The Role of Sports in South African Politics - 657 Words

South African cricket administrator Ali Bacher stated We have arrived at a state of true unification in this country. In Joe Humphrey’s book, Foul Play he challenges the fact that sport has a positive influence in the world. I disagree with his statement that sport creates barriers between groups. I believe that sport has acted as an incredible unifier throughout the world and especially in South Africa. Sporting events such as the 1995 Rugby world cup, the 2010 Fifa world cup and even home-grown events such as the two oceans and the Comrades marathon have brought South Africans together as one nation. However there are factors that agree with Humphreys ideas such as local football. In 1994 South Africa was a split nation suffering from the effects of apartheid and although the apartheid laws had been abolished South Africa was in no way unified. The first major sporting event held in South Africa was the 1995 Rugby world cup. President Nelson Mandela saw this as a perfect opportunity to bring South Africans together under the ‘one team, one nation’ mantra. This event signified forgiveness and unification amongst the public who all stood behind the team and supported the rugby players together as one nation. South Africa went on to win the Rugby world cup and a true feeling of a rainbow nation emerged. Sean Fitzpatrick, the New Zealand captain specifically remembers the feeling of being up against an entire nation rather than just 15 players. It is evident that thisShow MoreRelatedThe Edible South : The Power Of Food And The Making Of An American Religion Essay1611 Words   |  7 Pagesit has brought us closer together than ever before. Marcie Cohe n Ferris, author of â€Å"The Edible South: The Power of Food and the Making of an American Religion†, takes a closer look at how food has brought a sense of togetherness but also the separation and tension that is running rampant through society today. She examines ideas of segregation and civil rights, and how food was able to play a pivotal role in some of America’s most historic moments. In the first page of the preface, Ferris immediatelyRead MorePolitics in Sports2095 Words   |  9 Pagesin their specialized sports. These events, however, are not purely entertainment like they should have been. Today’s societies are more dependent on politics and therefore so are sports and the athletes competing, sometimes even without their own will. In various occasions across the world politics was the main reason for athletes to withdraw from athletic events such as the world cup, Olympics, and any other worldwide or region wide competitions. On the other hand politics sometimes are the reasonRead MoreGreat Migration. Roberto Barriga . History 101. Instructor:1000 Words   |  4 Pages101 Instructor: Dr. Kelly McMichael 3/19/2017 African American’s somewhat silent non war revolution of migration to the North and Midwest of the United States which started roughly in 1915. The Great Migration of African American’s was sparked by work labor shortages during World War I. Until this point of mass relocation to the north and west, the majority of African Americans have primarily resided in rural areas of the south. Thousands of opportunities arose in large urban cities andRead MoreEastern Clasico : Japan Korea Rivalry And The 2002 Fifa World Cup1177 Words   |  5 Pagescentury, the region saw another international competition — more popular than the Olympics as many say — in its soil. This time, it was held in two states, the first and probably the only of its kind in any international sporting event. Japan and South Korea — geographically separated by a body of water, the former an insular archipelago that aspired to be a Pacific superpower in the preceding century and the latt er a peninsula that was a battlefield throughout its history, in a geopolitical hotspotRead MoreAmbassadors in Pinstripes Essays826 Words   |  4 Pagesmodel for many industries seeking to establish abroad relations. Sports participation also provides a common ground and is a way to unite without discrimination, such as the warring people of South Africa during the Apartheid. Through this successful tour, Spalding established the pattern of baseball’s close connection with globalization and to let the world know of America’s increasingly ambitious exceptionalism in the world. Sports as a tool of diplomacy came of age in the post-World War I worldRead MoreSports and Society1167 Words   |  5 PagesMotivation Sport is commonly seen as a part of society. Although one finds the role of sport in society more important than others, the fact is that sports is an essential component of our society. Since sport is a part of our society, it automatically has an influence on its functioning. This means that if groundbreaking things happen in sports, there will directly be noticeable consequences in everyday life. If we talk about effects in the long run, the so-called Heysel tragedy is a good exampleRead MoreHarry H. Hiller s Definition Of A Mega Event1656 Words   |  7 Pagesfixed duration and on a short-term basis. The event has a high profile, there is a worldwide interest linked to the event and there is a sustainable and measurable economic outcome’ (Harry H. Hiller, 1998, vol1, no.1). With the main focus being the sports mega events of the Olympics and FIFA World Cup. The modern Olympic games began in 1896, since then, there has been a significant increase in the number of bidding c andidates. Which has led to an increase in the funds invested in the Olympic bids.Read MoreSocial Issues Of The South Africa Essay1501 Words   |  7 PagesSocial issues in distant South Africa also gave rise to a broadly based protest movement. New Zealand’s historic sporting ties ensured regular rugby tours and the outlawing of Maori players being able to participate struck a chord with many New Zealanders, forcing them to confront the issue of apartheid. The tour of the South African Rugby team the Springboks to New Zealand caused 56 days of unrest in July, August and September 1981. New Zealanders were opposing each other in the greatest publicRead MoreWestern Colonization Has Affected The Ways Countries1456 Words   |  6 Pagesterritories , Western ideals still manage to have an effect on how countries conduct themselves and how they respond to different situations . When examining South Africa s response to the treatment of Caster Semenya by the International Associa tion of Athletics Federation (IAAF) we see this playing out. Semenya is an intersexed South African track star, forced to undergo gender-verification testing in response to her gold medal win at the World Track and Field championship The reasoning behind theRead MoreSociology as a Perspective 1332 Words   |  6 Pagesexample the economic state of South Africa is affected by political decisions made by the government and members of the parliament. These decisions involve strategies enforced on decreasing the levels of poverty through the use of social grants and decreasing the unemployment rate through creating more job opportunities. (use of articles) There are several social structures in society that impact the behaviour of individuals, such as family, religion, science, politics, economy, law and education.