DISABILITY SPORT RESEARCH INITIATIVE
Researh Fellows
RESEARCH ARTICLE:
Building Diverse
Sports Organizations and Teams:
Using Olympism to Break Boundaries and Bridge Communities
By Eli A. Wolff
International Olympic
Academy 40th International Session for Young Participants
Ancient Olympia,
Greece
July 23 � August 8, 2000
Introduction
The international Olympic Movement and the international sports movement
on the whole is organized by specific sports and segmented by gender,
by age, and by ability. Are these divisions rational? Do the principles
of Olympism support this construction of sport?
This paper will argue that the organization of sport is premised on a non-rational system that does not meet the ideals of Olympism. Rather, the current system is based on outmoded treatments of marginalized minority groups, particularly women, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities.
Olympism can and should be utilized to define a system that could allow women, the elderly and people with disabilities to be viewed as a more integral and legitimate part of the sporting world. First, Olympism will be defined, then the current system of sport will be described, and finally, applying the ideals of Olympism, a model for formulating diverse sports organizations and teams will be presented.
Olympism
On the web-site of the International Olympic Academy, within the description
of the Olympic Movement, Olympism is defined as "a
philosophy of life, where blending sport and culture with art and education
aims to combine in a balanced whole the human qualities of body, will
and mind. Olympism is a way of life based on respect for human dignity
and fundamental universal ethical principles, on the joy of effort and
participation, on the educational role of good example, a way of life
based on mutual understanding."
In a paper by Deborah Hunter entitled, "Olympism for the 21st Century: New Life To A Timeless Philosophy," written for the 4th Joint Session of the International Olympic Academy, the author describes Olympism. Hunter says that Olympism is "a general concept which emphasizes not only development of bodily strength, but generally healthier individuals with a happier attitude and more peaceful vision of the world."
The author goes on to state, "Olympism recognizes and extols individual effort and accepts no discrimination among nations, races, political systems, classes, etc."
Current Organization
of Sport
Although the Olympic Movement and the sporting world claim to adhere
to the ideals of Olympism, these ideals are not being fully put into practice
in sport today. In the majority of sports played throughout the world
today, organizations place a primary focus on grooming the competitive,
young, non-disabled, male athlete.
Female athletes, the elderly and people with disabilities playing the exact same sport receive substantially lower support and recognition from sport organizations. While female athletes have been brought under the umbrella of many sport organizations, these athletes do not receive equitable services, equitable opportunities or equitable pay. Athletes who are "past their prime" are viewed as no longer legitimate athletes, and no longer in need of opportunities to participate in sport.
These elderly athletes receive little to no support from most sports organizations to stay involved with the sport. And athletes with disabilities continue to remain an unchartered group for most sport organizations. The sports world relies on "disability-focused" organizations to meet the sporting needs of athletes with disabilities. Mainstream sport organizations take little to no responsibility to sanction and organize opportunities for the disabled athlete.
From this divisioning based on a competitive sport model, it is possible to see that the no-discrimination clause under Olympism as outlined by Hunter is not being met. The emphasis on effort and participation within Olympism is overshadowed by the emphasis on competition and "winning."
These divisions do not advance the goals of Olympism. If the aim of sport is to "combine in a balanced whole the human qualities of body, will and mind," then it is irrational to exclude women, the elderly and people with disabilities from full equality in the sporting world.
Female athletes, elderly athletes, and athletes with disabilities, although performing in a different way than young, non-disabled, male athletes, are still able to reach a maximum potential, which is the goal of sport. Even though these athletes may perform at a level that is different from the young, non-disabled, male athletes, this difference should not mean that that their performance is in any way less than the others.
It might be argued that this divisioning of the world of sport has come about as a result of the discrimination against women, the elderly, and people with disabilities in all areas of life. These groups do not have the "ideal body" which has been defined by young, male, non-disabled individuals throughout the world.
Diversity in Sport In order to re-establish the true values of Olympism in sport, the focus should turn to diversity in sport. Sport organizations should come to a greater consciousness of the athletes that have up to this point been pushed to the side. These sport organizations need to undergo diversity education and diversity training.
The voices of female athletes, elderly athletes, and athletes with disabilities need to be heard, such that their specific needs as athletes can be addressed. Sport organizations need to recognize that diversity is not just an issue in terms of which athletes are being served, but also in terms of who is on the Board of Directors and staff of the organizations. These levels of the organization need to be diverse.
One way to see the values of Olympism reinstated and diversity at the core of each and every sport is to organize sports events that bring diverse groups of athletes together to experience participation in the sport together.
World TEAM Sports (WTS) in Charlotte, North Carolina USA is promoting this vision of sports. WTS organizes cycling and marathon events that provide athletes from across cultures, races, genders, sexuality, ability and age to participate on the same team and come together through sport to promote diversity in sport.
All sports have a potential to bring athletes with differences together in the same sport. In addition, it is possible that new sports may need to be created, in order to foster a sense of the true ideals of Olympism.
Conclusion
Bringing about diversity through sport, in line with the ideals of
Olympism, can be accomplished with flexibility and creativity. At this
time, the sporting community is fragmented, hierarchical, and emphasizes
competition over participation. With a greater emphasis on diversity,
participation, and the ideals of Olympism, the sporting world can be united.
References
- Homepage of the International Olympic Academy
- Hunter, Deborah. (1998). "Olympism for the 21st Century: New Life To A Timeless Philosophy." 4th Joint Session. International Olympic Academy.
Report by Eli Wolff
Northeastern
University's
CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF SPORT IN SOCIETY
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