While South Africa this week sees the arrival of Kings, Queens, heads of state and leaders from around the world gathering for the funeral and memorial services for former president Nelson Mandela it is also coincides with the staging of the second annual Nelson Mandela Golf Championship.
Heading the list of those travelling to South Africa to honour the anti-apartheid hero, who died at his Johannesburg home at the age of 95 on Thursday night, will be US President Barack Obama and his two predecessors, George W Bush and Bill Clinton.
Prince Charles will also attend along with Presidents and Prime Ministers along with dignitaries from around the globe including UK Prime Minister, David Cameron and his newly-appointed Australian counterpart, Tony Abbott.
A week of mourning, with several events planned, has been declared by the government.
Mr. Mandela will be buried in his rural hometown in the Eastern Cape on Sunday December 15 and that has meant the golf tournament commencing on Wednesday and concluding Saturday. (See FOOTNOTE below)
Yesterday (Sunday) was declared a national day of prayer and reflection, while a national memorial service is scheduled to be held at a Johannesburg stadium where Mr Mandela made his last public appearance for the closing ceremony of the 2010 football World Cup.
Official memorial services will also be held in all of South Africa’s provinces and regions over the next week.
Mr Mandela’s body will lie in state from Wednesday until Friday at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, the capital.
The state airline, South African Airways, has laid on special charter flights to ferry invited dignitaries to the funeral.
Scotland’s Scott Jamieson is arriving into South Africa today (Mon) to defend his title won he captured a year ago.
It was the Glaswegian’s first European Tour success and he was presented with a trophy that embodies the tributes forthcoming since Mandela passed away late last week.
“To get your name on any European trophy is a fantastic achievement but it’s a little more special when it’s for someone like Nelson Mandela,” said Jamieson a year ago.
Joining Jamieson this week in what is sure to be an emotional occasion for all players is Northern Ireland’s Michael Hoey, England’s Robert Rock and 65 South African born players.
Heading the field of Rainbow Nation contestants is Branden Grace, Thomas Aiken, James Kamate, Garth Mulroy, Darren Fichardt, George Coetzee and Jbe Kruger.
FOOTNOTE –
The Nelson Mandela Championship presented by ISPS Handa at Durban’s Mount Edgecombe Country Club will go ahead next week as planned, but will start a day earlier on Wednesday, December 11 and finish on Saturday, December 14.
In recognition of the national period of mourning for the passing of former President Mr Nelson Mandela, provision will be made for observing the day of the state funeral for Mr Mandela which will take place on Sunday, December 15.
This is during the originally scheduled playing days (from Thursday, December 12 – Sunday, December 15), so the tournament will start a day early, and in that way, the four rounds can be completed by the scheduled close of the event.
The tournament with its unique trophy will again be co-sanctioned by The European and Sunshine Tours and will be the fourth of seven co-sanctioned events between the two governing bodies on The 2014 Race to Dubai.
As with the inaugural event last year, won by Scotland’s Scott Jamieson, the tournament will honour Mr Mandela’s on-going charity work through the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.
