The wearing (or should I call it abuse) of National Sports colours has been under my skin for a very long time. One must just spend some time with our National athletes and see how hard they work to earn the right to wear official National Sports Colours, to realise that the handing out of the very same official clothing to every Tom, dick and Harry is simply not correct.
Establishment of the National Colours BoardA National Colours Board was established. [Section 11 Act 110 of 1998]
Objects of the BoardThe objects of the board are:
(i) to introduce a standard code for the award of national colours;
(ii) to prevent any misuse or abuse of national colours;
(iii) to make provision for the resolution of disputes related to awards of national colours;
(iv) generally, to promote sport in South Africa, through the usage and effective control of the national colours;
(i) to ratify or refuse to ratify the award of national colours to a person nominated therefore;
(ii) to adjudicate in any matter referred to it;
(iii) to promote the image, standing and repute of national colours nationally and internationally;
(iv) to co-operate and liaise closely with persons, bodies, local authorities and Government departments concerned with the advancement of sport on a national and international level;
(v) to advise the SASC on the use of national colours by any person, body or local authority by way of advertising or as a trade mark, or in connection with goods or services, or in any other manner on such terms and conditions as it may see fit;
(vi) to monitor and maintain records of all awards of national colours.
Authority to award national colours and duty of protection
The authority to award national colours to any individual vests with the National Colours Board, acting on recommendation from the national federations concerned.
All national federations have a duty to ensure the prestige of national colours and to protect them against abuse.
Junior National Colours
A category for “junior” colours has been instituted for those codes of sport who can substantiate that in the international rules of their particular discipline, provision is made for e.g. bona-fide junior world championships, junior continental championships, test matches, etc. A maximum age, which differs from sport to sport, is usually prescribed. Junior Protea colours are not intended for “age-group” competitions and such colours shall have the designation “Junior” underneath the prescribed insignia.
The applicable international rules must be lodged with the Commission and should form part of the POLICY document referred to in article 13(4) above. All other eligibility regulations as described herein for senior colours, are also applicable to the award of junior colours.
Discussion
Although we have all these rules and regulations, even a board appointed that regulates and oversee the protection of National Colours, the situation on the ground is very different.
Administrators, so called coaches and supporters
It has become common practice for team managers of international teams to hand out the very same National Colours that athletes take part in to large tourist parties that follow the teams to international events. However I do concede that it is nice to see a South African support base in the crowd, but over weight tourists wearing the athletes official clothing is simply wrong. During the recent World Athletics Championships in London several athletes were left at home due to the crazy selection criteria applied by ASA. Yet the stands were filled with traveling supporters not on the official, team or administrator list wearing the official SA kit. These tourist actually wore the clothes of athletes that were left behind that qualified for the event.
Non official South African teams
Trends are developing fast where regional, district, or even school teams are selected to compete abroad as part of organised tours. These teams are often made up of small regions, or a few selected schools. To make the situation even worse these teams are generally made up of athletes, that could not make the mainstream provincial or national teams. In most cases these teams are further made up of athletes take can "self pay". Athletes that do not have the financial means to pay for these tours simply miss out. Organisers of these teams then produce "Kit" that closely represent National Colours, and only a trained eye will be able to identify it as non National Colours. These teams often play abroad with inferior athletes, often returning with poor results, but the team is perceived as a South African National team.
National Colours to children 5, 6 and 7 years old.
Mainstream sports such as Rugby, Cricket, Athletics, and many others only award National Colours from the age of 17 years old, the so called Youth age group. However this is not the case with all sporting codes. Tennis, Triathlon, Biathlon, to name only a few award National Colours to children as young as 5,6,and 7. Most responsible parents do not let kids of this age compete, so selecting a National team can never be representative of the best talent in the country. At this age kids develop at different rates and letting compete in National Colours is all wrong.
Establishment of the National Colours BoardA National Colours Board was established. [Section 11 Act 110 of 1998]
Objects of the BoardThe objects of the board are:
(i) to introduce a standard code for the award of national colours;
(ii) to prevent any misuse or abuse of national colours;
(iii) to make provision for the resolution of disputes related to awards of national colours;
(iv) generally, to promote sport in South Africa, through the usage and effective control of the national colours;
(i) to ratify or refuse to ratify the award of national colours to a person nominated therefore;
(ii) to adjudicate in any matter referred to it;
(iii) to promote the image, standing and repute of national colours nationally and internationally;
(iv) to co-operate and liaise closely with persons, bodies, local authorities and Government departments concerned with the advancement of sport on a national and international level;
(v) to advise the SASC on the use of national colours by any person, body or local authority by way of advertising or as a trade mark, or in connection with goods or services, or in any other manner on such terms and conditions as it may see fit;
(vi) to monitor and maintain records of all awards of national colours.
Authority to award national colours and duty of protection
The authority to award national colours to any individual vests with the National Colours Board, acting on recommendation from the national federations concerned.
All national federations have a duty to ensure the prestige of national colours and to protect them against abuse.
Junior National Colours
A category for “junior” colours has been instituted for those codes of sport who can substantiate that in the international rules of their particular discipline, provision is made for e.g. bona-fide junior world championships, junior continental championships, test matches, etc. A maximum age, which differs from sport to sport, is usually prescribed. Junior Protea colours are not intended for “age-group” competitions and such colours shall have the designation “Junior” underneath the prescribed insignia.
The applicable international rules must be lodged with the Commission and should form part of the POLICY document referred to in article 13(4) above. All other eligibility regulations as described herein for senior colours, are also applicable to the award of junior colours.
Discussion
Although we have all these rules and regulations, even a board appointed that regulates and oversee the protection of National Colours, the situation on the ground is very different.
Administrators, so called coaches and supporters
It has become common practice for team managers of international teams to hand out the very same National Colours that athletes take part in to large tourist parties that follow the teams to international events. However I do concede that it is nice to see a South African support base in the crowd, but over weight tourists wearing the athletes official clothing is simply wrong. During the recent World Athletics Championships in London several athletes were left at home due to the crazy selection criteria applied by ASA. Yet the stands were filled with traveling supporters not on the official, team or administrator list wearing the official SA kit. These tourist actually wore the clothes of athletes that were left behind that qualified for the event.
Non official South African teams
Trends are developing fast where regional, district, or even school teams are selected to compete abroad as part of organised tours. These teams are often made up of small regions, or a few selected schools. To make the situation even worse these teams are generally made up of athletes, that could not make the mainstream provincial or national teams. In most cases these teams are further made up of athletes take can "self pay". Athletes that do not have the financial means to pay for these tours simply miss out. Organisers of these teams then produce "Kit" that closely represent National Colours, and only a trained eye will be able to identify it as non National Colours. These teams often play abroad with inferior athletes, often returning with poor results, but the team is perceived as a South African National team.
National Colours to children 5, 6 and 7 years old.
Mainstream sports such as Rugby, Cricket, Athletics, and many others only award National Colours from the age of 17 years old, the so called Youth age group. However this is not the case with all sporting codes. Tennis, Triathlon, Biathlon, to name only a few award National Colours to children as young as 5,6,and 7. Most responsible parents do not let kids of this age compete, so selecting a National team can never be representative of the best talent in the country. At this age kids develop at different rates and letting compete in National Colours is all wrong.
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