Tiger Woods and other celebrities pay tribute to Mandela
The biggest names in the world, including many famous golfers paid their tribute to one of the greatest South African men, Nelson Mandela. The event took place on Tuesday (17th of July, 2012), on the eve of his birthday.
Mandela has greatly served his community. He has worked throughout for his people and has proved himself to be one of the greatest leaders of all time. He served as the President from 1994 to 1999. He was the nation’s first black President who had global
recognition.
Mandela was a Militant prior to becoming the President. He also played a very prominent role in the politics at the time and was also the co-founder of the African National Congress (ANC).
In 1962, he was imprisoned for various charges such as sabotage. He was sentenced for life, but he was released after 27 years.
After getting out of the jail, Mandela led his party into negotiations to establish democracy. He proved to be a great President for his people. To recognize and honour his contributions and endeavours, Mandela received more than 250 awards over a stretch
of four decades.
Tiger Woods had also met the great President Mandela. Woods was the first black player to win a major title. Woods won his first major in the year 1997, at the Augusta National Golf Club. One year after the win, Woods got a chance to meet Mandela.
Woods had never met a person like him. He was very different and Woods was really impressed by his personality.
In an interview at the tribute on Tuesday, Woods said, “He has such a presence and aura about him unlike anyone I've ever met. He has meant so much to so many people around the world, not just in South Africa”.
Woods also recalled the time when he got the invitation from the great leader and he, along with his father, went to meet him. They simply went into the living room and waited for the President.
“We are just standing there looking at some of the things on the wall. And over in the corner was President Mandela. He was over there just meditating in the corner and it was just a different feeling in the room,” he added.
Celebrities like Lee Westwood, Luke Donald, Rio Ferdinand, Alex Ferguson and many others also were a part of the tribute.
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