-
You are here:
Home
›
-
Culture in South Africa
›
-
South African sports
›
-
South African sports overview
About South African sports
and their power to unify a sports crazy nation
The major South African sports have shown that
they have amazing fusion power, reaching across racial barriers and healing old wounds, like no
other institution in South Africa has.
South Africans nation wide are sport crazy and there is nothing to stop their adrenaline going
into overdrive when one of the major national teams is up against one of the old foes such as
Australia, New Zealand and England.
Much has changed in SA sport in the years since the country became a true democracy. For millions
it has meant a real chance to participate. New role models have emerged, some stars and teams have
risen while others have fallen.
There will always be ups and downs, but choosing teams from the entire population and not from a
select group, will surely see South Africa becoming one of the world's great sporting nations.
Bafana Bafana striker Benni McCarthy in action
Big 3 of South African Sports, South Africa Sports Top Ten
copyright © South African tourism
The most popular spectator sports in South Africa are Soccer, Rugby and Cricket. Soccer is predominantly played by black people, while Rugby and
Cricket are predominantly played by white people.
These are the three sports in which South African teams have climbed to the top of the international achievement ladder, often showing the best
in the world how it is meant to be done.
Bowling action of Lance Klusener of the South African national cricket team, The Proteas
Big 3 of South African Sports, South Africa Sports Top Ten
copyright © South African tourism
Who will ever forget the last few hair-raising minutes of the final of the 1995 Rugby World Cup when the South African “Springboks” beat New
Zealand’s “All Blacks” 15 - 12 with a dropkick by Joel Stransky in the last minute of extra time?
Who will ever forget Nelson Mandela wearing the No 6 shirt of the team's captain, Francois Pienaar, a white South African?
"Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s president of South Africaat the time, congratulates Springbok captain Francois Pienaar with his team winning the Rugby World Championship in 1995
Big 3 of South African Sports, South Africa Sports Top Ten
Photograph: Aidan Caralight
When Mandela presented the Cup to Francois and the South African team, the two embraced in joyful celebration, a spontaneous gesture of racial
reconciliation which melted hearts around the country.
A single moment, and 400 years of colonial strife and bitterness…suddenly seemed to fade. A moment that was listed as one of the 100 Greatest
Sporting Moments ever on a British television programme.
Wind Surfing is a most popular water sport in South Africa
Big 3 of South African Sports, South Africa Sports Top Ten
copyright © South African tourism
South Africa is a sports crazy nation and the country is a hotspot when it comes to international sports. There are numerous annual events that
attract sportsmen, women and teams from all over the world.
Whether it is Hockey, Cricket, swimming, Rugby, Golf Tennis and Marathon running, or Abseiling, Skydiving, Bungee Jumping, Kayaking and Surfing,
Diving and Snorkelling, to name but a few, they all have a devoted following in South Africa.
The last meters to the finishing line in the famous 80 km Comrades Ultra Marathon from Durban to Pietermaritzburg
Big 3 of South African Sports, South Africa Sports Top Ten
copyright © South African tourism
Having ideal conditions for sport is a huge factor in determining how successful an athlete or a team will be. Weather is one of those things.
South Africa’s great advantage is its climate.
It encourages its people to get outside, to be active, and to participate in some sort of sporting challenge. Sport and the South African climate
go hand-in-hand.
The annual world renowned one million dollar golf tournament at the Sun City resort
Big 3 of South African Sports, South Africa Sports Top Ten
copyright © South African tourism
With a total of 60 stadiums, South Africa is home of more then 20 world-class stadiums capable of accommodating tens of thousands of spectators
in comfort. 13 of them have a capacity of more then 50,000 spectators.
The new Nelson Mandela stadium at Port Elizabeth
Big 3 of South African Sports, South Africa Sports Top Ten
copyright © Charles Heiman - iMedi8 Photographicb
The 2010 Fifa World Cup will add a host of new outstanding stadiums to the existing list. Many stadiums in South Africa are world-renown, such
as Newlands in Cape Town, Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, Ellispark in Johannesburg, Kingspark in Durban, FNB in Johannesburg, to name but a few.
The Wanderers cricket stadium at Johannesburg
Big 3 of South African Sports, South Africa Sports Top Ten
copyright © South African tourism
Top of Page
-
Home
›
-
Culture in South Africa
›
-
South African sports
›
-
South African sports overview
