Sports fans and South African sporting heroes were in attendance for the official launch of the Nelson Mandela Sport & Culture Day 2013.

The day is an initiative of the national departments of sport and recreation, arts and culture to honour the legacy of the former President and will include international football matches, rugby matches and a concert.

It was announced that Dr Mo Ibrahim would deliver the 11th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture on 17 August, with a message of social cohesion being broadcast to rugby and football fans.

Human settlements minister, Tokyo Sexwale, said that it is incumbent upon everyone to protect Mandela's legacy, not trample on it and "ensure that his memory lives on via the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory."

South Africa's Minister of Sports and Recreation Fikile Mbalula said the day was designed to bring one nation together in sport and celebration.

"Indeed, Madiba (Nelson Mandela’s clan name) is in hospital, but this is the Centre of Memory, where his legacy is preserved," said Mbalula. "He will never die, as long as initiatives like this that honour his legacy are undertaken."