Sport is a way of living : "But not just a way of lving: an active way of living!"

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the cultural processes of how national identity is supported and/or created through sports in South Africa. To get a basic understanding of the South African sports culture data have been collected by using cartographic methods such as reading newspapers, watching sports on television and visiting live sport events. The final part of the method was to conduct interviews about sports as an additional way to collect data and understand the processes of national identity. The theories originates from social scientists like Èmile Durkheim and Karl Marx combined with post traditional perspectives that offers some explanations on how sports and national identity function as an important part that holds societies together.   The conclusion of the study shows that sports are strong factors in the creation and reproduction of national identities in the South African culture. The sport institutions with their norms and regulations on the one hand gives clear directions for how society and sports are organized. On the other hand the South Africans identities mold between a traditional identity and a modern identity where good sport performance can offer class journeys to western society and better opportunities.