Given the racist history of Europe through colonialism and slavery and the legacy of structural, systemic, and institutional racism that works against the human rights and dignity of black, brown, minorities, and indigenous human beings. The issue of reparatory justice and apologizing for the crimes against humanity perpetrated by Colonialism and Slavery are still to be addressed in a meaningful and actionable manner.
Global geopolitics reveals that it's still all about who has more might rules the roost. The Global alphas hold sway and can command the narrative by controlling the media. The escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas is a case in point. The truth of the history of the conflict means nothing to the rulers of the West.
All forms of terrorism are wrong. Killing of children is hideous. The brutality of attacks on citizens cannot be justified or rationalized. It's inhumane. That being said. The one-sided narrative that deliberately underplays one side to embolden the other side and their allies highlights why there can never be peace on earth. Powerful men and their egos. Colonialism, apartheid, imperialism, and neo-colonialism in all their iterations create injustices, inequalities, and discrimination.
It's not only an academic, intellectual, and theoretical discussion. Racism cannot be legislated away if it is in the culture, hearts, and minds of those who were socialised to be racist and are the social, economic, and financial beneficiaries of a racist system and ideology.
Human Rights and Racism in Sport – How many sports administrators are aware of or have read the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action‘s contribution to strengthening the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action? Achieving racial equality in sports requires an understanding of different experiences.
Sport bodies and race equality – I am aware that for many the constant talk about racism and sports is disconcerting as there is the belief that it's an unnecessary distraction that drags sport into areas that it ought not to be.
The rebuttal to that is that in the International and Continental context, it's almost irresponsible to not understand the impact of global geopolitics on the international sport.
Politics is impacting sports. Always has notwithstanding the claims of international sports leaders. It's an illusion and outright untruth to say it's not so. The root cause of most of the issues impacting sports - good and bad can be said to be because of politics.
As the war between Israel and Hamas escalates eventually sport and sporting events and activities will be drawn in, especially with the Olympics less than a year away to be held in Paris, France, the World Cup qualifiers is already in motion.
Both Palestine and Israel have national Olympic Committees recognized by the IOC. As with the Russia and Ukraine War. What impact will the savagery and brutality of modern-day warfare and geopolitics have on the París 2024 Olympics?
More importantly what impact will it have on the athletes - young people? Sports is facing significant challenges given the geopolitical realities. To ignore the perils is a dereliction of duty and responsibility.
The USA's shadow and fingerprint are on almost every economic, financial, and political aspect of global sports. That's not to say or deny that smaller countries have not benefitted in some way form or fashion. The real question is at what cost? Is there equity? Or is it that it matters not?
Sooner rather than later the day of reckoning will land on the doorstep of International Sport Federations and Organizations and they will be judged by their actions, not just their talk.
