Discover South Africa

South Africans in general are passionate about sport, and the rules are simple - go and win the game - nothing else is acceptable. Individual sportsmen and women, and teams have brought many moments of tears and joy to their supporters and the population in general. Zola Budd and Mary Decker were hot favourites to win the 1984 Olympic 3000m. With Zola in front and South Africans cheering from their living rooms, all of a sudden it was all over. Their feet got entwined. Gloom!

Time marched on and South Africa became the 'new' South Africa with Nelson Mandela at the helm. South Africa had been accepted back into the international arena after years of isolation and to crown it all we were hosting the Rugby World Cup and the South African 'Springbok' team had made it to the finals against the mighty New Zealand 'All Blacks'.

The day arrived and Ellis Park was packed to capacity, the streets were quiet and the country was glued to the TV screen. The teams were on the field and then 'Madiba' walked out wearing captain Francois Pienaar's No 6 jersey, the unity in the country felt absolute. Nothing in the universe was going to beat this team now. Well, 'the war' broke out and the memory of the frenetic game is a blur to most people, what is indelibly imprinted in the memories, is Joel Stransky's drop kick at the goal in the final minutes of the game. The ball seemed to hang in the air for a week, and then silence erupted into a near frenzy as the ball glided 'smack' between the posts. Street parties broke out spontaneously around the country. We were the world champs! The following year the national soccer team 'Bafana Bafana' did it for the country again by winning the African Cup of Nations tournament. Two years later the soccer team made it to the final and in 2007 the rugby team did it again by winning the world cup in France.

Since 1994 South Africa has hosted the following international sporting events.

The most widely supported sports in the country are soccer, rugby and cricket. However, most international sports and some local sporting disciplines are played widely around the country.

Soccer Rugby Cricket Boxing Golf Courtesy of www.southafrica.info