Centrality- based on the need to maintain a power base that would not be diluted by cultural difusion.
TO KEEP CENTRAL CONTROL AND REMAIN THE MOST IMPORTANT
STACKING- E.G WASPS –WESTERN EUROPEANS – BLACKS/ ASIANS- MUSLIMS – EASTERN EUROPEANS - WELSH
Is the IOC cosmopolitan?
- Has 115 delegates from a range of countries
- But could be viewed as a self perpetuating club.
In order to perpetuate your own values a group often excluded those of dissimilar background. This is YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW SPORT REFLECTS SOCIETY.
Sporting scholarships, independence of colonies and non-racial excellence programmes has reduced the focus on white centrality.
Task – Insert copy of figure 1.64 p66 here.
Task- How does cultural stacking in the USA compare to that in Australia?
Barriers to Advancement
Glass ceiling- Invisible barrier to advancement beyond a certain level by a social group. (Could be race, gender or any other factor).
We now see lots of black athletes competing, how many make the step to coach or manager and how many of those become owners. Although the barriers are not clear they exist, hence the term glass ceiling.
Stereotypes and Myths
Stereotype- assuming that a person has certain attributes due to the fact that they come from a certain social group
E.g. –
White men can’t jump or sprint- (Or is it because they have so many other options and they experience “White Flight” i.e. when they are seriously challenged they simply become lawyers or something else because they have the choice. Jonathon Edwards
Black men can’t swim- (Physiological or is it because they don’t have role models or access to swimming pools)
Self Review- Try to answer these questions on a scrap piece of paper.
List the main factors leading to restrictions to social groups.
Referring to an example define the role of the IOC commissions.
Relate the concept of stacking to football in the UK.
Relate the concept of glass ceilings to the sport of your choice
Why are Orientals better at table tennis?
Non-white Athletes and the Olympic Games
The First Black Competitors
1904- St Louis Games- Two Zulu tribesmen took part. Ethnic minorities not allowed to compete.
1908- Ethnics now allowed to compete
Was this an example of the equality of all athletes in the modern games?
Or
Was it because of the terrible organisation of the games where many events were presented almost as side shows? The Zulus only being present at the games as part of a Boar War exhibit and a way to attract the crowds?
Sadly the second reason is the correct one.
Originally few facilities open to the poor originally- excluded blacks.
Helped by fact that originally 14 countries took part now 197
Success of ethnic athletes brings prestige for country
Denial of access on grounds of race was indefensible.
Jim Thorpe- American Indian- 1912- Stockholm- won both pentathlon and decathlon- was stripped of his medals because he had played baseball for money- died of drink in 1953- given his medal back in 1988. Brundage had blocked the return of his medals for decades.
Jesse Owens- Black American- 1936- Berlin- Hitler using games as a chance to show white supremacy.- Won 100m, 200m, long jump, relay. Forced Americans to re-examine their own views.
Cassius Clay- 1960- Used his fame to engage social issues- e.g. Vietnam and Civil rights.
Wilma Rudolf- first black women to win medals- 100m, 200m, relay
John Carlos & Tommy Smith- 1968- Mexico City- Black power salute during 200m medal ceremony. Never forgiven by the IOC. Was a gesture about treatment of blacks in US?
South Africa, Apartheid and the IOC.
During 1960’s pressure was put on the IOC by the African countries threatening to boycott the games if South Africa was not banned.
Avery Brundage wanted to avoid this situation- he would not have acted without pressure.
SANCO (South African National Olympic Committee) was non racial but it was impossible for them to truly work in this manner in the hostile racist political environment.
“….. It could not operate in open defiance of it’s government” Lord Killanin 1983 on the subject of SANCO. (Indirect racism)
Tasks
Create a memory picture for all of the black characters listed above.
Jim Thorpe
Jesse Owens
1936 – Berlin
Cassius Clay
Wilma Rudolph
John Carlos & Tommy Smith
Create a time line of the Olympic Games illustrate the racial issues of the following games
1896- 1904- 1912- 1936- 1960- 1964- 1968- 1972- 1976- 1980.
1896- No blacks allowed to compete at the olympics
1904- No blacks allowed to compete apart from 2 Zulu tribesmen (Side Show Freaks)
1912- Jim Thorpe American Indian stripped of his medals because he played baseball for money
1936- Jesse Owens (black American) Won 4 gold medals in Nazi Germany – Hitler refused to shake his hand
1960- Cassius Clay refused to go into the army and war. Used his fame to force America to look at their racist views.
1964- 1st black women to win medals Wilma Rudolph
1968- John Carlos & Tommy Smith gave black power salute during medal ceremony. Banned and disgraced
Did the removal of South Africa from the games lead to the fall of Apartheid?
The removal of South Africa had an effect on the fall of Apartheid however I don’t believe it was instrumental in doing so. If it was then the impact would have been immediate, and not over such a long time. The main reason for the fall of the regime included pressure form other countries along with Nelson Mandela.