The World Cup was handed to Nelson Mandela on Thursday as it began the last leg of its journey around the globe 35 days before the kick-off. Mandela, who led South Africa out of the apartheid era in 1994, last held the gold trophy with tears rolling down his face in 2004, when the tournament was awarded to Africa for the first time.
Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's principle of ahimsa, especially his campaign in South Africa itself during his days as a lawyer, Mandela also preached against violence though the struggle against the apartheid regime was marked by violent incidents
A surprise visit to world icon Nelson Mandela at his home and advice for 75 young African leaders at the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg were the highlights of the first day of a three-day visit to South Africa by United States First Lady Michelle Obama.
Just as Nelson Mandela united South Africans of all races in life, his death is bringing them together to celebrate his exemplary journey and achievements rather than grieving over his passing.
Former South African President Nelson Mandela is "fine" and his condition is improving, his wife said, a week after the anti-apartheid icon was admitted in a hospital for pneumonia.
On the overcast morning of Tuesday, March 10, a massive stadium may not be enough to hold the hundreds of thousands of people who will turn up to pay their homage to Nelson Mandela one last time.
As the world prayed for the speedy recovery of ailing peace icon Nelson Mandela, his former wife said that it was extremely painful to see the anti-apartheid leader's present state of health but it was "God's wish".
African XI drew 3-3 with a Rest of the World team.
Indian golfer Shiv Kapur opened with a one-over 71 in the weather-affected first round of the Nelson Mandela Championship, presented by ISPA Handa, in Durban, on Wednesday.
Drummers and dancers wowed fans at South Africa's Soccer City stadium in a glittering prelude to Friday's World Cup kickoff, but Nelson Mandela's absence after a family tragedy cast a cloud over the party.
Nelson Mandela, 91-year-old former South African president, firmly intends to make a brief appearance at Friday's World Cup opening match, organisers and his family said on Thursday. But World Cup chief Danny Jordaan told reporters the decision on whether Mandela will appear at Soccer City for South Africa's encounter with Mexico would be determined on the day.
The likes of Antil, who is bidding to become the first Indian to defend his Paralympics gold, will train at facilities near the French capital to acclimatise with the weather conditions there.
Mohammad Shahabuddin, the dreaded criminal-turned-politician sentenced to life imprisonment in a murder case, has sought refuge in books by Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela in Siwan jail.
In an exclusive interview with CNN international anchor and correspondent Robyn Curnow, Nelson Mandela's daughter Makaziwe tells of her family's prayers for her critically ill father
The South African Cricket team that is locked in the on-going ODI series against India, was quick to put out statements to give tribute to South Africa's favourite son Nelson Mandela.
South African boxer Jacob 'Baby Jake' Matlala, the shortest world champion whose fortunes were closely followed by Nelson Mandela, died on Saturday at the age of 51, local media reported.
'Do you remember me?' the Nobel Peace Prize winner asked the Indian superstar.
Describing himself as one of the countless millions who drew inspiration from Nelson Mandela, United States President Barack Obama mourned the death of the South African anti-apartheid icon and said that the world was unlikely to see a leader like him again.
South Africa's much-loved former president Nelson Mandela had to be admitted to a hospital for what was described as a "longstanding" problem, but officials tried to calm any concerns over the 93-year- old's health, saying he was in "good spirits".
US President Barack Obama, who won the Nobel Prize for 2009 "recognises" he is not in the same category of other recipients of this coveted award like Nelson Mandela from South Africa and Mother Teresa of India.
South Africa's revered anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela was "responding well to treatment" following a "difficult few days" after being readmitted to a hospital with a recurring lung infection.
Former South African President Nelson Mandela is showing "sustained improvement", the presidency said on Monday, six weeks after the anti-apartheid hero was hospitalized with a life-threatening lung infection.
"His own government has destroyed Gandhian institutions in Varanasi, Delhi and Ahmedabad," the Congress leader alleged.
Social media was abuzz with posts ridiculing the PM's comment. The hashtag # #YoBadalSoMandela also began to trend on Twitter.
Ela Gandhi, the granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi and a member of Nelson Mandela's party, recalls some fond memories of the South African legend in a conversation with Sheela Bhatt.
Bhumi holidays in Paris... Huma prays at Ajmer... Janhvi visits her mother's Chennai home...
In a special offer, South Africa's main Afrikaan language newspaper Beeld has invited him to be its editor for a day.
Nelson Mandela's remains arrived in his childhood village in eastern South Africa on Saturday for a traditional burial on Sunday, bringing down the curtain on 10 days of national mourning and memorial events for the anti-apartheid icon.
Nearly 100 world leaders including President Pranab Mukherjee and US President Barack Obama came together in an unprecedented act of homage to Nelson Mandela describing him as a "giant of history".
'The people decide who is a purush, yugpurush and a mahapurush'
A Rest of the World XI will take on an Africa XI in Cape Town's Newlands Stadium on July 18.
Ailing Nelson Mandela's wife on Monday thanked people from across the world for their love that helped lighten the "burden of anxiety", as the 94-year-old anti-apartheid icon spent his tenth day in hospital.
The body of South Africa's anti-apartheid legend Nelson Mandela was on Friday taken to a military hospital in Pretoria as preparations for the December 15 state funeral of the peace icon began.
President will lead a five-member delegation to the memorial service.
Nelson Mandela's doctors have dismissed the idea of switching off the ailing anti-apartheid icon's life support until there was a genuine state of organ failure, a close friend of the South African former president has said.
US President Biden was invited to the Republic Day celebrations by Prime Minister Modi during the bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit, Garcetti said.
Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia has written a letter from Tihar Jail to the people of his assembly constituency, comparing his plight with the atrocities committed by the Britishers against freedom fighters and asserting his commitment to education.
Rediff.com brings you some moving images of Nelson Mandela's supporters from Johannesburg to New York.
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