sport

ANC using Caster Semenya for political gains?

Sophie Team Observers — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:25:09 +0200

Winner of this year's 800m Olympic race, record-breaking 18-year-old Caster Semenya has been crowned a hero back in her home country, despite - and moreover because of - allegations over her gender. But is her case being used for political means? Two South African media scholars weigh in.

Give your opinion on the affair.

Sean Jacobs and Herman Wasserman were born and grew up in South Africa. Sean now lives in Brooklyn and teaches at the New School college in New York City. Herman lives in the UK, teaching at the University of Sheffield.

It may be true that race-obsessed, populist elements in South Africa's ruling ANC are exploiting the controversy around world-beating athlete Caster Semenya for political gain. The rallying of support by the ANC has been roundly criticized in media reports both internationally and in South Africa, as well as by the ANC's political opposition. It might also be that the ANC is charging up emotions to divert people's attention away from their dismal social conditions instead of working harder to change them. This is, however, more a case of politicians trying to keep up with public opinion than the other way round. Denying this would be giving politicians too much credit, and disregard South Africans' ability to form their own opinions about a controversy that, for many, reflect their own struggles for recognition, respect and equal treatment.

And as with so much else in post-apartheid South African society, the mass support for Semenya (5000 people turned up at the airport to welcome her back, she has received encouragement in newspaper editorials, cartoons and the blogosphere, and even met with Nelson Mandela) is a paradoxical one that tells the story of a country deeply divided yet at certain moments strangely united around a common cause.

What can we learn from this response?

South Africans are sports mad. They measure their emotional state by the fortunes of their national teams and fiercely loyal to their athletes. When the former minister of finance, Trevor Manuel declared that he supported New Zealand's All Black rugby team (as did many black South Africans in defiance of the white-controlled game which barred them from the national team) he was criticized by supporters of the team which reminded him that Mandela was now the Springboks' number one fan.

Sporting codes remain largely racially segregated, a legacy of early twentieth century attempts to racially police sports: football for blacks and rugby and cricket for whites. But increasingly black and ‘coloured' (in apartheid parlance) sports heroes like Bryan Habana (rugby) and Wayne Parnell (cricket) are adored by all South Africans alike.

In this light, a decision by an international body to doubt the success of one of "us" was likely to be met with a nationalistic response, which could easily be reframed as an anti-imperialist one.

The clumsy and callous way in which the IAAF handled the inquiry into Semenya's gender seemed for South Africans to smack of a patronising attitude towards their country as a backward, "underdeveloped" place from which it was unlikely that an athlete of Semenya's extraordinary talent could emerge overnight.

Here the ANC might have a point in asking whether a white athlete -- -

read: European or North American --- would have been similarly publicly humiliated before a ‘gender' test was carried out. If there is something you should not tell South Africans, who are relishing their re-entry into the global arenas of commerce, sports and the arts, it is that they cannot compete at the same international level as others or that they are inferior or backward.

And by rejecting statements by Semenya''s parents (and her birth certificate), her trainer, school teachers and classmates who all testified that she grew up as a girl, the IAAF was seen to say: ‘Who are you to tell us you're a woman, we don't trust your birth certificate and- we will tell you if you are a woman.' To some South Africans the IAAF was implying that her parent's -- hardly cosmopolitans or members of South Africa's black political class or emerging economic elite -- were in on a massive conspiracy.

The response at Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg also reflects ordinary South Africans' experiences of marginalization. People want to believe in a dream, thus coping with their precarious and struggling existence in a country marred by poverty, violence and inequality.

The public response to Semenya''s gender testing also shows up how some in the West, for all its pretence, lives by outdated constructions of what are male or female ideal body types or behaviours. South Africans, only recently emerged from colonialism and Apartheid that was underpinned by pencil tests and ethnic shibboleths, are for all their faults very wary of essentialised categories.

What is more, by rejecting the prescriptions and impositions of international athletic tsars in white laboratory jackets, South Africans--generally socially conservative--are discovering for themselves the arbitrary and constructed nature of gender. In a country with high levels of gender-based violence (including violence against lesbians, perceived as women acting like men by their attackers), this is a positive sign. Interviewed by a Kenyan TV station, one of Caster's classmates said, ‘I am proud of her gender.' The t-shirts of some of Caster's young female supporters at the airport said it all: ‘If Caster is a boy, I am a boy too.'"

