News Update – 10 July 2020
News Update – 3 July 2020
3. Juli 2020
Interview: Athletes‘ Rights, with Johannes Herber from Ahtletes Germany (independent athlete representation)
8. August 2020
Choi Suk-hyeon: South Korean triathlete kills herself 'after abuse'
South Korea has been hit by yet another tragic abuse story in their elite sports system. Choi Suk-hyeon, the 22 year old triathlete, said she endured years of abuse, but that her complaints to sporting authorities were ignored several times, reports say. She is reported to have killed herself last week. Effective grievance mechanisms and remedy are essential human rights due diligence processes that need to be supervised and adjusted constantly! (BBC)
Seek and destroy: Threat Matrix delivers solution to ‘out’ football’s social media racists
So-called fans who hide behind hidden social media accounts to fire abuse at black and BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic) players face being called out under revolutionary technology that strips away their anonymity. Social Media is often insufficiently considered in a human rights due diligence process. In this regard, digitization can reinforce the digital commitment of sporting organizations to stand for equality and give a clear message: 'no to racism'. (Inside World Football)
MLS players go silent for several minutes, raise fists with black gloves, kneel to protest systemic racism
More than 170 players from around the league took part in the protest, with an exceptional and unusual long length of the display. A statement that took 8 minutes and 46 sec... sounds familiar? On May 25, unarmed African-American George Floyd was killed in police custody after a Minneapolis officer kneeled on the handcuffed man’s neck for almost nine minutes. (Yahoo)
Playing against the clock: Global sport, the climate emergency and the case for rapid change
The newest report, "Playing Against the Clock", surveys the many ways in which climate change is already taking its toll on global sport, and the scale of the risks and difficulties ahead, such as: climatic and economic demise for winter sports awaits; heatwaves and heat strokes for players and public alike (= athlete rights and fan rights), extreme weather that floods stadiums and grassroots playing fields; sea level rises that will inundate football grounds and sweep away golf links. (Rapid Transition Alliance)
Why activist athletes are needed today more than ever
Sports face many challenges currently, not only about how to return to play safely during the ongoing pandemic, but also how to the ensure respect for fundamental rights, including freedom of expression. Sports leagues have a difficult but critical role to play in supporting athletes who stand up for human rights. (World Economic Forum)
Author: Anton Klischewski
The author holds a M.Sc. in sports management from the University of Bordeaux. He critically analyses and questions the power of sport and its impact on the economical, ecological and social environment.
