South Africa is a country that has great sporting activities, which are traditional for being practiced for many years.
Football is the most popular sport in the country, but cricket and rugby are also widespread and practiced in the region.
Golf is also a highlight in South Africa and in its regions we can find several courses, several of which have been in existence for over a hundred years. The newer courses are very luxurious and offer class A quality athletes with tickets that are not too expensive.
The South African people are very sporty and both men and women play sports of various categories, being internationally recognized in athletics, football, rugby, cricket, golf and swimming.
Other modalities widely practiced in the South African regions are marathons, which have attracted participants from all over the world. Among them we can highlight the Dois Oceanos, the long distance Comrades and the “The Argus Pick and Pau Cycle Tour” – bicycle race.
In addition to these modalities, South Africa has also stood out with hunting, jeep trails with 4x4 traction – already known worldwide, and the highest bungee jumping in the world, with 216 meters of height.
Basketball arrived in the country twelve years ago, and started to be practiced in schools in order to make it more popular.
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Surfing is practiced in the southeast of the coast, a place that has the “Perfect Waves”, where surfers and admirers from all over the world can gather. The beauty of the place also attracts tourists to the well-known dives, where they can enjoy the beautiful coral reefs, the paradise of its waters.
After thirty-two years barred from participating in the Olympic Games due to racism, the country was able to return to the Olympics in 1992.
In Barcelona, two historic landmarks took place. Two athletes broke the ice of prejudice, showing the world that equality exists. Derartu Tulu, black athlete, from Ethiopia, competed in the ten thousand meters marathon, beating Elana Meyer, from South Africa, in a beautiful victory that only happened at the end of the race. She was the first black woman to receive an Olympic award, after the victory the two embraced, making the Olympic lap together, breaking racial prejudice before the eyes of the world.
In 1995, Nelson Mandela also showed the world that racial prejudice must be overcome, wearing the Springbook Rugby captain's shirt after the team's victory. With a history of more than four hundred years of wars against blacks, the ice of apartheid racism (separate life) has been broken.
By Jussara de Barros
Graduated in Pedagogy
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
BARROS, Jussara de. "Sports in South Africa"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/africa-do-sul/esportes-na-africa-sul.htm. Accessed on June 28, 2021.