32 national flags are raised in South Africa to salute all World Cup qualifiersNovember 19th, 2009 Flag-raising for 32 nations marks WCup milestoneJOHANNESBURG — The flags of the 32 nations that qualified for the 2010 World Cup are flying in Johannesburg. A flag-raising ceremony livened by dancers, a choir and giant soccer player puppets was held Thursday at the offices shared by World Cup organizers and South African soccer authorities next door to Soccer City, the venue that will host the opening and closing matches.
South African Olympics officials suspend track chief in Caster Semenya caseNovember 5th, 2009 South Africa track chief suspended in Semenya caseJOHANNESBURG — The South African track chief who lied about his role in runner Caster Semenya's gender tests was suspended Thursday. Athletics South Africa president Leonard Chuene and the rest of the track body's 12-member board were suspended pending investigations into their handling of Semenya's case, the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee said in a statement.
South African Olympics officials suspend track chief in Semenya caseNovember 5th, 2009 South Africa track chief suspendedJOHANNESBURG — The South African track chief who lied about his role in runner Caster Semenya's gender tests was suspended Thursday, the nation's top sports body said. Athletics South Africa president Leonard Chuene and the rest of the track body's 12-member board were suspended pending investigations into their handling of Semenya's case, the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee said in a statement.
Renewed calls for South African track officials to quit over handling of gender disputeOctober 9th, 2009 Renewed calls for resignations in gender disputeJOHANNESBURG — Three South African track and field associations want the country's top officials in the sport to resign over the gender dispute involving Caster Semenya. The South African Press Association reported Friday that the associations have called on the Athletics South Africa board and senior management to "take collective responsibility for the Semenya gender row fiasco and resign with immediate effect."
ASA president Leonard Chuene has admitted he lied about the tests performed on the 18-year-old athlete.
Report: South African track officials gave go-ahead for gender tests on runnerSeptember 18th, 2009 Report: Gender tests done on runner in SAfricaJOHANNESBURG — A South African newspaper has published what it says are e-mails showing local athletics officials authorizing sex tests be done on runner Caster Semenya. South African officials have repeatedly said that tests were done only abroad, not in South Africa before Semenya's 800-meter world victory.
South African officials meet on Semenya, results of deliberations expected SundaySeptember 12th, 2009 South African officials meet on SemenyaJOHANNESBURG — South African athletics officials are meeting to decide how best to help a world champion runner whose sex has been questioned. The international track and field body is refusing to confirm or deny Australian media reports that tests show Caster Semenya has both male and female characteristics.
South African track star Semenya pulls out of race amid speculation over her genderSeptember 11th, 2009 Semenya pulls out of race amid gender speculationJOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Caster Semenya has withdrawn from a weekend race amid speculation about the South African runner's gender. The South African Press Association quotes her coach, Michael Seme, as saying she will not take part in the 4,000 meters at the national cross country championships in Pretoria on Saturday.
Remorseful coach resigns, says sex confirmation tests not explained to South African runnerSeptember 7th, 2009 Coach: Sex tests not explained to SAfrican runnerJOHANNESBURG — The coach of the South African runner being tested to confirm her sex says he's resigning over the way she was given gender tests without explanation. South African media said Monday that coach Wilfred Daniels resigned from the national track authority out of remorse over the treatment of runner Caster Semenya.
South Africans to get 120,000 free tickets to next year's World CupAugust 14th, 2009 South Africans get 120,000 free World Cup ticketsJOHANNESBURG — Organizers are giving South Africans 120,000 free tickets to next year's World Cup in an effort to make the tournament more accessible to citizens living in poverty. The tickets will be given to poor fans working in health care, education and other development fields.
South African construction workers building 2010 World Cup venues go on strikeJuly 8th, 2009 SAfrica: 2010 WCup construction workers strike
JOHANNESBURG — South African construction workers at stadiums being built for the 2010 World Cup have gone on an indefinite strike which could derail next year's tournament. About 70,000 workers at stadiums across the country downed tools Wednesday after wage negotiations deadlocked earlier this week.
'2008 best year for South African cricket'July 4th, 2009 JOHANNESBURG - South African cricket fans say 2008 was the most successful year for the country's cricket team, according to an internet survey. The survey conducted by Cricket South Africa (CSA) found that 96 percent of the fans who took part in the exercise believe 2008 was the most successful year for the South African cricket.
Blatter praises South African football fansJune 26th, 2009 JOHANNESBURG - World football supremo Joseph Blatter Friday praised South African fans for their enthusiastic support of both the home side and visiting teams in the ongoing Confederations Cup, a test run for next year's World Cup. "What has been outstanding was the fair play on the field and of the spectators," the FIFA president said, noting that more than 90 percent of the spectators in the eight-nation tournament were South African.
Vuvuzelas trumpet celebration of football, hails FIFA chiefJune 18th, 2009 JOHANNESBURG - FIFA president Joseph Blatter Thursday said that he could not see how his organisation could suddenly ban the use of vuvuzelas (plastic trumpets) in the stadiums during the Confederations Cup or the World Cup. "I have heard that the Italian coach Marcello Lippi said that they were something new and that his players would simply have to get used to them," Blatter said.
South Africa opt to bat against IndiaJune 16th, 2009 NOTTINGHAM - South African captain Graeme Smith won the toss and decided to bat against India in a Super Eight Group E match of World Twenty20 at Trent Bridge here Tuesday.
Defending champions India have already crashed out of the tournament, losing to West Indies and England.
IPL has revived South African economy: President ZumaMay 24th, 2009 JOHANNESBURG - South African President Jacob Zuma Sunday thanked the Indian Premier League (IPL) for reviving the country's economy ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The Twenty20 tournament, which concluded Sunday, was shifted to South Africa after it overlapped with the general elections in India.
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