Racism in Sport

                        Noah Calleri

Introduction:

Good morning/afternoon boys and MS. Thompson. Today I will be talking about how racism destroying the Australian sporting culture.

1st Paragraph:

Racism has a significant impact on the individuals who experience it and the wider community. 1 in 5 people experience racism at sporting events. Sporting bodies can help prevent racism among fans and players. Racism is offensive or aggressive behaviour to members of another race. It is discrimination against someone of a different race based of the belief of their race. Imagine an individual’s life after experiencing racism once or possibly a few times. Imagine living every day in paranoia knowing that everywhere you go, everything you do is being observed and judged. Imagine walking into a convenience store or a clothing store and having someone, watch your every moment thinking you’re going to steal an item or reveal something from under your clothes. Imagine being mocked because you’re “different.” No one likes to be left out, but then, why do you judge? Why do you pass the torch of an unforgiving world? Why do you set a fire of hatred? Why do you discriminate?

2nd Paragraph:

Everywhere you go, everywhere you look, there is always somebody different. Racial discrimination is everywhere and commonly seen at sporting events by players or by spectators. There have been some cases where racist remarks were made by commentators of the game. Many racism events that occur in the Australian sporting culture is usually in the Australian Football League more commonly known as the AFL. Some racist events that have occurred between 2011-2014 are, Majak Daw being racially abused in 2011 by a spectator at a VFL game. Lance Franklin was also racially abused in this year at a game in Launceston. In 2013 a very controversial topic in the Australia when Adam Goodes a former AFL player who retired at the end of 2015 played in a match for the Sydney Swans against Collingwood at the MCG during the AFL’s Indigenous

Round. Adam Goodes was called an ape by a 13-year-old Collingwood supporter. Adam Goodes pointed out the girl out to security and she was ejected from the stadium. In 2014, Adam Goodes was again targeted by a 70-year-old man who received a penalty notice for offensive behaviour after allegedly making racist comments about Adam Goodes and Lance Franklin during a match against Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium. The man was reported to police by other spectators. The fined incident that occurred in this space of time between 2011-2014 was in 2014 when Majak Daw a North Melbourne player was racially abused in a match against Hawthorn at Aurora Stadium. The male spectator was evicted from the ground. For years, the issue of racial discrimination has been affecting millions of people worldwide. Almost everywhere you turn you see a form of discrimination whether that be on the news, social media or in public. Being discriminated can change someone’s world. Racism is not just seen in AFL but in other sports in Australia like Athletics, Boxing, Cricket, Soccer, Hockey, Rugby and Tennis. Consequences such as a fine and banning of an individual who distributes racist remarks should always be the case.