Sport and Sustainability in South Africa: Sport, Events, and Tourism as a Driver of Sustainability

This chapter examines the intersection between sport events, tourism, and sustainability, and how it is influenced by the complexities of an emerging economy and the urgency to address historical inequalities in South Africa. A case study explores the collaborative efforts for sustainable legacies between the Western Cape Government and the City of Cape Town for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, highlighting some of its achievements and difficulties, as a consequence of the country's unique circumstances. It examines how policy and practice in sport and tourism are influenced by the sustainable development agenda and provides a brief reflection on South Africa as part of the Southern African Development Community, highlighting the regional implications for the country's sport and sustainability. The chapter, punctuated by historical and real-world examples from the South African context, also offers key reflections on the controversies and insights into what drives sustainable development in South African sport and how it manifests locally.