A chance meeting between Cape SAJBD Director, Stuart Diamond and the National Director of Sports Chaplaincy, Reverend Bruce Nadin, evolved into an intercommunity event held on 30 April.
The breakfast meet-up brought the Cape Board and the Cape Town Interfaith Initiative communities together to explore the topic of religious diversity in sports in South Africa.
The Panel Chair, Stuart Diamond, with special guest Anroux Marais, WC Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, spoke to Nazema Diedricks, Chairperson SA Gymnastics, David Brooke, Brand and Sponsorship Manager, Cape Cobras and Rev Bruce Nadin, National Director Sports Chaplaincy SA.
Each of the panellists, representing the Jewish, Muslim and Christian faiths, shared stories of how their religion impacted their game. Nazema Diedricks spoke about the challenges Muslim women face with the limited range of modest sports clothing available for them to participate in gymnastics competitions. While David Brooke highlighted the fact that sports betting and alcohol brands can be problematic sponsors as they collide with the beliefs of most religious groups. High Holidays too, especially in the Jewish and Muslim communities also often clash with major match days, and sportsmen/women are placed in the difficult position of choosing between their faith and sport. Reverend Bruce Nadin shared his experiences of strength, power, and influence of religion and sport. He talked about the youth he counselled and helped off the streets onto the sports fields.
Anroux Marais expressed the importance of acceptance of our cultural differences and the important role that sports has on social integration and inclusion in society.
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