Nelson Mandela will lead a high-profile South African delegation to Zurich this week for the announcement of which country will host the 2010 football World Cup finals, his office said Tuesday.
If South Africa wins it would be the largest international event ever to be staged in the country.
Mandela will travel to Switzerland Friday where he will s South Africa's last white president.
Charlize Theron who shot to fame earlier this year when she became South Africa's first Oscar winner for Best Actress, has also been invited but has yet to confirm.
Mandela attended a farewell dinner for the bid committee Monday night, saying a win for South Africa would be the perfect gift to celebrate the 10 years anniversary of the end of apartheid.
"We indeed have much to celebrate after a decade of living peacefully together in our thriving democracy. There could be few better gifts for us in this year of our celebration than to be awarded the 2010 soccer World Cup," Mandela said. His office confirmed Tuesday that he would attend FIFA's announcement of the winning bid in Switzerland on Saturday.
"Mr Mandela will depart South Africa for Zurich on Friday," a statement read.
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