The leaflet says on April 15-17 in Newport Beach, the United States will be meeting South Africa in a Davis Cup tennis match; we strongly condemn this match being played on the grounds that South Africa continues to violate a basic tenet of international sports competition that athletes meet in open competition at all levels of play and be chosen solely on merit, not color; the South African tennis team was not chosen according to these standards. The leaflet says we strongly believe that there is no room for politics or racism in sport; however, in South Africa, politics and racism go hand in hand as the government has consciously used sport to separate the races; South African sportsmen,...
The leaflet says on April 15-17 in Newport Beach, the United States will be meeting South Africa in a Davis Cup tennis match; we strongly condemn this match being played on the grounds that South Africa continues to violate a basic tenet of international sports competition that athletes meet in open competition at all levels of play and be chosen solely on merit, not color; the South African tennis team was not chosen according to these standards. The leaflet says we strongly believe that there is no room for politics or racism in sport; however, in South Africa, politics and racism go hand in hand as the government has consciously used sport to separate the races; South African sportsmen, both black and white have suffered because of these policies. The leaflet says South Africa's discriminatory policies run counter to our own ideals of fair play, open competition and merit selection; the Davis Cup and similar international sporting events should symbolize the spirit of sportsmanship and friendship among athletes of the world; yet this match will represent the very opposite of these principles and will damage the image of American sportsmen competing throughout the world. The leaflet says we believe that it is in the best interest of the United States if our sporting teams refused to compete with South Africa until South Africa adopts wholeheartedly the rules of open competition at all levels and merit selection; we urge our fellow athletes to join with us in opposing this match. [Note: There was an ad hoc group of people that organized the protest against South African participation in the Davis Cup and used a number of different names including March 26 Coalition and the Committee to Stop the United States-South Africa Tennis Match.]
