August features the most famous and largest sporting event in the world, the Olympic Games in Athens. South Africa will be represented in a wide variety of sports in the Greek capital, and hopes of medals are high.

REST OF THE YEAR: September / October / November / December

The domestic football season kicks off in earnest, with both Premier League and SAA Supa 8 knockout competition aplenty.

The Springboks bring their Tri-Nations campaign to home shores for matches against Australia and New Zealand, while August is also a great month for runners - including two races against trains!

There's also four-legged action as South Africa takes on Canada in polo.

BOWLS

23 July - 7 August: Men's World Bowls 2004, Scotland

More info: Bowls South Africa

CYCLING

14 August: Free State Interprovincial, Bloemfontein
21 August: Cansa Lost City, Sun City, North West
31 August: Rapport Tour de Eden single-day events, George

More info: Supercycling

FENCING

28 - 29 August: Northern Gauteng Open, Pretoria

More info: Charles' SA Fencing Page

GOLF (AMATEUR)

8 August: Central Gauteng Vodacom Open Foursomes, CMR Golf Club
14 - 15 August: Southern Cape Open, Knysna
21 - 22 August: Northern Province Hans Merensky Open, Phalaborwa

More info: SA Golf Association

MOTORSPORT

Formula One
6 - 9 August: Altech Formula One two-seater Grand Prix, Kyalami, Midrand, Johannesburg

• Kyalami's F1x2 spectacular

Moto-X
8 August: 2004 SA National Motocross Championship, round 6, KZN

More info: Superwheels

Rallying
13 - 14 August: 2004 SA National Rally Championship, round 6, Mountain Trial

More info: Superwheels

Sports car racing
28 August: 2004 South African WesBank V8 Series, round 7, East London
28 August: 2004 South African Vodacom Sports Prototypes, round 7, East London

More info: Superwheels

Production car racing
28 August: 2004 South African Production Car Championship, round 7, East London

More info: Superwheels

Off-road racing
20 - 21 August: 2004 SA National Off-Road Car Racing Championship, round 6, Queen Motor Spares Tarkastad 400

More info: Superwheels

MOUNTAIN BIKING

1 August: SAMTB national downhill series #4, Tokai, Cape Town
14 August: Sun City Drifter Mountain-Bike Classic, Sun City, North West
21 August: Baviaanskloof 24-hour Race, Willowmoore to Humansdorp
28 August: Nola Cradle of Humankind Cycle Challenge MTB, Protearif Primary School, Krugersdorp

More info: Supercycling

OLYMPIC GAMES

13-29 August: Athens, Greece.
The world's greatest sporting event features a wide variety of sports including: aquatics, archery, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, canoeing, cycling, equestrian, fencing, football, gymnastics, handball, hockey, judo, modern pentathlon, rowing, sailing, shooting, softball, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon, volleyball, weightlifting, and wrestling.

• Olympic Team South Africa
• SA's Athens medal challengers
• SA athletes eye Athens medals
• Olympics: more SA medal hopefuls
• SA boxers aim for Olympic glory
• SA's Olympic team of contrasts

PARAGLIDING

7 - 11 August: Mpumalanga Open, Sabie

More info: SA Paragliding

POLO

6 - 8 August: Richmond/SA Open, Richmond
22 August: BMW International: SA vs Canada, Shongweni, KZN
29 August: BMW International: SA vs Canada, Inanda, Johannesburg

More info: SA Polo Association

RUGBY

Tri-Nations
14 August: South Africa vs New Zealand, Ellis Park, Johannesburg
21 August: South Africa vs Australia, Absa Stadium, Durban

Currie Cup Premier Division
7 August: Western Province vs Blue Bulls, Newlands, Cape Town
7 August: Sharks vs Eagles, ABSA Stadium, Durban
7 August: Cheetahs vs Griquas, Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
7 August: Lions vs Pumas, Ellis Park, Johannesburg
28 August: Blue Bulls vs Sharks, Securicor Loftus, Pretoria
28 August: Griquas vs Western Province, Absa Park, Kimberley
28 August: Pumas vs Cheetahs, @lantic Park, Witbank
28 August: Eagles vs Lions, Outeniqua Park, George

