FILE - In this July 11, 2010 file photo, former South African President Nelson Mandela, left, sits next to his wife, Graca Machel, as they are driven across the field ahead of the World Cup final soccer match between the Netherlands and Spain at Soccer City in Johannesburg, South Africa. South Africa's president Jacob Zuma says, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013, that Mandela has died. He was 95. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)
South Africa’s rugby sevens team huddled in the middle of the stadium named after Nelson Mandela, raised their hands to the skies and then won their game Saturday.
FILE – In this July 11, 2010 file photo, former South African President Nelson Mandela, left, sits next to his wife, Graca Machel, as they are driven across the field ahead of the World Cup final soccer match between the Netherlands and Spain at Soccer City in Johannesburg, South Africa. South Africa’s president Jacob Zuma says, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013, that Mandela has died. He was 95. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)
Mourning the loss of the former president, South Africa has decided sports will go on to celebrate the leader’s inspiring legacy.
At Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, South African players wore black armbands across an image of the country’s multicolored flag. The hosts beat Canada in their opening game of rugby’s World Sevens Series event in Port Elizabeth, in Mandela’s home province.
FILE – In this May 15, 2004 file photo, former South African President Nelson Mandela lifts the World Cup trophy in Zurich, Switzerland, after FIFA’s executive committee announced that South Africa would host the 2010 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament. Mandela was pivotal in helping the country win the right to host the tournament. South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma said, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013, that Mandela has died. He was 95. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File)
Cricket and soccer have also said national and international matches will be played this weekend, with tributes, moments of silence and armbands.
Mandela died Thursday and will be buried near his rural South African home Dec. 15.
