SOUTH AFRICAN DARTS BOARD OF CONTROL SSTB. I H I (WUJATtD TO WOlUD OMTS FEOEMTMN) President: Secretary: S. David M. F. Johnson 3 Khan Lane P. O. Box 6282 ISIPINGO RAIL ROGGfiBAAI 8012 4110 Tel:. Cape Town 71-0954 ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO K 26 June 1979 AOOAESSED TO THE SECRETAAY Mr. Tom Fleetwood S e c r e t a r y American Darts Or>ganlsatlon 13641 Eastbrook Avenue B e l l f l o w e r California 90706 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Dear Mr. Fleetwood, INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN WORLD CUP II We acknowledge ana thank you for the invitation extended to oui Board, as the representatives of South Africa, to participate in the World Darts Federation's 1979 WORLD CUP II, to be hosted by your Organisation in Las Vegas on November 2-3, 1979. We confirm sending the following cable to-day: " SADBOC not playing World Cup II stop Letter follows stop Kind regards J o h n s o n SADBOC Secretary. " Participation in International sporting events by teams'and individuals representing South Africa receives considerable local and international attention'. The single cause for this special focus is the oppressive and humiliating practice of racial discrimination in South African sport a direct result of the racist policies of the South African authorities which reaches very deeply into every aspect of life in this country* It is the very firm standpoint of our Board that racial discrimination in sport obstructs its normal development and that it denies a rightful and fair opportunity for each and every sportsman and woman to develop their sportlng^talents and fo^ teams and'individuals to be .jSelected on merit and ability only to represent South Africa in world sp^rt. This conviction is diared by all our fellow non-racial national sports bodies who form the South African Council on Sport (SACOS), a bo^y established to co-ordinate the demand for the total removal of racialism from South African sport and for the full implementation of non-racial sport. SACOS, acting on behalf of its membership (the majority of whom have bee stripped of their basic human rights in the land of their birth) has kep vigilance over the local developments in sport and have presented report o f these to the world. This exposure has provided vital infori^ation t « a s s i s t an assist an objective assessment of the local sports situation. The conclusions have been an overwhelming condemnation of the racial set-up in this country's sport, a fact effectively demonstrated by: 1. EXPULSION of the racial sports bodies representing South Africa in the following international sports bodies: IOC (Olympics); lAAF (Athletics); FIFA (Football); ICC (Cricket); FIDE (Chess); FINA (Swimming) 2. EXCLUSION of racial South African teams from events like: World Badminton Championships, World Softball Championships, World Men's Bowls Tournament, International Tennis Federation's Davis Cup (Men) and Federation Cup (Women) Championships. 3. REJECTION‘of entry into American athletic meets by "black" South African athlete, Sydney Maree. Maree is a known supporter of the "multi-national" sports policy of the South African Government which ensures the continued practice of racial discrimination in the country's sport. 4. CANCELLATION of a tour of France by a (ra c ia l) rugby team representing Transvaal, a member Provincial unit of the racial South African Rugby Board. 5. PUBLIC PROTESTS against the proposed (Racial) Springbok rugby tour of France later this year and over the granting of. a visa to "white" heavyweight boxer, K allie Knoetze, so that he could fight in the USA. 6. MEMBERSHIP to two non-racial sports bodies, namely the South African Darts Board of Control (SADBOC) and the South African Table Tennis Board (SATTB), of the World Darts Federation (WDF) and the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) respectively, is a clear indication of solidarity with the non-racial cause, at' the expense of their racial counterparts. This international isolation continues despite the attempts to appease world sport through the announcement of a so-called new sports policy which, contrary to the claims of being a positive step towards the playing of non-racial sport', is designed to entrench the racial divisions and discrimination in sport. This is clearly evident from the recent statement to the "white" South African Parliament by its iports minister. ■‘'He said, " ............ the mentioned co-operation and interaction, built on an infrastructure of clubs and organisations of their own for each population group, as well as their own competitions, ■iongslde other com|Detitions in which all groups are Involved." (Note: tha^emphasis is our own). There is absolutely NO effort to establish the playing of non-racial (port. And the minister of sport has warned SACOS, the co-ordinating >ody for non-racial sport in South Africa^ that they will be "passing final judgement on themselves" if they "carry on prejudicing South African jport" He also called "for this organisation to be exposed by every well- leaning South A frican." This strong attack must be the result of the persistence by SACOS to call for the implementation of non-racial sport md to' expose the ruse of the "multi-national" sports policy. It is a ;lear attempt to discredit the organisation, its leaders and member national non-racial national non-racial sports bodies and to cause intimidation with the purpose of forcing a surrender of the noble demand for full non-racial sport or, at the very least, to encourage acts of compromise which will weaken this strong standpoint. SADBOC views this situation v/ ith extrema concer!. and recognises that a tremendous responsibility r?s ts with it to show solidarity with the general struggle for non-raci al sport. It believes that its acceptanct to play in international even ts may well be used to indicate that it accepts the "multi-national" sports policy and so cause further confusic and misunderstanding. It al so believes that its presence, or any Soutl African team for that matter, could cause disruption of such event and thereby embarassment for the hosts and fellow participants. It is our decision therefore to forgo our right, as the full members of the World Darts Federation for South Africa, to participate in the 1979 WORLD CUP II. In taking this decisiooWe took full account of our primi objective of promoting darts and are of the firm opinion that inter­ national activity, like our membership of the World Darts Federation, ii a natural and necessary extension of this objective. However, the present local situation must take priority for its solution will be of greater benefit - in the long term - for ALL darts players in South Africa to make progress with their game and then with pride and diginit' to take their place in international darts as equals and respected members. Our vacant place in the playing arena must be seen as a strong demon­ stration of cur abhorrance for the racial structure existing in South African sport and a total refusal to give any credibility to the "multi national" sports policy through our participation in the WORLD CUP. We hold the strong hope that by our sacrifice we will make some small contribution towards greater understanding in South African sport and t eventual full Implementation of non-racial sport for the benefit of ALL sportsmen and women in South Africa. We appreciate that your Organisation is required to put considerable effort into the preparation for this prestige event. We tru«t that - these arrangements will run smoothly and successfully and that the participating countries will appreciate your sincere endeavours. We wish the WORLD CUP II every success and the participants an enjoyable competitions of the expected high standard. Our very best wishes to one and all. Our sincere good wishes for a great WORLD CUP IIJ yours sincerely, SOUTH AFRICAN DARTS BOARD OF CONTROL M.F. Johnson HON. SECRLTARY c.c. Messrs. W. Turner, President O. A. Croft, Secretary-General P. M c M enamin, V i c e - P r e s i d e n t D. A l d e rman, C o - O r d i n a t o r South African Council on Sport Mr.S. Ramsamy 81 SOUTH AFRICAN DA'RTS BOARD OF CONTROL ESTB. 19(1 (AfflLIAT£D TO WORLD DARTS FlDcMTION) 9 OFFICIAL STATEMENT P a r t ic ip a t io n in tlie 1977 World Cup and Woj'Id Individual Masters Competitions The South African Darts Board of Control gained international recogt><Si'op sfLfit. y ear through its acceptance as full members of the World Darts Federation. Our membership was negotiated on the firm understanding that our Board believed that sport should be free of any form of racial discrimination. Complete non-racialism in darts, and sport generally, has been the consistent policy of our Board ever since its e8tal>llshment in lOGl. This policy has earned the respect and solidarity of fellow non-racial sports bodies in South Africa and the understanding of our fellow member countries in the V/orld Darts Fedeiation. Xn consequence of our membership of the World Darts Federation we have now received invitations to participate in the inaugural World Cup and the World Individual Masters Competitions organised by the World Dprts Federation and the British Darts Organisation respectively. Ifliile participation in international competitions, as representatives of our country, is an honour ire rightly desire for our players since we are inter­ nationally recognised, we have of necessity considered the many complex factors connected with our physical activity at this level, and have decided that: a) Our acceptance of these invitations may well be understood to mean that we accept the terms of the present sports policy of the South African Govern­ ment.