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.
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.
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.
