Racism has a significant impact on access to sport: Independent expert

Although sport has the ability to promote diversity and inclusion, the report notes that those from racial and ethnic minorities are underrepresented at various levels of global sport, and gaps in governance and access reflect broader structural inequalities.

Aswini KPThat Human Rights Council– Appointed independent expert on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, recognizing the unique place of sport in promoting cultural expression and collective identity.

“Persistent stereotypes continue to influence the way athletes are identified, trained, selected, and perceivedThe Special Rapporteur told the Human Rights Council on Thursday. “I am concerned about the underrepresentation of racially and ethnically marginalized groups, including minority groups, caste-oppressed communities, and other racialized populations.”

In his report, he recommended that Member States collect disaggregated data on racism in sport, invest in sports infrastructure and promote equal access, ensure the safety of athletes, consider eligibility regulations that could have a discriminatory impact, and recall their obligations under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

Economic barriers

Lack of access to facilities, equipment, training, travel and nutrition can be a strong barrier for children and young people entering the world of sport, and geographical proximity to sports facilities can also limit the participation of low-income families, the Special Rapporteur found.

In the Occupied Palestinian Territories, restrictions on freedom of movement and travel and the destruction of sports facilities made international competitions almost impossiblethe report said

The report also notes that because many amateur and youth leagues serve as pipelines to more elite levels, inability to access sport in childhood may have a lifelong impact on participationultimately eliminating physical and mental health benefits for low-income children.

These economic disparities are not race-neutral, as in many countries racially discriminatory underdevelopment is a byproduct of colonialism and historical exploitation, according to the report.

For example, in England and Wales, English cricketers of Asian and black British descent accounted for just 8.1 percent of male professional cricketers in 2021, while 30 to 35 percent of the adult recreational population came from diverse ethnic backgrounds, according to a 2023 report.

Eligibility rules have unequal impact

The report specifically identified France’s headscarf ban as an example of eligibility regulations that had a racially discriminatory impact.

Muslim women, who often face discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender and religion, are prohibited by the country’s football and basketball governing bodies from wearing head coverings, creating tension between the right to participate in sport and freedom of religion and expression.

The report also highlights how World Athletics’ rules regarding athletes who use prosthetics may disproportionately impact Black athletes, and how World Athletics’ testosterone rules disproportionately impact women in Southern countries.

“There is the potential for significant discrimination if eligibility regulations are not developed and enforced in line with international human rights lawincluding the prohibition of racial discrimination,” the report said.

Sports governance is still largely white

People from racial groups are significantly underrepresented in sports leadership positions, largely due to structural issues such as implicit bias, high levels of attribution, gaps in data collection and a lack of accountability, according to the report.

For example, the same 2023 report from England and Wales found that the representation of black and South Asian groups in cricket leadership was very low compared to the participation of these groups in recreational cricket.

Additionally, the report found that a “very significant majority” of senior football leadership positions in Europe are held by white people, which could undermine institutional responses to racism.

It also refers to the Hamilton Commission, which was formed in 2021 by Formula One driver Sir Lewis Hamilton. The Commission’s report found that a small proportion of senior leadership, team management, engineering and technical capacity and governance structures in motorsport were held by black people or people from other racial groups.

Promote equal access

International human rights law provides a framework and obligations for Member States and sports governance bodies to effectively redress racial discrimination and ensure meaningful participation of those currently facing discrimination.

The Special Rapporteur recommends that Member States take proactive steps to ensure equal access to sport, implement effective access to remedies for those who have experienced discrimination and invest in public awareness campaigns, education and community projects to build societal support for racial pluralism.

For sports governance bodies, the report recommends identifying barriers to participation, expanding efforts to support access, reviewing eligibility regulations for discriminatory impacts and adopting a human rights-based approach to addressing racial discrimination in sport.

“Efforts must go beyond symbolic gestures and reactive actions comprehensive strategies that address root causes, redistribute opportunities, and dismantle entrenched power imbalances and racial hierarchies,” wrote the Special Rapporteur.

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