Nelson Mandela Foundation launches sporting series inspired by Madiba’s legacy
Four major sporting events will unite under the Nelson Mandela Legacy Sporting Series, using sport to promote unity, active citizenship, and social impact.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation officially launched the Mandela Legacy Sporting Series at the Mandela Sanctuary in Houghton today, bringing together four major sporting events under one unified campaign inspired by Madiba’s values.
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The initiative aims to use sport as a platform for unity, social impact, and active citizenship, while encouraging communities across South Africa and beyond to participate in meaningful change.
Speaking at the launch, Nelson Mandela Foundation chief executive officer Dr Mbongiseni Buthelezi said the series represents far more than a collection of sporting events. “The Mandela Legacy Sporting Series is not simply a sporting calendar; it is a platform for mobilisation, solidarity, and impact.”
The four events that form the series include the Mandela Day Walk and Run, the Legacy Ride4Hope cycling initiative, the Nelson Mandela Cape Town Marathon, and the Mandela Remembrance Walk and Run.
The Mandela Day Walk and Run will take place on July 19 at DP Wanderers Stadium. Organisers are targeting 10 000 participants across the 5km, 10km, and 21km events, with registrations officially opening on May 15.
The Legacy Ride4Hope cycling initiative will run from September 2 to 5, beginning in Maputo, Mozambique, for the first time, before concluding at Madiba’s capture site in Howick. Since its launch in 2018, the initiative has helped cyclists donate school uniforms, as well as build more than 40 classrooms in communities along the route.
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The Nelson Mandela Cape Town Marathon will officially take place on October 18 and includes 42km, 21km, 10km, and 5km races. Organisers also announced plans to expand the marathon into an international series from 2027.
The 12th annual Mandela Remembrance Walk and Run will take place on December 5 at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, commemorating Mandela’s passing, while encouraging South Africans to continue building the nation he envisioned.
Organisers said the series will continue growing locally and internationally to ensure Mandela’s values remain alive through participation, community building, and collective action.
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