In 1995, South Africa was still finding its footing in a post-Apartheid world. Newly elected president Nelson Mandela, who was imprisoned for 27 years because of his anti-Apartheid views, used the opportunity of South Africa’s hosting of the Rugby World Cup to start a “One Team, One Country” campaign. Rugby had been a white sport for generations in predominantly black South Africa, and the national team’s Springbok mascot had come to represent white racial supremacy.
In front of a mostly white crowd in Johannesburg, South Africa beat New Zealand 15-12 in the final with Nelson in attendance. After the game, wearing the team’s jersey and Springbok mascot, Mandela congratulated the team’s captain, Francois Pienaar, and was widely cheered. It was a remarkable moment for South Africa, which had been banned from all international competitions for decades, including the Olympics and other world championships, because of its Apartheid policies.
Mandela used the power of sport as best he could to reconcile the racial instability that was still pervasive throughout his country.
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