Balfour confirms SA's 2010 bid

Balfour is working on race rather than the World Cup

South Africa's Sport's Minister Ngconde Balfour has used the traditional media briefing before the new session of parliament to confirm South Africa's intention to bid for the 2010 World Cup.

He told reporters in Cape Town that the country would be in the race to host the championship in eight years time.

South Africa missed out on holding the 2006 event by a single vote, with Germany winning the right instead.

The news was somewhat overshadowed by the government's increasing concern over racial representation in South African national teams.

The make-up of Bafana Bafana is not an issue, but cricket and rugby are coming under increasing pressure to include more black players.

Balfour said the government would consider legislation to force the country's sports teams to become more representative of the country's population if they did not act themselves.