ABSTRACT

As the COVID-19 virus spread across the globe, sport leagues and mega-events succumbed to the pandemic, shuttering even the most high-profile activities, including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. As the global crisis deepened and competitions returned in modified formats, sport’s political uses – viewed widely – became increasingly apparent. Considered along a harder-to-softer continuum, six political uses of sport are laid bare in times of crises: resource redeployment to supplement public infrastructure needs; economic stability and stimulus; leveraged status for public good; distraction from human toil; symbol of collective resolve; and the opportunity for state re-invention. However, each of these six uses is contested and tensive. As such, the political uses of sport in a global crisis reveal both positive and negative dimensions of sport and society-at-large. As such, I present a REI-BCI (Resources-Engagement-Identity/Bread-Circus-Image) continuum to highlight the dynamic political uses of sport in times of turmoil.

摘要

随着 COVID-19 病毒在全球范围内传播，体育联盟和大型赛事都屈服于这一流行病，甚至关闭了最引人注目的活动，包括 2020 年东京奥运会。随着全球危机的加深和比赛以改变的形式回归，体育的政治用途——被广泛地看待——变得越来越明显。沿着一个从难到难的连续体考虑，在危机时期，体育的六种政治用途暴露无遗：资源重新部署以补充公共基础设施需求；经济稳定和刺激；公共利益的杠杆地位；分心人的辛劳；集体决心的象征；以及国家重新发明的机会。然而，这六种用途中的每一种都是有争议的和紧张的。像这样，体育在全球危机中的政治用途揭示了体育和整个社会的积极和消极方面。因此，我提出了一个 REI-BCI（资源-参与-身份/面包-马戏团-形象）连续体，以突出运动在动荡时期的动态政治用途。