Who says sport is for fun?

South Africa is offering international athletes what it thinks they want most: lots of money. A Sri Lankan cricket team has arrived in South Africa for a seven-week tour, in defiance of its government and the international ban on sporting contact with South Africa. The payment to rebel cricketeers is said to be $45,000 a person. Earlier this year South Africa lured a international soccer team to play here. The tour collapsed from lack of support by local black soccer players and black spectators, who favor isolating South Africa for its racial policies.

The success of the new tour remains to be seen.