Sport in SA

South Africa are the current rugby world champs and it was an amazing moment watching us lift the trophy! Im sure most of us were glued to our TVs watching the exciting moments that ensued... WE WERE RUGBY WORLD CHAMPS!!! A very proud moment for us all... as it symbolised how far we had come as a nation. Or did it...

And now this year our next sporting achievement is upon us, the 2010 Football World cup! Yes I call it football and not soccer, it originated in England, not America... Another proud moment is upon us, and what a party and experience its going to be having all those different cultures mixing into our already very diverse melting pot. Now if only I could get lucky enough to win a flippin ticket in the lottery!!! 3 attempts and no success...yet. But even if I have to go to PE I am going to watch a game live!

It got me thinking though...this World Cup, who is it exactly marketed, or meant for? The people of our country, or rich tourists? As im sure a lot of our country's inhabitants dont have access to the internet and thus cant apply in the very detailed ticket process... most of them could not afford tickets anyway. But hosting such a massive event should bring in a huge amount of investment, thus helping the poor, so the event is for "us". Although one has to wonder if the money made from this World Cup will ever get to those who actually need it...

I also wonder how sport is enjoyed in this country, culturally. We have the Afrikaaners who love their rugby and maybe a little cricket. The Engelse who love their British football, cricket and rugby to an extent. The Xhosa, Zulu and other native South Africans who love their local football. I love my football, cricket and rugby. SA is a football crazy nation but these are our 3 main sports. We do dabble in other sporting spheres, but as the Caster Semenya fiasco highlighted, we are not putting enough development into other sporting spheres.

Sport brings people together, creates comraderie and teaches discipline and other values. Thus I feel a lot more development should be put into sports, as this can be a way of getting kids off the street. I dont just mean football, cricket or rugby, but all sports. Grass root level sporting programmes focusing on the underprivileged to show them that a better way of life can be achieved through hardwork, discipline and teamwork. This is what I hope all the money made from the World Cup is used for. I have confidence in our country...
We are going to win the World Cup!!!
Hey no harm in dreaming...
As only when you reach for your dreams do you find what lies beyond them;)