
1994 – United States
The 1994 World Cup was marked by double gaffes. First, it was the soul singing legend Diana Ross whose football skills became the talking point at the opening ceremony in Soldier Field Stadium as she kicked one wide out of the post. The ceremony ended with chat show host Oprah Winfrey falling off the stage.
1978 – Argentina
Despite all teams initial reluctance to travel to a country dominated by military dictatorship since 1976, it was a surprise to see all 24 teams show up. For all who didn't know, the venue of the match, the River Plate Stadium, was situated just a mile from the Naval Mechanics School (ESMA), a notorious prison camp infamous for torturing the inmates.
AW: Suchorita Choudhury
