Educational Forum on Social Change, Human Rights, and Development

As a direct result from a recent ICSSPE Bulletin publication, Athletes and Social Change (edited by Eli Wolff and Mary Hums), an educational forum, entitled Athletes and Social Change, was conducted by Eli Wolff and Mary Hums. Using the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky, USA, with the assistance of Marcel Parent, Senior Director of Education, Outreach, and Curation, the event advanced education, advocacy and research on the role and contribution of athletes toward social change, human rights, and development. Four specific areas were discussed by over 40 scholars and field-based professionals as well as Olympic and Paralympic athletes from Canada and the United States: (1) the roles and responsibilities athletes have beyond the playing field; (2) ways athletes can serve as educators and advocates to address social challenges within and outside of sport; (3) how the global sporting community encourages or discourages athletes working in the genre of social change; and (4) roles educational institutions play in providing grounding for athletes to make connections between athletics, academics and the community. Papers included topics using football (soccer), baseball and walking as vehicles for change; using sport, the arts, and digital storytelling to promote peace; building a case for student-athletes as scholars and activists in collegiate environments; using new media in providing athletes forums to engage and persuade; linking corporations with non-profits; and collaborating with various disciplines (e.g., social work, development, sport studies) to find resolutions to issues in society. Informal and formal discussions centered around collaboration between NGOs, government, and corporate sectors on matters of consequence to communities; existing international (ICSSPE, IOC, IPC, Special Olympics) and national organisations (NCAA, USOC, Special Olympics) that could raise the level of visibility and discourse on issues; and transformative steps from athletes as participants to athletes as activists. It was also determined that positive social change can lead to positive societal transformation, but that transformation is rooted in the individual.

It was determined that a second educational forum could be held at the Ali Center next year, with the inclusion of coaches. The extent to which coaches play a role in social change also needs to be showcased. It was also suggested that the topic of athletes and coaches as agents of social change might be added to already existing conferences, conventions, and seminars in order to differently showcase the issues.

The educational forum proved to be one that was meaningful to those who participated. The mixture of participants, topics, research, and life experiences was well received. As one participant recalled, “…everyone who works in the area of sport for development is going away from this forum with a sense of pride, a renewed sense of determination, and a sense of hope that each of us, working toward the same goal, can collectively change the world!”

By Darlene Kluka, ICSSPE Executive Board