Sport has potential to unify the nation: iLIVE

06 August 2012 - 02:40 By Mashao Mohale, Olievenhoutbosch
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South Africa's Chad le Clos celebrates winning the men's Olympic 200m butterfly final at the Aquatics Centre in London last night. The 20-year-old stunned the swimming world by edging out US great Michael Phelps with his final stroke Picture TOBY MELVILLE/REUTERS
South Africa's Chad le Clos celebrates winning the men's Olympic 200m butterfly final at the Aquatics Centre in London last night. The 20-year-old stunned the swimming world by edging out US great Michael Phelps with his final stroke Picture TOBY MELVILLE/REUTERS

I was intensely moved when swimmers Chad Le Clos and Cameron van der Burgh and the rowing team scooped gold at the Olympics.

Every social network was flooded . People from various racial, social and economic backgrounds were undeniably caught up in the celebratory mood.

Jubilant supporters flew the South African flag at home and in London.

It brought back the memories of the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

I also reminisced about the 1995 Rugby World Cup final when, for the first time in history, black and white South Africans packed the Ellis Park stadium to watch the Springboks thumpNew Zealand.

Back then our democracy was still young, apartheid was still rearing its ugly head and political tensions had not vanished.

Rugby was predominately supported by whites, but when the Springboks reached the World Cup final, everyone got behind them.

An extraordinary visual was when former president Nelson Mandela presented the Webb Ellis Cup to the Springbok captain Francois Pienaar - a gesture of unity and diversity .

The same applied in 1996 when South Africa hosted and won the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

The event was followed by, to mention a few sporting achievements, a praiseworthy athletic spectacle when Josiah Thugwane and Penny Heyns won Olympic gold medals in Atlanta in the same year.

Sport carries the hopes of the nation and is a catalyst for cohesion.

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