When the rigid racial divisions were legally erased in 1994, South Africans were faced with a radically changed society. Sport is used as a vehicle to achieve this. The linking of the sports development aspect with the racial and ethnic relations improvement program is significant.
Most young people identify with sports and sports stars.
The provision of recreational facilities and activities serves as an incentive to lure young people off the streets. They will work to be more racially sensitive, stay in school, avoid drug and alcohol use, avoid gang violence and keep off the streets. A large delegation of NBA players, officials and coaches, Lapchick and Raji traveled to South Africa in 1993 to initiate the program and again in 1994 to continue its work. The players and coaches gave basketball clinics to over 1,000 young people in two townships. The NBA coaches were Wes Unseld and Lenny Wilkins.