Anti-Racism

From unconcious bias to promoting racial equity, our resources offer actionable insights to address racism in sport. Explore the impacts of racism and how to create equitable and inclusive sport environemts.

Search Anti-Racism Resources

Search Resources

Search and Filter Resources

Quick Facts

What is anti-racism?

Anti-racism is the active effort to identify and eliminate racism by transforming systems, policies, and attitudes to ensure equitable distribution of power. It involves promoting racial equity, challenging discriminatory practices, advocating for marginalized communities, and fostering inclusive environments. This includes education, supporting fair policies, and standing against racial inequality.

Anti-racism in sport involves actively identifying, challenging, and dismantling racial biases, discrimination, and systemic barriers within sports environments. It requires creating inclusive and equitable spaces where all individuals, regardless of race or ethnicity, are treated with respect and provided equal opportunities to participate and succeed.

Who is responsible for combatting racism in sport?

Fighting racism and promoting inclusion is the responsibility of everyone in the sport world. From sport leaders, e.g., Board Members and CEOs, to athletes, it is their responsibility to speak up when they notice discrimination.

How can we begin to tackle racism in sport?

Racism is a complex, multi-layered issue that is going to take collaboration of all stakeholders to address. It will not be solved by one individual in one organization, but there are things you and your organization can do to improve the community around you.

Providing free or inexpensive anti-racism education and training for stakeholders is critical, so that stakeholders are made aware of their biases.

Holding spaces for open and honest discussions about race is crucial. People need to feel as though they can share their thoughts and feelings in a space where they will not be punished for sharing what they feel are inequities.

Reach out to organizations representing underserved communities, so that organizations can collaborate to dismantle barriers that exist for minorities competing and practicing sport.

These are the very basics of what every organization should be doing to combat racism. While capacity is an issue with many sport organizations in Canada, taking the first step is important to tackling the complex issue.

What are the impacts of racism on sports participants?

Racism can manifest in various forms, each affecting sports participants differently:

Individual Racism: This involves personal biases and negative attitudes, which can be expressed consciously or unconsciously through direct or indirect actions and words. These individual behaviors can create a hostile or exclusionary environment for participants.
Institutional Racism: This occurs within organizations or institutions where policies and practices, shaped by underlying norms and values, lead to discriminatory treatment based on race. It results from individuals within these institutions adhering to and enforcing biased rules and regulations, perpetuating systemic inequality.
Unconscious Bias: These are automatic associations or attitudes about individuals or groups that influence our perceptions and behaviors without our awareness. Such biases can affect decision-making and contribute to unequal treatment of participants.

Racism can have severe physical and mental health impacts on sports participants, including increased stress, anxiety, and feelings of exclusion. It can also limit access to opportunities and resources, hindering an athlete’s development, performance, and overall well-being. To address these issues, it is essential to foster an inclusive and supportive environment that actively works to combat racism and support all sports participants.

How can individuals in sport help combat racism?

An ally is someone from a different group who actively works to end discrimination for a specific individual or group, contributing to a more equitable and inclusive society. Individuals can combat racism by being an ally, educating themselves, addressing racist behavior, and supporting athletes from diverse backgrounds. Coaches, players, and fans can foster inclusive environments by encouraging open discussions about racism and promoting cultural awareness within their teams and communities.

How can Canadians and sport organizations focus on providing content, resources, and programs that reduce barriers for marginalized communities in sport?

To reduce barriers, Canadians can prioritize accessibility, affordability, and representation in sport content and programs. This involves creating resources tailored to the unique challenges faced by marginalized communities, such as cultural sensitivities, financial limitations, and underrepresentation in leadership roles. Collaborating with these communities to identify needs and solutions can lead to more inclusive programs that offer equitable opportunities for participation and success in sport.

Sport organizations can promote anti-racism by implementing policies that address racial discrimination, providing mandatory diversity and inclusion training, amplifying diverse voices, and ensuring leadership roles reflect the diversity of the community. Establishing clear reporting mechanisms for racist behavior and fostering partnerships with equity-focused organizations are also important.