Danny Jordaan, CEO of the 2010 Fifa World Cup Organising Committee, unveiled the visual icon of the "Festival of the Champions" in the presence of Fifa Secretary General Jérôme Valcke, South African football legend Lucas Radebe, Marcel Desailly, who won the World Cup with France in 1998 and captained the French team that won the Fifa Confederations Cup in 2003, and South Africa national team coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, who won the Confederations Cup with Brazil in 2005.
The eighth Fifa Confederations Cup will be played in five South African cities, namely Rustenburg, Tshwane, Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg, from 14 to 28 June 2009.
"I want to congratulate the South African design industry for the creation of such a wonderful official emblem which expresses the diversity and colour of Africa. The idea itself and the way the official emblem has been depicted appeals to us very much. It will no doubt serve as a splendid visiting card for the Fifa Confederations Cup 2009.
“We have no doubt the tournament will emulate the hugely successful 2005 Confederations Cup, which provided such a wonderful foretaste of the 2006 Fifa World Cup in Germany," said Fifa president Joseph Blatter.
The official emblem for 2009, created by the South African design agency Switch, expresses the journey being taken by Africa as it stakes its rightful claim as an important global player.
Representing a modern Africa, it highlights the celebration of the gathering of the six football continents and their top teams on African soil and also reflects the lofty ambitions of the African people.
"The bright colours of the Fifa Confederations Cup emblem are a reflection of the vibrancy and vitality of African football and its unique supporters. With the likes of Brazil, Italy, the United States and Iraq and our very own Bafana Bafana already confirmed for the 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup, it promises to be a very exciting tournament. The 2010 Fifa World Cup will be a celebration of African football and the Confederations Cup will be a mouth-watering appetiser for the main event in 2010," said Jordaan.
Since 2001, the Fifa Confederations Cup has been played one year before the FIFA World Cup in the same host country as Fifa 's flagship event. Due to the nature of its participants, it is often referred to as the "Champions of Champions" tournament.
It aims to give the top teams from all continents a chance to represent their region in a world play-off, and this opportunity – together with the handsome prize money that goes with it – makes it very appealing to the competing teams.
In the 2009 tournament, the continental champions of South America (Brazil), North and Central America and the Caribbean (the USA) and Asia (Iraq), as well as the champions of Africa, Europe and Oceania (to be determined in 2008) join hosts South Africa and reigning world champions Italy in competing for the trophy.
