Sports Politics: South Africa's new emblem
SOUTH AFRICA'S National Sports Congress has approved the protea flower as the country's new sports emblem. The new badge, which will depict the white protea on a green and gold background, has been introduced to replace the springbok.
The NSC general secretary, Mthobi Tyamzashe, said yesterday: 'We felt there was a need for a break with the past.'
Ali Bacher, the director of the United Cricket Board of South Africa, said the time was ripe for a new emblem. 'The problem is that, among the majority of the people of South Africa, the springbok will be seen as representing a period in South Africa sport where only whites were eligible for selection,' Bacher said.
'We now have a new political dispensation, a new flag, a new national anthem, and the time is appropriate to lessen division in sport by having a new national sporting emblem.'
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies