There’s an old saying that sport unites. I can vividly
remember the old 1996 Bafana team and Mark Fish hugging Helman Mkhalele during a game.
This was not long after apartheid, and it was unusual. But it sent
a particularly good feeling through my body that led me to write an op-ed about how, if channelled properly, this feeling could do much good for our country.
In the interim, however, there have been many upheavals in our beloved land. There have been good leaders, bad ones and many, many irritating ones. We sometimes feel a bit fragile because of the many racial punches thrown around.
Just when we thought the country could turn in a negative direction, the fresh concept of national unity emerged.
Many doubters felt this was just another public relations strategy. But it brought disparate groups together, and South Africa seems on a new track. The new sports minister, Gayton McKenzie, was particularly vociferous as he entered his new portfolio. Under
normal circumstances, an individual who won such a small portion of votes would not be handed a national portfolio, so
we were unsure if he was celebrating his good luck or just enthusiastic about our country’s future.
The South African Rugby Union President, Mark Alexander, introduced me to the minister at the Olympic Family Box at the Stade de France in Paris. He seemed humble and full of “Go South Africa” as we cheered on the Blitzbokke.
The following day, he was at the La Defense Swimming Arena, where Tatjana Smith, Pieter Coetze and Kaylene Corbett
were doing their thing. In the crowd, during the swimming, I could see a menagerie of colours and creeds holding the national fl ag, cheering the guys on. It prompted a “Rainbow Nation” comment from an American woman beside me.
As the Games went on, I had a chance to travel to other venues. I saw our hockey boys at the Yves du Manoir Stadium in action against Germany. This team is talented and has a bright future.
I was looking for a seat at the venue, and someone commented that the Indians would play later. I was amused; they soon realised I was South African because of my cheering.
In track and field, I was fortunate to witness Akani Simbine win a medal in probably his final Olympic event. It was unquestionably a fitting end to a wonderful career, and it was particularly
pleasing to see the teenagers walk away with silver.
At rugby, I witnessed a team made up primarily of coloured players, at swimming, white, during athletics, black, and hockey, a thoroughly mixed bag. Despite this multitude of colours and
backgrounds, I was incredibly proud. We didn’t win many medals, but South Africa was represented, prompting comments
about our “New(er) South Africa” at the Olympics.
Hopefully, that’s true. But what is more important is that we seize this moment and, like our athletes, work together to produce better results for ourselves and our nation. And if we do, there is no doubt that we can go faster, higher, and stronger in true Olympian spirit.
Robbie Naidoo is a journalist and author who has worked
in print and electronic median for 30 years. He was accredited
by the International Olympic Committee and spent a fortnight at the Paris Olympics, his fourth Olympics.
