Sporting boycott of South Africa during the apartheid era

International Boycotts of South Africa Under Apartheid

South Africa under apartheid was subjected to a variety of international boycotts, including on sporting contacts. The aim of the boycott evolved from opposing segregation in sport to opposing apartheid in general. While apartheid was formalised in 1948, sport-specific restrictions appeared in the late 1950s.

United Nations

• In 1980, the UN Centre against Apartheid created a "Register of Sports Contacts with South Africa".
• Athletes listed faced moral pressure; some faced disciplinary action by sports bodies.
• Athletes could remove their names by pledging not to return.
• The register was considered effective. A 56-page list was published in 1991.
• The UN General Assembly adopted the International Convention against Apartheid in Sports on 10 Dec 1985.

Multisport Organisations

Olympic Games

• IOC withdrew South Africa’s invitation to the 1964 Games over segregation.
• Threats of boycott in 1968 prevented readmission.
• South Africa was expelled from the IOC in 1970.
• African nations boycotted the 1976 Games over New Zealand’s ties with South Africa.
• IOC adopted a declaration against apartheid in sport in 1988.

Parasport

• South Africa joined the ISMGF in 1962.
• Teams were racially integrated from 1975.
• Controversy followed SA participation in 1976 Paralympics.
• South Africa was banned from ISMGs in 1985.

Commonwealth Games

• South Africa was excluded after leaving the Commonwealth in 1961.
• In 1986, 32 countries boycotted the Edinburgh Games over UK’s failure to enforce Gleneagles Agreement.

Other Multisport Bodies

• NCAA allowed South African athletes, most were white.
• Gay Games initially included South Africans; by 1990, they were excluded following policy changes.

By Sport

Athletics

• IAAF suspended SA in 1970, expelled in 1976, readmitted in 1992.
• Zola Budd’s 1984 record was not ratified.

Boxing

• Amateur body expelled in 1968 (AIBA).
• Professional body (SABBC) expelled by WBC in 1975.
• SABBC remained active via the WBA until suspended in 1986.

Chess

• South Africa was expelled from FIDE in 1974, rejoined in 1992.

Cricket

• Boycott began with the 1968 D'Oliveira affair.
• ICC imposed a moratorium in 1970.
• Rebel tours occurred during the 1980s.
• 4-year ban on rebel tourists instituted in 1989.

Golf

• South Africa banned from 1979 World Cup.
• Reappeared post-apartheid in 1992.
• South African golfers competed globally; the Million Dollar Challenge continued.

Motorsport

• Last pre-apartheid F1 Grand Prix in 1985.
• Some drivers withdrew under pressure.
• Motorcycle Grand Prix also lapsed.

Rugby Union

• Remained IRB member.
• Last foreign tour to NZ in 1981 sparked protest.
• Excluded from 1987 & 1991 Rugby World Cups.

Football

• Suspended by FIFA in 1961, expelled in 1976.

Softball

• Mexico and Philippines withdrew from 1976 championship over SA participation.

Surfing

• Largely apolitical.
• Some boycotts in 1978 and 1982.
• Individual boycotts began in 1985.

Table Tennis

• The black-led SATTB was recognised over white body.
• Government refused passports to SATTB members.

Tennis

• 1964: Soviet and Hungarian players withdrew from matches vs. SA players.
• ILTF rejected expulsion but prohibited racial discrimination.
• Davis Cup bans instituted in 1970 and 1979.
• SA continued to host and play in international events.

Other Sports

By 1970, South Africa was expelled or suspended from:

• Basketball (FIBA)
• Cycling (UCI)
• Fencing (FIE)
• Gymnastics
• Judo
• Netball
• Weightlifting (FHI)
• Wrestling (FILA)

By 1978, excluded from world championships in:

• Fencing
• Field hockey
• Rowing
• Water-skiing

Foreign Eligibility

• Some athletes competed under other nationalities:
  • Zola Budd (UK)
  • Kepler Wessels (Australia)

End of Apartheid

• Mandela released in 1990; apartheid ended in 1994.
• Boycotts ended in parallel.
• European Community and India lifted sanctions by 1991.
• SA hosted and won the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

A 1999 study concluded that sport played a symbolic but limited role in ending apartheid.

See Also

• Academic boycott of South Africa
• Foreign relations of South Africa during apartheid
• Sports diplomacy

Sources

• Booth, Douglas (1998). The Race Game: Sport and Politics in South Africa.
• Gemmell, Jon (2004). The Politics of South African Cricket.
• Guelke, Adrian (1986). The Politicisation of South African Sport.
• Lapchick, Richard Edward (1975). The Politics of Race and International Sport.
• Rademeyer, Cobus (2017). Sport for People with Disabilities in Post-Apartheid SA.
• United Nations Centre against Apartheid (1978). South Africa's Standing in International Sport.

External Links

• Boycotts against Apartheid - African National Congress (Archived)(https://web.archive.org/web/20080704045359/http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/history/solidarity/boycotts.html)