SOUTH AFRICA: The inaugural 'Tour de Soweto' bicycle race takes place in the famous South African township

The inaugural 'Tour de Soweto' cycling race was held along the same route as the student protest march in 1976 which led to the Soweto uprising - mixing sports and history in one of South Africa's most famous townships. Soweto township in South Africa is already famous for many things, and recently had another opportunity to add another feather to its cap. On Sunday (March 4), some of Soweto's residents awoke to the sound of bicycles whizzing by their homes at high speed as the inaugural 'Tour de Soweto' got underway. Some of Soweto's roads were shut down for the event which took riders along the same route as the famous student march of 1976 where policemen opened fire on school children. The ensuing outcry and economic instability is considered by some as the beginning of the end of the Apartheid system. "Many of the people say they have enjoyed it. They followed the 'June 16 March' route, there is a lot of historical places they went but they also said just the amount of people who were cheering them on the side of the road, this does not happen in other places, the amount of enthusiasm from the supporters on the side of the road was special," said GG Alcock, the race organiser. Organisers describe the 'Tour de Soweto' as more of a lifestyle experience than a cycling race with professionals using ordinary bicycles people use to ride to work everyday. Events also included an exhibition of specially decorated bikes and a concert. "Never mind I am not a winner, I tried my best, I wanted to make Soweto proud," said Immanuel Phumo, a young cyclist from Soweto. The organisers hope that the 'Tour de Soweto' will grow to become a firm favourite on South Africa's cycling and cultural calendar, providing a non-threatening and fun way of experiencing Soweto and all it has to offer.

ITN Source | March 6, 2007

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