We're all extremely proud that South Africa hosts the Cape Epic. Billed as the worlds toughest MTB stage race, pundits refer to it as the "Tour De France of Mountain Biking". And that is fantastic. But this is also a good opportunity to market South Africa as a destination and as a brand. Vermaak certainly got it right for the Epic. Absa have deservedly milked their investment into the event. And with ever-increasing international participation and interest, it makes good sense to put South Africa out there in the media. We all stand to gain from the exposure. And I'm not just talking about shots of buck running away from the media helicopter and the odd lion yawning either.
A good start is the South African flag. That is the symbol of the country after all! I'm not saying we need to have a full 42-inch, high definition image of it flapping in the breeze whilst the anthem plays in the background during the nightly TV highlights of the Epic. This is not an American war movie that requires that level of patriotic schmultz! But the odd shot of our colourful beach towel can do no harm.
And it did happen! On the first interview between Kevin Evans and David George on TV. (In the interview, Evans and George looked very slick decked out in their black Tees. So much so that my wife Natalie even asked me who the Boy Band was when she glimpsed them on the screen!). But that moment of humour passed when I realised that the SA flag finally featured....upside down. That's right. The simpletons at the OPBC (some boat club near Granger Bay in Cape Town I gather - Googled it: Oceana Power Boat Club in Granger Bay) didn't know that its meant to be RED ON TOP. And anyone with any maritime training should know their flags. Obviously this was a cry for help from someone at the club because in nautical terms if a flag is hoisted upside down it means there is a state of emergency/distress/mutiny.
I call it an EPIC FAIL.
Whilst Kevin Evans and David George look very cool, the SA flag flies proudly behind them - but upside down - for all the world to see on international TV coverage. (OPBC crash and burn.)