Sport

In 1981 disabled sportspeople called for the exclusion of South Africa from the Stoke Mandeville International Games, forerunner of the Paralympics. This leaflet publicised a demonstration outside the stadium. After a four-year campaign South Africa was finally expelled from the Games in 1985.

Disabled AAM supporters picketed the opening day of the International Stoke Mandeville Games, forerunner of the Paralympics, in July 1981. They were calling for South Africa to be barred from the Games. The following year a new group, Disabled People Against Apartheid was formed with support from all the main organisations representing disabled people in Britain. South Africa was expelled from the Games in 1985.

In 1981 the South African Springbok rugby tour of New Zealand provoked mass opposition and the biggest demonstrations in New Zealand’s history. New Zealanders in London picketed the New Zealand High Commission to show their support for the protests back home. 

Memorandum asking the British government to enforce the Gleneagles Agreement on sporting links with South Africa.

Disabled People Against Apartheid was formed in 1981 after the Paraplegic Sports Society banned sportswoman Maggie Jones for distributing anti-apartheid leaflets at the European Paraplegic Table Tennis Championships. This poster advertised a demonstration in July 1982 calling for South Africa to be excluded from the Stoke Mandeville International Paraplegic Games, forerunner of the Paralympics. South Africa was expelled from the Games in 1985.

In the mid-1970s the apartheid government announced a new sports policy that allowed ‘multi-racial’ teams to pay in international competitions. This pamphlet showed how sport was still segregated within South Africa. It argued that the new policy was a ‘veneer’ and called for the continuation of the sports boycott.

In 1983–84, South Africa made a determined effort to get back into world rugby, starting with a Welsh Rugby Union sponsored youth tour of Wales. The South African team was invited by the Welsh rugby union to tour South Wales in December 1983–January 1984. Several Welsh local authorities refused to allow them to play on their grounds. Wales AAM supporters occupied the pitch during the game against Gwent in Monmouth.

In 1983–84, South Africa made a determined effort to get back into world rugby, starting with a Welsh Rugby Union sponsored youth tour of Wales.  There were widespread protests and several local authorities refused to allow the games to take place on their grounds. At the final game in Llanelli on 7 January, over 300 people marched through the town to the ground.