Nelson Mandela and Sports

SI Staff | Jul 18, 2013

Nelson Mandela and Sports

Nelson Mandela

Rafael Perez/AFP/Getty Images

Mandela greets Cuban Olympic boxer Teofilo Stevenson as Cuban President Fidel Castro inaugurates the opening of the Pan American Games village.

Nelson Mandela

Bob Thomas/Getty Images

The Arsenal football team posed for a photograph with Mandela in Johannesburg in 1993.

Nelson Mandela

Bob Thomas/Getty Images

Mandela with Manchester United's Bryan Robson.

Nelson Mandela

Cobus Bodenstein/AP

Mandela and Tiger Woods spent some time together when the golfer was in the country for the Million Dollar Golf Challenge at Sun City.

Nelson Mandela

Obed Zilwa/AP

Lennox Lewis jokes around with Mandela at his home in Johannesburg.

Nelson Mandela

Touchline/Getty Images

England captain David Beckham presents Mandela his own England jersey. England would play Bafana Bafana in a friendly match later in the week.

Nelson Mandela

Todd Warshaw/AP

Mandela holds the Olympic Flame as part of the 2004 Olympic Torch Relay.

Nelson Mandela

Chris Ricco/AFP/Getty Images

Brazilian football legend Pele greets Mandela the day before his 89th birthday. The "90 Minutes for Mandela" match, which Pele attended, was played the following day.

Nelson Mandela

Alet van Huyssteen/AP

FIFA President Sepp Blatter and Mandela enjoyed a jovial moment during Blatter's visit to inspect World Cup preparations.

Nelson Mandela

Ruud Verhalle/Pics United/Icon SMI

Spectators at the Opening Ceremony of the World Cup thank Mandela for his influence in bringing the tournament to South Africa.