Touching down on African soil for the first time, the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009, will be a forerunner in testing South Africa's state of readiness for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of South Africa's Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the World Cup, Dr Danny Jordaan and FIFA Secreatary General Jerome Valcke, on Thursday launched the official emblem of the Confederations Cup.

Dr Jordaan said the Confederations Cup has become a test event for the World Cup in terms of organisational capability and readiness to host one of the world's most coveted events.

Mr Valcke said Brazil, Italy, the United States of America and Iraq have so far qualified for the Confederations Cup, and they are awaiting the winners of the European Championships and African Cup to see who joins the four teams.

Mr Valcke added that despite the Confederations Cup being a test of the readiness for South Africa, "it is also a major sporting event."

Also present at the launch were current Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, retired local soccer legend Lucas Radebe, and French soccer great Marcel Desailly.

Mr Parreira said, "...the Confederations Cup will give us a wonderful opportunity to learn about the competition.

"In 2005 it gave us the opportunity to learn about the travelling, hotels, training grounds, transportations issues and helped us in our preparations for the 2006 FIFA World Cup."

Mr Parreira said that the big picture for him is the 2010 World Cup and that the three years leading up to the World Cup will be used to prepare Bafana Bafana for the "big guns" out their like Brazil, France, Italy, England and Argentina.

"What happened between 2007 and 2010 is all in preparation for the World Cup," he commented.

Mr Radebe, who hoisted the African Cup of Nations trophy in 1997, said the Confederations Cup "is great for the players to gain exposure and to be out there tasting the international standard of football."

The newly-launched official emblem's design attempts to capture the journey being untaken by Africa as it rises to claim its place in the world. It highlights South Africa and its people embracing the continent and connecting to the world.

The Confederations Cup has often been referred to as the "Champions of Champions" tournament. The Confederations Cup aims to give the top teams from all continents a chance to represent their region in a world play-off.

In 2009, the continental champions from South America, North and Central America and the Caribbean, Africa, Europe and Asia will join hosts South Africa and the Current FIFA World Cup champions Italy in competing for the trophy.

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