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Goal!: Obama to Attend 2010 World Cup in South Africa

June 24, 2009 at 10:17 AM | by BS | 0 Comments

President Obama may have a lot left to accomplish on his inaugural year agenda, but that doesn't mean he can't start planning his 2010 vacations.

According to soccer's governing body, the hopeful one has accepted an invitation to attend the FIFA World Cup in South Africa next June, the first major sporting event to take place in Africa. But where will Obama stop when he's in SA? It's still a year away, but that doesn't mean we can't start guessing:

Games: The final match will be held at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, but we're hoping—and we bet sports dork Obama is too—that the US squad gets sent to the space age-y Nelson Mandela Stadium in Port Elizabeth (above). You can't beat an open-air, waterfront stadium that looks that cool.

See: Speaking of Mandela, we'd be willing to bet you'll catch Obama touring Robben Island, the prison compound off Cape Town where the liberation leader was held for much of his 27 years under lock and key. Despite being a go-to tourist trap, the island is worth a visit. Former prisoners act as tour guides, and it's pretty hard not to be moved.

Sleep: While in Cape Town, smart money says Barack will stay at the Mount Nelson Hotel. A center city spot with a 9-acre garden and sweeping views of Table Mountain in the background, the colonial-area mansion is the stopping point of choice for visiting VIPs and others with $600+ a night to blow on hotel rooms.

History: The prez copped to being a major history junkie on his recent tour of Egypt, when he spent several awe-struck hours touring the Pyramids of Giza. He can go even older at the Cradle of Humankind, a world heritage site outside Johannesburg that includes a series of human caves where archeologists discovered the oldest human fossils ever found.

Related Stories:
· President Obama accepts invitation to World Cup [Guardian]
· Get to South Africa for the 2010 FIFA World Cup [Jaunted]
· How Prepared is South Africa for FIFA World Cup 2010? [Jaunted]

[Photo: Word Cup 2010]

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