Vast sporting tributes for Nelson Mandela

From a cricket test in Australia to basketball games in the United States, Mandela was remembered by players and fans across sport with moments of silence in the hours after his death was announced.

South African President Nelson Mandela (L) presents the William Webb Ellis Cup to Springbok captain Francois Pienaar after his team defeated New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup final played at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, in this June 24, 1995 file photo. Mandela has passed away on December 5, 2013 at the age of 95. [Photo/Agencies]

A keen amateur boxer and runner in his youth, Mandela understood the intricacies of rugby, football and cricket, the most popular sports in his country, but even games and players the South African wouldn't have been familiar with were touched by him.

"Nelson Mandela was one of the most powerful and inspirational leaders in the world and a great friend of the NBA," NBA Commissioner David Stern said, "... and while we mourn his passing, we know that his legacy and quest for equality will endure."

South Africa. Former South African President, Nelson Mandela congratulates Oscar Pistorius after winning three gold medals at the Beijing Paralympics. [Photo/icpress.cn]

Sport was never far from Mandela's mind. He was there when South Africa returned to the Olympic family, won rugby's World Cup, won football's African Cup and earned the right to host FIFA's World Cup in 2010, the first in Africa. It was fitting that Mandela's last appearance for an adoring public was when he greeted fans in a packed stadium on the outskirts of Soweto ahead of the 2010 World Cup final.

"When he was honored and cheered by the crowd ... it was as a man of the people, a man of their hearts, and it was one of the most moving moments I have ever experienced," Blatter said.

In this released by the Portuguese Soccer Federation, Portugal's team captain Cristiano Ronaldo pose for a . with former South African President Nelson Mandela at his residence in Johannesburg Thursday, June 10 2010. The Portuguese soccer team is in South Africa preparing for the soccer World Cup. [Photo/icpress.cn]

A string of Spain's World Cup winners from that year and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo all tweeted messages of condolence, with many including photographs of themselves with Mandela. Global superstars Woods and David Beckham both made a point of meeting Mandela. Woods came out of his audience with a copy of the man's autobiography and Beckham was almost reverent in their 2003 meeting.

South African golfer Ernie Els said that from around 1996 onwards Mandela would call him every time he won a tournament and they once exchanged gifts after Mandela visited him at a tournament near the ex-president's Johannesburg home.

"I've still got that picture in my office in the US," Els said.

But Mandela's interest in sport wasn't just for the grand occasion and the photo opportunity.

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