A historical social overview of athletics in 19th century Cape Colony, South Africa

Abstract

South African athletic history has been well documented. However, this history displays a White bias resulting in non-White athletic historical research being neglected. Therefore, this study is a historical-social survey of 19^th century athletic development in the emerging Coloured community in the Cape Colony. This article traces the socio - political developments affecting athletics in the 19^th century that culminated with the establishment of the Good Hope Athletic and Cycling Club in the Cape Colony. It was showed how Coloured people participated in athletic activities in a society that allowed for participation in order to confirm a colonial hegemony. These activities were engaged in by all social classes of people in open spaces. As the nineteenth century closed, society became more class conscious and the middle classes began agitating for clubs and enclosed spaces. They were successful; thus in 1898 athletic activity was organised within the club movement. Clubs were not divorced from political and social developments in broader society and were affected by Victorian attitudes of race and class.