Written by The influence of top athletes; their ability to amplify important debate allows advocacy on a global level.
Sport is unique in that it can bring together people of different cultural backgrounds; different nationalities; different religions to become global citizens. Imagine having such a platform on which to stage a campaign for civil rights; justice; environmental issues. Imagine harnessing such useful tools as world famous athletes to leverage their popularity and their comradery with the spectators to educate and inform.
It has been debated that athletes should not be required to speak to the media, but some argue that it’s a natural part of their hefty salaries to establish a connection to people through them. This communication would promote the sport; its ideals, plans for its future, its societal importance. More than this however, a sportsperson with a strong fan following and a healthy attitude to individual social responsibility can go a long way to promoting an ideal or a concept that proactively assists society.
American football player, Marshawn “Beast Mode” Lynch, in his infamous post-game interview is remembered for his “I’m just here so I won’t get fined” interview. Today that just isn’t enough, top players are under a media spotlight and need to use the power that gives them to ‘sell’ to the public. This item that they should be selling is an ideal, or a quality concept that will improve lives; a culture of egalitarianism and responsibility.
Diehard fans are always obsessing over star athletes and want to connect with them in some way, agencies that are astute enough to realise this can work with professional sports teams and leagues to “elevate affirming voices and build support for equality”. One such agency works to address persistent issues with homophobia in sports, both on the field and in the stands by promoting messages of tolerance and acceptance.
Allowing sports people to use their voice and their considerable clout with the public humanizes them as well and imbues in the individual and the team a responsible attitude that goes beyond their paycheck. Athletes are ideal candidates for advocacy, the International Olympic Committee has declared sport a human right, so it is already an important component of civil liberties and justice and plays a fundamental role in the promotion of human dignity.
A missive delivered in 2019 by the wife of footballer, Bahrainian refugee and new Australian citizen, Hakeem al-Araibi, outlines this concept perfectly:
“Tonight we will challenge the global sports industry further and ask whether sport might contribute to saving the world by making a decisive contribution to the fruition of the unfulfilled dream of the past three quarters of a century for a truly universal standard of human conduct” … “the social currency of athletes to amplify important discussions; and most powerfully the sport and rights movement which gives credence to the athlete’s message, brings sport and athlete’s together in shared advocacy and is enabling the promotion of international rights on a truly global level.”
Dealing with the media is part of an athlete’s job – The Observer (cwuobserver.com)
2019 Higinbotham Lecture – Sport and Human Rights: Can Sport Change the World? – RMIT University