Bits and bobs

Definitely, 2010 will be Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela's year.

The world likes to express appreciation to this great man, to the remarkable life of one of the icons of modern times who struggled against apartheid and was the first democratically elected president of South Africa.

The UN General Assembly has established July 18 as Nelson Mandela International Day, beginning in 2010 to recognize the Nobel Price laureate's contribution to resolving conflicts and promoting race relations, human rights and reconcialition.

Tributes will be paid all year round to show him gratitude, respect and admiration with exhibitions, concerts, musicals, films, new publications and even the Football World Cup Championship will honour him.

Nelson Mandela International Day will be observed annually on 18 July, Mandela's birthday, starting in 2010, when the former anti-apartheid leader will turn 92 years old in recognition of his contribution to global peace and freedom. By adopting the resolution, the UN expressed its appreciation for "a great man who had suffered fot the sake of people everywhere" and recognizes Mandela's 27-year imprisonment, most of which was spent in the notorious Robben Island prison of the coast of Cape Town.

The film "Invictus" from Director Clint Eastwood was premiered in USA on 3 December 2009 and it will be released on 29 January 2010 in Spain. It tells the inspiring story of how Nelson Mandela joined forces with the captain of South Africa's rugby team to help unite their country.

It was previously titled "The Human Factor". The new film's title refers to a poem by William Ernest Henley that was often recited by Mandela.

"Invictus" sees Matt Damon as rugby star Francois Pienaar, who created, along with Mandela (Morgan Freeman), an event that gave whites and blacks in South Africa a common cause to rally around as the country was trying to heal from the wounds of apartheid.

Newly elected President Mandela knows his nation remains racially and economically divided. Believing he can bring his people together through the universl language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa's rugby team as they make their historic run to the 1995 Rugby World Cup Championship match.