Global Watch launch: Red-carding racism in sports

Tokyo Sexwale, former South African President Thabo Mbeki, Dr Ali Bacher, Gwede Mantashe and Comrades Marathon legend Bruce Fordyce were just a few of the dignitaries who participated in the official global launch of Global Watch, an initiative to end racism in sports, in Johannesburg on Monday.

Founder of Global Watch Sexwale said: “This is probably the biggest thing I’ve ever done and there is still a lot of work ahead of us.

“The key thing about Global Watch is that it provides South Africans with a unique opportunity to talk about racism, and what this country went through.

“South Africa must be seen to be taking a lead in this. It is a platform to say, ‘We have been there. Don’t start.’

“Don’t throw bananas at players. Don’t make comments about the Williams sisters. Keep racism off your playing fields,” he said.

Global Watch will be driven through a strategic partnership between the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the Doha Goals Forum Foundation and the Sexwale Foundation.

“We see Global Watch as a Nelson Mandela legacy project,” Sexwale said.

The initiative has already been welcomed by prominent world leaders and organisations such as Mbeki, African Union Commission chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and the following Nobel Peace Prize laureates: former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan; Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu; former US Vice-President Al Gore; former South African President FW de Klerk; the United Nations Human Rights Commission; the International Olympic Committee; and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).

Oprah Winfrey and sporting heroes such as renowned football icon Pele, former Bafana Bafana and Leeds captain Lucas Radebe, former Springbok rugby captain Francois Pienaar and the entire Barcelona Football Club squad have welcomed the initiative.

Sexwale said that the Doha Foundation got involved because it is hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup and is committed to addressing racism in sports.

Mbeki urged people to: “Stand united in support of Global Watch to rid sport of all discrimination.”

The ANC was represented at the launch by Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe.

“Racism in sport kills talent.

“I can give you a lot of names of people who need to be on the field more. As South Africans we know how it (racism) can destroy people, therefore it is our responsibility to support this programme.

“Black players get insulted from the pavilions. It happens everywhere. We must red-card racism in sports,” Mantashe said.

Comrades Marathon legend Fordyce said: “In the early days of the Comrades it was known for not being open to people of colour or to women. It was not until 1975 that it was open. We have made huge strides since then and now the race is a wonderful example to the world.”

Proudly SA’s Advocate Leslie Sedibe said: “For us as a foundation, we believe that for society to function normally, we need to confront racism.

"We want to say congratulations to Tokyo and the Foundation for the work they do, not just in sport but in other areas too.”

Lead SA’s Yusuf Abramjee said the organisation is putting its weight behind the project: “We have to tackle this problem (of racism in sports) head on.” 

Want to participate?

Go to www.globalwatch-racism.org for more information.