FIFA have confirmed that the commercial rights to the 2010 World Cup were sold for a total $3.4 billion, a whopping 30% more than the last tournament two years ago.

The final rights sale was completed last week with Nigeria, FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke told delegates at the Soccerex conference in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

"This introduces probably the most hectic week in South African football."

These words, spoken by Danny Jordaan, CEO of the Local Organising Committee, just go to show how important the next few days will be to the 2010 World Cup and football in general in South Africa. Jordaan was speaking at the Soccerex press conference in Sandton, Johannesburg on Tuesday.

South Africa have tonight revealed the mascot for the 2010 World Cup and it's a leopard called Zakumi. The name is made up of "Za", which stands for South Africa and 'kumi' which translates as "10" in a number of languages across Africa.

The mascots 'date of birth date' is June 18th 1994 and according to Danny Jordaan, the CEO of the local organising committee this is a big date for South Africans. "He was born in the same year as our country's democracy." said Jordaan. "Zakumi is a proud South African and an ideal ambassador for the first African World Cup. He is young, energetic, smart and ambitious, a real inspiration for young and old, not only in our country."

FIFA chief Sepp Blatter has left South Africa and judging by the noises coming from South Africa, he's happy with the progress. He did however, call for more publicity, so we'll do our best to help out.

"What I am missing a little bit here is the identification that next year is already the Confederations Cup," he said.

The cost for building five new stadiums and renovating five others is now expected to be 20% more than the original budget, but the good news is that they are all back on track and will all be ready for 2010.

South Africa's deputy Finance Minister, Jabu Moleketi said yesterday, the Government would be asking host cities to help cover the shortfall as they are struggling to cope with the unexpected increase in costs.