South Africans and foreigners alike seemed to share a sense of unity and camaraderie during those short winter weeks. It wasn’t just you who felt that places were safer, everyone was friendlier, people were happier and friendships were more easy-going. Sport really does have the power to unite people, to inspire and to bring change.

At MiWayLife, we’re passionate about sports and everything that comes with it. It’s the reason that so many of our employees are so heavily involved in sport one way or another (it’s true – we have multiple IronMan competitors, Comrades runners, Argus cyclist, soccer players and everything else you could imagine!). We work in partnership with the Soweto Stars soccer team to uplift the community and recently donated R10 000 to #MiFuture winners Teen N Child who focus on youth development through sports in Khayalitsha, Cape Town.

Sports unite people through them sharing a special something in common. Of course, some sport unites people by projecting a common rival – the other team. South African cricket supporters will stand together against Australia, always. Manchester United fans will relish in a goal against Chelsea and despair when an opposing team sinks the ball into the net in the 90th minute. You share tears, laughter, fear and elation. Where opposing sides share a drink and relive the match, or when the triumphant comfort the defeated. For triathletes or runners your enemy might not even be another person or team but the actual event itself. After all, ninety kilometres of hills seems like a pretty fearsome enemy to the thousands who run Comrades each year but at least you’re all in it together.

These displays of friendship and unification are the reason that we’ve been giving away once-in-a-lifetime sports experiences in partnership with Le Coq Sportif. So far our winners have walked the pitch of the St Ettiene players before watching them play and taken selfies with the Tour De France cyclists in the VIP area. Next, we’ll be giving someone the opportunity to watch the mighty Springboks take on France at the Stade de France in Paris this November. Click here for more details about how you could win this amazing prize.