Sport isn’t commonly regarded as political, but throughout history sport has been used as a platform for protest and progress. Now more than ever, athletes and sporting bodies are using their positions to discuss social issues and advocate for change.
Torrens University and Former Socceroo, human rights activist and Adjunct Professor at Torrens University Craig Foster have released a series of free online short courses aimed at empowering people in the sports industry with knowledge and skills to make change for good through sport.
“Global sport has a long history of activism, particularly by athletes, and of propagating the vision of helping shape a better world. In 2021 and beyond, society's changing expectations of sport's contribution to all forms of social justice is empowering a new generation of activists, whose influence extends far, far beyond the sporting arena,” said Foster.
The courses explore the activism of athletes like Naomi Osaka, Lewis Hamilton and LeBron James. The courses also feature insights from Australian sporting legends including rugby league and union star Sonny Bill Williams, former Matilda’s Captain and Co-Chief Executive of the Professional Footballers Association Kathryn Gill, Brownlow Medallist and 2014 Australian of the Year Adam Goodes, and former Wallabies captain turned federal politician Senator David Pocock.
By completing the short courses, sports practitioners should have an understanding of the changing role of sport in the global social and political landscape, issues of impact and the evolving opportunities and expectations on athletes and sports administrators to enable and support sports advocacy as part of global change-making.