Suid-Afrika se deelname aan die Britse Ryks- en Statebondspele 1930-1958

Abstract

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to provide a scientific documentation on South Africa's participation in the British Empire and Commonwealth Games from 1930 up till 1958. A strongly felt need is satisfied with this documentation. METHOD The historical method has been used. An extensive amount of information was gathered, irrelevant information was e liminated, and the appropriate data was then systematized, compared, and evaluated for reliability. Preference was given to primary sources. Secondary sources were used to complement the study. The study was launched by sending a number of circulars to sportsmen, journalists and sports administrators informing them of the purpose of this study and the need for information. Interviews took place, personal scrapbooks were collected and studied. Relevant magazines were traced through magazine indexes. The minutes of the South African Olympic Games Association, as well as the Official reports of the General Team Managers, divisional managers , and the British Empire Games Federation, were considered as primary sources. Newspaper reports were used , particularly those of the Johannesburg Star. Archives and Museums provided valuable information. Finally, photographic material helped to gauge the reliability of written events. CONTENT A chapter is devoted to each of the relevant British Empire and Commonwealth Games . In chapters like these, attention is focused on the problems and methods of collecting and financing teams. Secondly, the nominations for team members and officials, as introduced by the various bodies, are discussed. The Olympic Association could only compile a team from the lists containing the nominations. The number of participants largely depended on the amount of money available, and not always on standard of excellence. Further, the teams' journey and arrival at the Games, and some interesting anecdotes concerning their travel experiences, were outlined. The major emphasis falls on the participation of the Springboks in the Games, and their results. Achievements in the heats, semi-finals, and finals are recorded in detail. Finally, a summary of the results is provided in each chapter. This is the scope of the present study.