Abstract
Critical responses to Aboriginal participation in elite sport often emphasize the racism and discrimination experienced by athletes. However, the flipside of this narrative—arguably more significant—is the vital, culturally transformative work these athletes have undertaken in making Australia more accepting of Aboriginal people. I explore how developments within the Australian sporting landscape illustrate the role of elite sport in driving profound cultural shifts in Australian national identity, despite continuing to provide a platform for reactionary and racist outbursts. By placing recent developments in the context of the broader history of Indigenous participation in Australian sport, this paper highlights four key trends. First, the growing number of Indigenous athletes performing at elite levels has increased their visibility and influence both nationally and internationally. Second, the cultural centrality of sport in Australia has amplified public recognition of and respect for Indigenous athletes and their successes. Third, major sporting organisations are increasingly being compelled to confront and reform exclusionary practices and traditions that have historically marginalised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players. Finally, these organisations have initiated programs and practices that explicitly celebrate the contributions of Indigenous peoples and cultures, further embedding their significance within Australian sport. The emergence of Indigenous rounds and the celebration of Indigenous talent underscore how cultural acceptance functions not only as a marker of progress but also as a catalyst for systemic change. I argue, that while this process remains complex and contested, the evolving relationship between sport and cultural acceptance continues to reshape Australian society in transformative ways.
Presenters
Dave KampersSenior Lecturer, Nura Gili Centre for Indigenous Studies, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Sporting Cultures and Identities
KEYWORDS
ABORIGINAL PARTICIPATION, NATIONAL IDENTITY, RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION, CULTURAL TRANSFORMATION
