Soccer Show Gets European Airing

The organisers behind the opening concert for the World Cup soccer finals may be even more nervous about the billing as the show will be screened throughout Europe.

The ongoing argument concerning the amount of international and local African acts on the bill will be settled as the European Broadcasting Union is streaming it to more than 30 countries.

The acts at Soweto’s Orlando Stadium June 10, which include Alicia Keys, Shakira, Black Eyed Peas and John Legend, will seen in major markets including Belgium and The Netherlands, and also in not so major markets such as Georgia, Liechtenstein, Moldova and Kazakhstan.

The EBU and its member broadcasters will also deliver the 2010 FIFA World Cup live online through its sports video portal at eurovisionsports.tv/fifaworldcup.

One act that sadly won’t be on the concert bill is 34-year-old tenor Siphiwo Ntshebe, dubbed the “new Pavarotti,” who has died of leukemia.

He was chosen to perform his signature anthem entitled “Hope,” a track that includes a special message written and read by Nelson Mandela.