Scripting the nation: sport, mega-events, foreign policy and state-building in post-apartheid South Africa1

Arising from the growing commercial and broader importance of sport, politics around the hosting and bidding for major sport events have become key elements of state engagements in the contemporary era. This essay explores the role of sport mega-events in the processes of foreign policy-making and state-building in post-apartheid South Africa. A key argument is that such events have become an important instrument in the development of foreign policy and domestic goals for the country. Two particular strategies are evident: that of dualling, referring to the twofold use of events toward the achievement of national and international objectives; and that of linking internal and external policy targets, as a means of raising the effectiveness with which goals are pursued. As the country prepares to host the prestigious FIFA world football finals in 2010, some lessons may be taken for the foreseen and undesired corollaries such strategies may pose for the country.