Analysis: Sports As A Unifier

Life Orientation

Talia Smith

Sports As A Unifier

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Ernest Istook once said; “Our strength is our ability to unite people of different backgrounds around common principles. A common language is necessary to reach that goal”. Sports is that common language and contrary to Joe Humphreys' negatives views on sport in his book, I believe it unites people of different economic, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds, all these factors fall away in sport because whether it is the players themselves or the supporters they all have a common goal that unites them.

Joe Humphrey expresses in his book Foul Play whats wrong with Sport that sports brings out the worst in people and creates divides between them, however, I have experienced how sports can create unity between the most unlikely of pairs. In 2010 the Fifa World Cup brought the entire country together. I, among millions of South Africans, watched how the nation became one united front in supporting our national team Bafana-Bafana. I had never been a sports fan and I didn't even know the soccer players' names but when Siphiwe Tshebalala scored South Africa's first goal I felt an immense wave of happiness and pride. I definitely was not the only one who felt this way; after the match I went onto the street and although Bafana-Bafana drew 1-1 with Mexico, vuvuzela's were blasting, people were singing and strangers were hugging. I will never forget standing in the middle of the road jumping up and down with complete strangers singing shoshaloza with tears in our eyes. As the cars drove past us they hooted in support, some even stopped to join, and I realized how every other factor that divides people become...

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...use of a rugby game and the decision of a great visionary, Nelson Mandela, to don the green and gold, previously recognised as a symbol of oppression. The country was united for a moment, for a day. It was a short and precious moment but it showed an injured nation that it was possible to heal deep wounds inflicted by apartheid. No other process not even the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, has achieved what this Rugby match did.

Although Joe Humphreys has extremely negative connotations with sports it is clear that sports also has the ability to form bonds with people from all walks of life. It can create change on a global level as well as on a much smaller scale by bringing families and friends together to watch their team play the game. Players on a sports team become a family that works together to achieve the goal of the thousands of their supporters.