BASE jumping – primary requirement insanity?

Sophie Team Observers — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:15:04 +0200

Image © Shamshahrin Shamsudin.

"BASE jumping" is basically hardcore parachuting. Giving you less time to open your parachute, and less of a parachute when it's open, BASE jumping is the closest you can get to falling to your death without dying.

BASE jumping is a bit like skydiving, only you jump from a fixed object rather than a plane, and often from a lesser altitude, therefore increasing the chances of landing complications. BASE stands for "Building, Antenna, Span (bridge or arch), Earth" - the four things that were originally jumped off when the modern sport was established. Though it appears incredibly risky, it is not illegal; except in urban areas.

A wrestler's tale: 'Trust me, it hurts'

Team Observers — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:17:49 +0200

Photo: Holden Leeds.

As Darren Aronofsky's ‘The Wrestler', starring Mickey Rourke, has poignantly reminded viewers, the life of a wrestler off the ring is hardly a dreamlike one. "Brimstone", a professional wrestler from New York, gave us his account.

For many, the world of wrestling is all about glamour, thrills and glory. In the US, wrestlers are revered by adoring crowds as true stars. Yet, behind the glitter lies a more sombre reality, portrayed in newspapers' "in brief" sections. Not long ago, the renowned wrestler "Test" Martin was found dead in his home, aged 33, apparently victim of an overdose. Under pressure and often injured, most wrestlers are destined for a miserable twilight in their later days - that is when they don't simply die prematurely.

Terrorists strike at cricket, 'the only thing binding Pakistanis together'

Julien — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:39:04 +0100

Twelve masked and heavily-armed gunmen attacked a bus carrying the Sri Lankan cricket team to a stadium in Lahore Tuesday morning. The wife of our Observer in Pakistan was nearby when the bus was showered with gunshots. Police say eight people were killed, including six policemen and two civilians. At least six players of the Sri Lankan team were reportedly injured.

Adnan Ali is a consultant in new technologies in Lahore. He was among the first to report on the attack via Twitter.

My wife works in a school a few dozen metres away from the stadium, where the attack took place. She called me when she heard the gunshots and I copied her words on Twitter. I was the first, I believe, to report that the terrorists were using not only rifles, but also rockets. The media later confirmed my wife’s account of the events.

I don’t know who organised the attack. In my view this wasn’t the work of the Taliban, who usually carry out suicide attacks and are not so well-organised. All sorts of interpretations have been advanced on Twitter. Some even suggest India might have organised the operation in the hope that international opinion will blame Pakistan. According to this theory, the plan of action used for the Bombay attacks would have been reproduced to give the impression of an attack by Pakistani Islamists.

One thing is sure: the attack has truly shocked the people here. Cricket is a national symbol. It’s the only thing that binds all Pakistanis together. From the Taliban-controlled areas to Karachi, everyone plays cricket and ardently supports the national team, which is itself a collection of players from all regions. By having a go at cricket, they have touched one of the few things that really affect Pakistanis - their last pleasure."

You may send your questions to Adnan Ali on his profile page.

French Spiderman takes another swipe at gravity

Sophie Team Observers — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:32:14 +0100

Alain Robert, who refers to himself as Spiderman, scaled a 270 metre, or 886 foot, Hong Kong skyscraper last Tuesday... without any equipment. A web user filmed the scene from a neighbouring building. Impressive.

Posted on YouTube by "cnostaw".

This isn't even the urban climber's greatest feat. According to his site, he's already reached the top of over 80 monuments and towers around the world with no safety equipment. He's particularly known for scaling Sears Tower in Chicago, which reaches 443 metres tall.

Report on Alain Robert:

Posted on YouTube by "ABSYNTHEproduction".

After air guitar, 'air gaming'…

Ségolène Team Observers — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:11:45 +0100

Playing tennis without a racket, scuba-diving without water or even playing video games without a console... All these things are possible thanks to a new concept called "air gaming".

