When studying or interning abroad, sports teams are a great way to get to know a city’s culture and identity. From watching the England cricket team in the summer to cheering for a local football or rugby club, there’s nothing quite like getting a seat at the stadium and cheering on your favorite athletes!
International sport has long been a way to unite countries, as it was in Ancient Greece when competing city states would stop their internal struggles to play each other. It’s important to keep in mind, though, that the rules and structures for these events are often rooted in privilege. For example, the IOC and FIFA are based in Europe and have a constitution that largely favours European interests.
Moreover, when host countries are corrupt, international sporting events can end up being an opportunity for the regime to victimise the local population. For example, in a case that made headlines in 2018, a basketball player from Mali was abused by her country’s national basketball federation who covered up the crime and obstructed the investigation.
Despite this, many international organisations have been working hard to improve the situation by focusing on gender equality and transparency. But there is still much to be done. The recent conference in Trondheim organised by Play the Game, an initiative ‘that aims to raise ethical standards and promote democracy, transparency and freedom of expression in world sport’ is a good start. However, the IOC and FIFA need to go further in their efforts, by promoting the protection of athletes’ rights worldwide.