Game On!

For many years, South Africa's black majority lived under white rule. Black citizens were segregated. They were deprived of good jobs. They were denied the right to vote. White police enforced the laws. Therefore, a black leader named Nelson Mandela fought back. As a result, he spent 27 years in prison. But in 1994, apartheid ended. Life in South Africa changed. And Mandela was elected South Africa's first black president. Yet, the country's problems were not over. Black South Africans wanted revenge on their former rulers. White South Africans wanted to seize power again. In order to prevent a civil war, Mandela took a risk. He brought the Rugby World Cup to South Africa. South Africa's team was called the Springboks. The team was mostly white. Mandela became their biggest supporter. However, the Springboks were underdogs. They had to fight their way to the finals. But Mandela's solution worked. Black and white South Africans united in support of the team — and Mandela. The whole country cheered as the Springboks became champions!