Sport, Climate & Environmental Justice
What is the long-term shift in temperature and weather patterns, primarily driven by human activities, that impacts ecosystems, agriculture, and public health?
climate change
The term used to describe the growing connection between corporations, institutions, and armed forces in entertainment and sports.
Military Industrial Entertainment Complex
This concept refers to the practice of cities using sport events to drive urban development and economic growth, often at the expense of local communities.
event urbanism
Being a national champion protected Chilean athletes from persecution during the dictatorship.
False. Sergio Tormen, a national cycling champion, was detained and disappeared in 1974, proving that athletic status did not shield individuals from political repression.
What is the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada?
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada was established to facilitate reconciliation among former students of residential schools, their families, communities, and Canadians.
This concept involves the fair distribution of environmental benefits and burdens, as well as ensuring marginalized communities have a voice in decision-making.
environmental justice
This soft drink company featured a commercial showing deployed service members watching NFL games as part of a military support campaign.
Pepsi
This community in Rio de Janeiro resisted evictions related to the 2016 Olympics, advocating for the preservation of their neighbourhood’s identity.
favela
Sport was used as a tool to ________ and ________ under the Chilean dictatorship.
Challenge & Survive
This term, as defined by Glen Coulthard, refers to the surface-level efforts made by Canada that fail to address the deeper, structural violence experienced by Indigenous communities.
What is symbolic recognition?
This paradigm of environmental justice focuses on how environmental 'goods' and harms are distributed, especially when risks disproportionately affect low-income areas.
distributive justice
The Georgia National Guard paid this NFL team $114,000 to have their national anthem sung at a game.
Atlanta Falcons
This phenomenon, described by Fullilove (2015), refers to the psychological impact of being displaced from one's neighbourhood due to urban development or gentrification.
root shock
In what ways does sport serve as a platform for political and human rights movements? Provide one example from history.
Sport provides a space for global political expression and has been used by athletes to challenge injustice. For example, the Black Power salute during the 1968 Mexico City Olympics was a powerful protest against racial inequality in the United States, drawing global attention to the Civil Rights Movement.
This Canadian report, created by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, provides 94 "calls to action" for reconciliation in various sectors, including health and sport.
Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report
How does environmental justice intersect with sports in terms of access to facilities and opportunities for marginalized communities?
Environmental justice highlights that marginalized communities are often the most vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change. These communities may have limited access to climate-resilient sports facilities, further perpetuating inequalities in access to sports and recreational opportunities.
This international sporting event was created to support injured military personnel in their recovery and rehabilitation.
Invictus Games
The term for the process of using sport mega-events, such as the Olympics or FIFA World Cup, to attract foreign investment and reshape a city's infrastructure.
mega-event strategy
Chilean athletes during the dictatorship faced tough choices regarding their safety, personal beliefs, and political stance. What were key concerns they had to weigh?
Concern for self, family, and friends.
Whether to seek asylum or stay.
Commitment to values (How far do we compromise)
This Indigenous scholar argues that sport should serve as a space for empowerment and resistance against colonialism, not simply a tool for assimilation.
Waneek Horn-Miller
How can sports organizations play a role in advancing both environmental sustainability and social justice, particularly in the context of climate change?
Sports organizations can contribute by adopting sustainable practices, such as reducing their carbon footprint, promoting environmental awareness, and supporting community-based climate adaptation programs, especially in marginalized areas. By doing so, they can ensure that the benefits of sports are equitably shared and that vulnerable populations are not further disadvantaged by climate change.
How does the inclusion of militaristic elements in sport contribute to the normalization of violence and control within societies?
The inclusion of militaristic displays in sport can normalize the use of force, as it intertwines entertainment with displays of national power, reinforcing ideologies of state control and authority. This could desensitize the public to militarized violence and foster a culture where security measures are seen as integral to the functioning of society, even if they infringe upon individual freedoms.
How do mega-sporting events contribute to the phenomenon of gentrification in host cities, and what are the social implications for local residents?
Mega-events often lead to the development of high-end housing, retail spaces, and sports infrastructure, increasing property values and making neighbourhoods unaffordable for low-income residents. This displacement of communities can exacerbate social inequality, disrupt local cultures, and shift the focus of urban development from meeting the needs of existing residents to catering to wealthier populations.
Henry Kissinger justified U.S. intervention in Chile by saying:
"I don’t see why we need to stand by and watch a country go communist due to the irresponsibility of its people."
What does this quote reveal about U.S. foreign policy toward Chile during the 1970s?
It shows that the U.S. did not trust Chilean citizens to make their own political choices and was willing to interfere, through economic boycotts, covert operations, and military support to prevent socialism.
What is the theory of refusal in Indigenous sports participation?
The theory of refusal suggests that Indigenous youth may reject participation in colonial sport spaces as a political act of refusal of settler colonial structures.