Currie Cup First Division
7 August: Bulldogs vs Leopards, ABSA Stadium, East London
7 August: Falcons vs Cavaliers, PAM Brink Stadium, Springs
28 August: Leopards vs Griffons, Olėn Park, Potchefstroom
28 August: Cavaliers vs Bulldogs, Boland Stadium
28 August: Mighty Elephants vs Falcons, EPRFU Stadium, Port Elizabeth

More info:
SA Rugby
Superrugby
Planet Rugby

RUNNING

1 August: ABSA Relay Challenge, Absa Square, Johannesburg
7 August: Castle Lager Kruger Park 21km, Skukuza Rugby Field, Kruger Park, Mpumalanga
8 August: Dusk to Dusk Six Day Circuit Race, Bakgatla Resort, North West
14 August: Standard Bank 3-in-1, Naboomspruit, Limpopo
14 August: Natal Witness Capital Climb, Pietermaritzburg City Hall, Pietermaritzburg
21 August: Greatest Train Race, Witbank Station, Witbank
21 August: Rosepark Hospital Naval Hill 10-in-1, Naval Hill Marathon Clubhouse, Bloemfontein
22 August: Vodacom 21/10km, Vodaworld, Midrand, Johannesburg
27 August: Midlands 100 Miler, Winterton Country Club, Winterton
27 August: Golden Reef 100 Miler, Spoornet Athletic Club House, Johannesburg
28 August: Spoornet Great Train Race, Rail Bridge, Humewood, Port Elizabeth
28 August: Spar Ladies` 10 km Challenge, University of Pretoria, Pretoria
29 August: Dolphin Coast 50km Walk, Umhlali Primary School, Umhlali

More info:
Superrunner
Runner's Guide
Runner's World

SHOOTING

14 August: Super 4 Competition, General de Wet Rifle Range, Bloemfontein

More info: SA Bisley Union

SOCCER

Premier Soccer League

6 August: Orlando Pirates vs Jomo Cosmos, Johannesburg Stadium
7 August: Dynamos vs Kaizer Chiefs, Giyani
8 August: Bloemfontein Celtic vs Black Leopards, Seisa Ramabodu, Bloemfontein
8 August: Moroka Swallows vs Ajax Cape Town, Rand Stadium, Johannesburg
8 August: Silver Stars vs Bush Bucks, Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane
11 August: Manning Rangers vs Golden Arrows, Chatsworth Stadium, Durban
11 August: Santos vs Sundowns, Athlone Stadium, Cape Town
11 August: Supersport United vs Wits University, Securicor Loftus, Pretoria
18 August: Manning Rangers vs Orlando Pirates, Chatsworth Stadium, Durban
27 August: Ajax Cape Town vs Bloemfontein Celtic, Newlands, Cape Town
28 August: Black Leopards vs Dynamos, Thohoyandou
28 August: Kaizer Chiefs vs Manning Rangers, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
28 August: Bush Bucks vs Supersport United, Absa Stadium, East London
29 August: Jomo Cosmos vs Silver Stars, Rand Stadium, Johannesburg
29 August: Mamelodi Sundowns vs Moroka Swallows, Odi Stadium, Pretoria
29 August: Golden Arrows vs Orlando Pirates, King Zwelithini Stadium, Durban

SAA Supa 8
(home teams first)

14 August: Wits University vs Orlando Pirates
15 August: Supersport United vs Santos
21 August: Kaizer Chiefs vs Black Leopards
22 August: Moroka Swallows vs Ajax Cape Town

SAA Supa 8 knockout competition

• SA's top eight teams square up

TENNIS

11 - 15 August: Tuks Tennis Open, LC de Villiers Sports Grounds, University of Pretoria, Pretoria

More info: Supertennis

WAR GAMES

7 - 8 August: Kwazulu-Natal Schools, Pietermaritzburg
7 - 8 August: 13th OE Winter Championships, Old Edwardian Society, 11 Ninth Ave, Lower Houghton, Johannesburg
21 - 22 August: Eastern Cape, Port Elizabeth

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	Van Coller breaks elusive barrier Olympic Team South Africa SA's top eight teams square up SA women prepare for Athens

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