It's going down a storm on video sharing sites. Which is good news for the people behind the project... who happen to be a marketing agency from Paris.

Saudi prince to journalists: "If you're not well-mannered enough, then let me educate you myself"

Sophie Team Observers — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:51:58 +0100

Sultan bin Fahd won't hear a bad word spoken about the Saudi national football team. Outraged at journalists for criticising the team on TV, the Saudi prince picked up the phone and gave them a telling-off live on TV - something that did not go down well with the Saudi web.

The sports journalists were taking part in a talk show about the Saudi team's defeat (6-5) to Oman in the Gulf Cup final on January 17. Fahd, who is currently president of the kingdom's Youth and Sports department (equivalent of sports minister), did not appreciate the commentators' tone. When phone-ins began, Fahd took it upon himself to call the show, and lecture the journalists live on TV. He finished by saying: "If you're not well-mannered enough, then let me educate you myself". The journalists, looking down at their feet, were visibly shocked. Only one of them, who's connected to the royal family, dared to talk back to the prince, who then put the phone down on him. The video has caused a stir in Saudi Arabia, where chain emails and Facebook groups are calling for the president of sport and youth to step down.

On Wednesday evening the prince was questioned over his actions by national channel al Arabiya. He explained that it was "human error", and didn't bother apologising as the journalists had hoped.

UPDATE (30 Jan. 09): the affair is still causing trouble in the kingdom. Highly influential Prince Salam, the governor of Riyadh, has joined his outraged compatriots in writing a letter to the king, asking for an end to "irresponsible behaviour" from his nephew, Prince Fahd. The letter was supposed to be private but it's already circulating the web - possibly due to a leak organised by parliament.

Images from the Saudi sports channel.

The Melbourne Shuffle – "dance to express, not to impress!"

Ségolène Team Observers — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:19:25 +0100

Image: Melbourne Shuffle Oldskool

After tecktonik dancing brought gyrating teenagers to metro platforms around the world, a new electro bop has arrived on the scene. The "Melbourne Shuffle" has attracted flocks of movers and shakers, with over 600 new videos uploaded every week.

The Melbourne Shuffle emerged at the end of the eighties, and for a long time stayed underground. But as electro music gained popularity, the dance move started catching on too. Watching other fans interpret the style on YouTube proved so popular that there's now a veritable cult of "Shufflers" from all corners of the world.

In the process, a faster, more aggressive version of the dance has emerged, leaving old school Shuffle loyalists worried that the phenomenon is killing their culture.

Posted on YouTube by surVAMP.

"Liu Xiang: voted best actor of the year"

Ségolène F24 — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:27:04 +0200

He was supposed to be a national hero, the biggest star of the Olympics. Liu Xiang, gold-winning hurdler in Athens, dreamed of a second Olympic triumph in his own country. But the dream was shattered as the Chinese sprinter failed to take part in the race against his great rival, Cuba's Dayron Robles.

In the Bird's Nest, dismay was palpable. China is crying, as was Liu Xiang when he limped off the track. During the press conference, his coach Sun Haiping was also in tears. Suddenly, China was no longer untouchable.

Ranging from virulent criticism to disappointment and compassion, reactions from the Chinese people were many and varied. On Liu Xiang's website, the page dedicated to fans was, temporarily, inaccessible.

Usain Bolt, how far can he go?

Ségolène F24 — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 14:03:45 +0200

Usain Bolt crossed the finish line easily and turned to the crowd, savouring his victory. Formerly a 200-metre specialist, Jamaica's Bolt won the Olympic Games men's 100-metre gold medal, crushing everything in his way.

First, he broke his own record, set in May in New York, by 0.03 seconds. He also smashed his opponents Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago, who won the silver with a time of 9.89 seconds, and American Walter Dix, who won the bronze at 9.91 seconds.

Jamaican Asafa Powell finished fifth in the final at 9.95 seconds.

World champion Tyson Gay of the United States did not even make the final, finishing fifth in his semi in 10.15 seconds.

Bolt's win gave Jamaica its first medal of the games. He is also running in the 200 metres and hopes to be the first man to win the 100-metre and 200-metre Olympic double since Carl Lewis in 1984.