Sport is often positioned as a social good across policy agendas, related to creating or strengthening communities (Spaaij, Oxford and Jeanes 2016), addressing disadvantage (Sherry 2010; Spaaij and Jeanes 2013), tackling mental health (Jeanes, Spaaij and Magee 2019; Smith et al. 2015) and addressing physical health and chronic disease. However, sport has also been understood as contributing to, and at times exacerbating inequalities and human rights infringements which open up questions as to the efficacy of the social good argument. In this symposium, we explore the value of a rights-based agenda for the bidding, planning, delivery and legacy of major and mega sport events, drawing on expertise from the EU-funded EventRights project. We draw on experience from academics, policy makers and sport practitioners across four panel sessions, each with a focus on a different dimension of sport events and human rights.
Schedule
Keynote
Legal Responsibilities for Mega Sport Events and Human Rights: Setting the Scene
Dr Daniela Heerdt, researcher at the T.M.C. Asser Instituut and independent consultant in the field of sport and human rights
Sport Events, Governance and Advocacy
Moderated by Dr Jason Bocarro, (North Carolina State University, USA)
Professor David McGillivray, (University of the West of Scotland), Liz Twyford, (UNICEF), Andreas Graf, (FIFA), Sylvia Schenk, (Transparency International)
Sport Events and Athlete Rights
Moderated by Prof David McGillivray (University of the West of Scotland)
Professor Joerg Koenigstorfer, (Technical University Munich), Dr Yannick Kluch, (Virginia Commonwealth University), Professor Laura Misener, (Western University, Canada), Kaveh Mehrabi, Director of the IOC Athletes’ Department
Sport events and disability rights
Moderated by Professor Laura Misener (Western University, Canada)
Dr Ian Brittain (Coventry University), Professor Gayle McPherson (University of the West of Scotland), Miki Matheson, Paralympian
Sport Events, Human Trafficking and Sex Work
Moderated by Professor Joerg Koenigstorfer (Technical University Munich)
Dr Michael Duignan, (University of Surrey), Philippa King (Director, It’s a Penalty), Dr Amanda De Lisio, (York University)
So, it’s Monday June 20, 2022, from 13:00-17:00 (GMT). You can register, for free, here.
