My interest in the socio-political started as a child and I have a distinct memory of my cousin and I creating anti-war posters and putting them up in the park.
I would not have been any older than ten and I do not know what we thought would come of it, especially since it was relating to a country that was not our own, but we did it anyway. Looking back I am still not sure where it came from, it was certainly Patrick’s idea but our parents were not the least bit political. I might have dropped the poster idea as I got older but my interest in socio-political issues continued to develop, as did my interest in sport. What I struggled with was bringing the two things together and this was not helped by not knowing the rich history of socio-political action in sport.
Critics often declare that sport is non political and so gestures in protest against socio-political issues should be kept out of it, but in a world where we divide teams based on nation state and allegiance, sport is inherently political. It can be used to oppress and instil hegemonic values and norms, but it can also be used to challenge these norms and fight against oppression. Like most people, I can easily recall the image of Smith and Carlos raising their fists in a Black Power symbol on the Olympic podium in 1968. An image that is synonymous with protest in sport and very closely linked to the taking of the knee which we saw Kaepernick do in America and has since spread around the globe in a gesture against anti-Black racism. Indeed, whilst these two gestures are easily recognised, they are not the only examples of sport being used to challenge socio-political issues.
In 1918, the Gaelic Athletics Association (GAA) in Ireland responded to a British Administration ban of public meetings (including GAA games) without prior authorisation from the police by organising a nationwide day of action. GAA games kicked off simultaneously without permits being sought and it was an act that made the proposed ban unenforceable, as a result the administration backed down. This is just one example and in every country and movement, there is an example of sport being used to bring these issues to the forefront.
The Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games gives a broad range of socio-political actions to discuss, from the German Women’s Gymnastics team wearing unitards in response to the sexualisation of women’s bodies to the American shot putter Raven Saunders who made an X gesture when on the medal podium in support for intersection of where oppression people meet, a gesture which saw Saunders suspended by International Olympic Committee (IOC) who disapprove of political gestures whilst on the podium, on the field or in play. These were not the only instances with two other athletes being sent home from the Olympic Games for refusing to face Israeli opponents; Algerian Judoka, Fethi Nourine saying “Palestinian cause is bigger than all of this” and withdrawing with the support of his coach but not the International Judo Federation who have spoken of sanctions outside of the IOC. Krystsina Tsimanouskaya from Belarus was withdrawn from the games and forced to the Airport by Belarusian coaches for criticising them for signing her up for a running distance that she didn’t train for. She sought help from Tokyo Police and the Olympic Authorities and has subsequently sought asylum in the Polish Embassy. These are just a few examples, and the Tokyo games and previous Olympic games have many more that could be drawn upon. Whilst the IOC ban political, racial or religious gestures or protests, we cannot understate the importance of the opportunity that a world platform provides for people, particularly those who are oppressed, to protest and bring light to their cause.
Sport at all levels is littered with examples of socio-political action and activism. It is an arena for these issues to come to the forefront, especially on the national stage where they can receive greater attention. Rather than shying away from the historic examples and disparaging the current protests, we should be supporting people to use sport as a medium to pursue social-political action, and interrogate why the prospect of such action makes people feel uncomfortable.
The inspiration for this blog topic was a recent Kill The Bill (KTB) football tournament run by the Sisters Uncut Coalition and Clapton CFC. The mixed ability and mixed gender football tournament combined sport with speeches, stalls, and education around the recent organising against the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill which has been heavily criticised and protested against. The tournament reminded me that socio-political action and activism is present in sport beyond the national stage, and I think we should focus more closely on the importance and greater potential it has in local grassroots movements.
A critique that is often levelled at protests and individual activism on the international stage is that it has little impact or bearing on the lives of those who are most oppressed, and subsequently, often the most socially disadvantaged. The Reach Out Project in London combines sport with mentoring that allows young people to explore self-care, self-expression, anger management and conflict resolution – an act that Audre Lorde would describe as political warfare. Looking at how we can combine socio-political education and action with sport at a grassroots level allows us the opportunity to localise action so that there are meaningful change for the people who need it most. Socio-political action through the medium of sport can help produce a generation of politically and socially engaged young people.