“The 16th Man” – Sport as an Area of Knowledge

Review Mandela’s quote on the power of sport
Choose one of your CAS activities of the year (Creativity, Action, Service)
Examine your CAS involvement from a TOK perspective, relating to the Mandela quote
OPTIONAL EXTRA reflection
Compare the pre- and post-apartheid South African country flags
Analyse the evolution of the SA flag from a TOK perspective

1. Knowledge Issue Question: Justice Bekebeke

To what extent does national pride depend on the inhabitants feeling equal to each other?

2. Mandela's quote - CAS involvement in relation

Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire, it has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope, where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination. 

Sturgis Soccer: I think sport absolutely has the power to change the world. Sport is universally the same, soccer is played the same way in hundreds of countries even though the name of the game and the nationality of the people playing does change. Children from different backgrounds can understand the game and it can bring them much closer together. Sports can give people hope because soccer in particular is a team sport. You have to rely on your teammates no matter who they are, you can't play along. It doesn't matter what race any of the players are, all that counts in the end is how they work together and how well they can play. There isn't one race who is "better" at sport, everyone has an equal advantage. 

In Sturgis soccer we all have to work together. We all know and speak the sport and everyone is different and unique. We all have different interests outside of the sport and we're not all close friends but through the season we work as one unit. When we play another team we can't judge by what they look like. The smallest player could be the best on the team so stereotyping gets you no where.

3. Compare pre and post apartheid South African flags

The flag of South Africa pre apartheid was three flags ( Union Flag (mirrored) towards the hoist, the flag of the Orange Free State (mirrored) hanging vertically in the middle and theTransvaal Vierkleur towards the fly) on a background of blue, white and orange. This old flag makes South Africa seem like it is made up of 3 separate nations that were just clumped together. There isn't a sense of unity between them. The flag reflects the way the country was pre apartheid; segregated and unequal

The post apartheid flag is a Y shape with blue, red, orange, white, black and green. This flag combines the nation into one unit. It doesn't make the nation seem like it is made up of separate parts. It represents how the country is now working together and treating each other as equals. It combines the ideas and colors of the white and black South Africans.