A South African jeweller has unmasked an actual life-sized sized diamond World Cup football to commemorate the FIFA World Cup which kicks off in the capital Johannesburg on Friday.The sparkling football is valued at 20 million rand (£182,023 or $267,000).

The gem-encrusted ball is comprised of 6,620 white and 2,640 black round brilliant cut South African diamonds.These diamonds give a total weight of 3,500 carats altogether.The heavy diamond-covered ball itself weighs about 2.2 kg in total.

The jeweller in question, Yair Shimansky, reported to the Johannesburg newspaper Business Day that the football "was not designed for any goal kicking practice."

Shimansky explained that he is pursuing discussions with a European football club regarding the sale of the World Cup ball to them.The thought behind this is that the ornamental ball be used as a 2010 commemorative display piece for the European club.

Yair Shimansky owns seven different national stores and he has announced that each of them will exhibit an exact crystal replica of the ball in their street windows throughout the duration of the World Cup.The International football tournament runs from 11th June to 11th July this summer.Once the conclusion of the World Club is over, the plan is that each replica will be auctioned off and the proceeds made will be given to a charity of each regional store's choice.