So far this summer quite a few sporting competitions have happened. But like any other aspect of our society, the world of sports is not exempt from discrimination.
Days before the Olympic Summer Games started in France, it was announced by the French government that French athletes were not allowed to participate in the Olympic competitions if they are wearing a headscarf. Amnesty International, amongst many other human rights and anti-racism associations have criticised this decision.
Meanwhile the German Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community has established a supporting programme during the Men’s Football European Championship in order to incorporate anti-racism and anti-discimination into the Euro’s and all its events happening throughout Germany in June and July. The programme was set out to target young people between the ages of 14 and 28, that are not typically reached by “[…] traditional political education programmes […]” as stated by the Ministery (bmi.bund, 20). While attracting a younger target audience and enhancing their participation in today’s political and societal debates., the project “United as a Society” (“Vereint als Gesellschaft”) also wants to reduce discrimination and racial injustice.
Concerning the Paralympics taking place right after the Olympics in August, Raúl Krauthausen, a German wheelchair-activist shared a guide for journalists writing about the Paralympics urging them to remain on the topic of the sporting event and not the various diagnoses of the people participating in the games.
These intersected forms of discrimination show more than ever, that institutionalised anti-discriminatory strategies are mandatory in all areas of society to promote and ensure an inclusive and safe life for everyone
