I rather like the idea that South Africa is the place where all good sports go.

We have just a weekend that has illustrated this magnificently, although it must have created quite a dilemma for sports fans:  – how were they going to watch the finals of the IPL Cricket, the Comrades, AND the Super 14 semi-final without falling over?  Some tough decisions needed to be made. The IPL cricket was less about sport and more about show-business.  Friends of mine who attended games said that – while the cricket was OK – the real fun were the dancers, the music, the costumes, the parades.  It was like a Mardi Gras with bats and balls.  A news report this morning said that the tournament had brought R1 billion into our economy.  The cricketers and the Bollywooders held parties, stayed in luxury accommodation, haunted our malls.  A large number of cricket (and film) fanatics followed them.  The whole thing was such a success, from the point of view of the marketing, the attendance at games and the smooth organization, that the owners of the tournament are talking about bringing it back here on a bi-annual basis. Then there was the Comrades.  84 years old and still going strong, although it seems to have become more of a Russian event than an African one.  I have been unable to find out why the Russians like the Comrades so much (perhaps the name makes them feel at home), but they have dominated all the contests for the last decade.  Held now on a Sunday instead of a public holiday, the ‘Ultimate Human Race’ has endured a lot of political tinkering but is such an institution that it is unthinkable that it will ever end. And then there was the rugby.  In the Super 14 the Blue Bulls secured a place in the final, which is going to be held…. here, in South Africa this weekend.  And just in case you haven’t noticed, the British Lions touched down on Monday for an international series of matches around the country that will bring a hoard of British rugby fans here, and entice millions of viewers around the world.  I must admit that I am not noticeably manic about any particular sport, although I do rather like my rugby players covered in chocolate.  But I am enthusiastic about anything that gives SA an edge.    I have given this a lot of thought – no really, I have - and I have decided that South Africa has almost accidentally been given a chance to showcase itself (I am deliberately ignoring the expensive debacle of the Soccer World Cup) and it would behove the people in charge not to interfere and just let the tourism and sporting industry get on with it.  The first thing that South Africa has in its favour is the good climate.  Even those people currently comatose from Highveld frosts or being waterlogged in the Western Cape will know that we have different climate zones.  The crisp cold did not dampen the cricket fans, the weather was cool and soft for the Comrades, and the winter sun was ideal for the rugby.  There will always be a spot in this country, at some time of year, where conditions are ideal for sport. Secondly, South Africa has good infrastructure, combined with space.  Don’t under-estimate how important this is.  Our public transport might be woeful but for large sporting events, plans do get made to convey the public to and from venues.  For  the happy fan there is always a way. (It’s just the poor citizen who gets the short straw).  Our sporting venues don’t feel cramped and crowded like a lot of older venues in other countries.   Everywhere you go there is a sense of space and openness, which adds immeasurably to the pleasure of the event. Thirdly, our sporting venues are mainly in rather pretty areas, with fabulous views over oceans or green suburbs or under huge skies.  The movable ones, like the Comrades, go through spectacular scenery. Fourthly, and this is also rather important:  sport fits in very well with our natural exuberance as a people and complements our inherent friendliness and hospitality as a nation.  People strike up conversations in queues, share drinks and food at matches, and explain the game (or complain about the game) to each other.  There are few things that show off our basic bonhomie better than sport. And possibly the most important reason of all – South Africa has a very user-friendly time zone.  We fit in quite adequately with television schedules world-wide.  When an event is held in South Africa, the major viewing public do not have to get up at 3am to watch it on television. So – despite some rather odd decisions and utterances made by our sporting administrators, South Africa really does have the edge over most countries when it comes to hosting tournaments on an ongoing basis. All we need to do now is get a soccer team that actually wins a game or two.