Marikana massacre steers limelight from Paralympics

marikana massacre strike cartoon. What a shame!

The Marikana massacre steers the limelight away from the Paralympics. It was that time were citizens say farewell to their Paralympics participants who are going to take part at the 2012 London Paralympics.

 South Africans did not have enough chance to give paralympians enough support for their departure as a dark cloud of sorrow surrounds Lonmin's Marikana platinum mine in the North West.

On the 16^th of August 2012 dark cloud surrounds the Lonmin's Marikana platinum mine in the North West. More than 35 miners (some are still missing since the protest) and two policemen were killed during the Lonmin's Marikana platinum mine protest.

President Jacob Zuma said he was “shocked and dismayed” at what appeared to be one of the bloodiest police operations since the end of white-minority rule in 1994 in Africa's biggest economy.

It is sad that SA 2012 London paralympians did not get full blown attention and support from their fellow citizens because of the terrible incidence that saddened the whole country.

SA uses sports as a tool to create jobs

           SA Netball used as a tool for job creation



Simnilawe Ndaka (left) and Ilzeri Britz in action during

 the Spar Netball Championships at the University of Johannesburg

Netball is one of the most popular women's participation sports in Africa. SA decides to turn SA netball professional. This is one of the ways to create jobs in SA. Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula says: “If you invest in a woman, you are breaking the cycle of poverty and this is what it’s about”.

SA netball to turn professional is news that received huge applause at the Heartfelt Centre in Pretoria on Tuesday, at the launch of the four-day Diamond Challenge.

SA unemployment  rate reads 24.9% at the second quarter of the year 2012. It is an issue that the country is trying to fight against because most of the unemployed people are the youth.

SA is looking at all the tools and ways they can use to create jobs. Sports is one of the tools SA is using to create jobs. They are doing that by investing in sports, starting from development to professionalism in sports.

                 

Values of national anthem

An England fan sings the national anthem:

 Olympics 2012 National Anthem

Values of the National anthem

A national anthem (also national hymn, song etc.) is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people. The majority of national anthems are either marches or hymns in style.

As much as a National Anthem says a lot ab out a country, not all nations value it the same way because different Anthems say a whole lot of things.  The Congo national anthem asks: “And if we have to die/ Does it really matter?” The opening line of Ukraine’s anthem is: “Ukraine is not yet dead.”

 Not everyone enjoys singing their National Anthem. British athletes stayed silent during the singing of the anthem (God Save the Queen) at the London Olympics 2012. Piers Morgan to donate £1,000 to Great Ormond Street every time a British winner sings the national anthem at the London Olympics 2012.

Sports brings SA Nation together

The World Cup 2010 being held in South Africa,

from the 11th June until the 11th July.

Sports brings the SA Nation together

The biggest sporting events command huge audiences, providing dramatic moments which bring the nation together. Sometimes we need an adversary to vanquish to turn our I and me into an us and we. The SA Nation may think of themselves as independent individualists, yet they can be transformed into enthusiastic citizens, fans, members, followers or a team victory when failure was expected. 

Chad Le Clos and his great performance which made the SA Nation roar with happiness, has aroused the connection that brings the SA Nation together. It is beautiful how sports transform SA individuals into a Nation that is supportive to its fellow citizens that are participating. These transformed individuals do not care whether it’s their favorite team or individual sports stars that are taking part at a big event or small event, they become part of the celebration.

Swimming sensation Chad le Clos pushed

South Africa six places up the medals.

SA Nation expressed their passion for support when SA hosted the 2010 Soccer World Cup. It was not known that SA Nation can go all out when coming to sports events; it was only known that the SA Nation can go crazy when the two well-known local teams (Kaiser Chiefs and Pirates) play together. The passion for support was also expressed when our rugby boys (SA National Rugby team) went for the 2011 rugby world cup which took place in New Zealand.

 The Nation gave them a warm good luck when they left the country. This does not only happen to big teams or big sports stars, it happens through the sports world as a whole. Sports brings the SA Nation together.