The “level playing field” is a universal metaphor for fairness, inclusion, and meritocracy.
And historically, sport has certainly enabled racial minorities to breach the ramparts of power: Jesse Owens at the Berlin 1936 Olympic Games, dismantling the fiction of racial superiority before the very eyes of the fascist leaders; Jackie Robinson striding over baseball’s colour line, at a time when racial segregation remained the law of the land throughout the United States.
But, more recently, we have seen sport institutions reinforce their barricades: the NFL’s resistance to the Black Lives Matters movement; the International Olympic Committee barring anti-racism protests on the podium.
Are Canada’s sport institutions using their wealth and influence to advance or to restrain sport as a vehicle for social inclusion? In the twenty-first century, is sport a teammate or an opponent in the struggle against racism? Is sport itself building or undermining the level playing field for Canadian society?
This live, online public discussion of these questions will feature:
- L’Ashante Henry, Massey College
- Devin Heroux, CBC Sports Journalist;Alex Ikejiani, Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport;Akaash Maharaj, former head of the Canadian Equestrian Team.
Wednesday 22 September 2021, 16h00 EDT
Live, online at YouTube: https://youtu.be/ChyhZPu6VIY
No advance registration is required.