Nelson Mandela has given his backing to South Africa's 2010 World Cup bid

The former South African president said that hosting the event would help his country overcome the legacy of the racist apartheid regime.

Mandela was on a visit to Fifa's headquarters in Zurch to receive an award from world football 's governing body.

Speaking after a meeting with Fifa president Sepp Blatter, Mandela was keen to talk about the importance of South Africa's bid to stage the 2010 finals.

"It is going to mean a great deal because we have been wanting this (World) Cup to be played in South Africa (for a long time)," said Mandela.

He added that other international sports events have brought South Africans of all colours together after the fall of apartheid.

"When the rugby World Cup was played in South Africa in 1995, it united both black and white," Mandela pointed out.

"An international game played in any country has immense economic benefits.

"It also would make all of us feel that we are no longer part of apartheid where we were boycotted by the entire world."

South Africa are favourites to become the first African nation to host the tournament and a Fifa delegation will visit the country on 29 October.