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Introduction
Sports have evolved, with competition being at its highest point in history in this decade. We live in a decade where athletics significantly impacts the social and political world. They have played a crucial role in uniting different races and ethnicities. The sports arena is the only place where the world connects, with the main objective being to promote fair competition and cohesion. Governments have invested in infrastructure and advertisements for competitive sports.
Sports events such as the Olympics have played a big part in bringing awareness about different cultures and creating cohesion among countries. Racial discrimination has hit the world of sports in the past, and although it is still being experienced, significant milestones have been reached in this decade (Gervis et al. 453). Discrimination in the world of sports has called for activism from different players in the sports fraternity. Activism can be defined as the use of ones name or brand to make a positive impact in society by actively campaigning against certain issues in society with the aim of creating change. Athlete activism can be described as using an athletes name to make a difference in society.
The paper seeks to analyze the role of athlete activists in society. It analyzes the role of Naomi Osaka, a professional tennis player in creating awareness about different challenges that face society. Osaka is a young athlete of Japanese origin living in the US who has been vocal in creating awareness about some of the challenges that athletes face in the sports profession and some of the issues, such as racial discrimination in society (Gervis et al. 455). Her braveness and courage make her a good example of how athletes play a big role in activism.
The paper highlights major events that have happened in the life of Naomi Osaka as an athlete and the impacts of her activism against atrocities in society. The first part analyzes a prevalent issue in society and her role of her as an athlete activist. This part demonstrates the role of athlete activists in society and the impact they create. Secondly, the paper describes some of the challenges athletes face in their profession and the impact that athlete activists have on addressing these challenges. Finally, the paper analyzes the role of the media and support systems in the sports profession.
Naomi Osaka on Discrimination
Naomi Osaka is one of the most renowned athletes that have been advocating against discrimination within the sports world and society. As a famous professional tennis player, she uses her name and brand to make a difference in the world. She has been calling out inequality in the country since she joined professional tennis. Recently in 2018, the young athlete left a significant tennis tournament citing racial discrimination as the cause of her exit (Feitelberg 66). She was protesting against police brutality after an incident where a black male citizen was murdered by the police in the US. She is a black woman living in the US, where racial discrimination is prevalent. The young athlete commented that she dropped out of the tournament as she felt that more crucial matters needed attention (Feitelberg 68). Her exit caused an uproar from different players in the sports world, and more athletes joined her in the protest.
One event led to a string of events around the world of sports and athletics. Naomi Osaka sparked the conversation on racial discrimination around the world. The black lives matter movement gained popularity on different platforms and has been used to rally for justice against discrimination against black citizens in the country. In 2020, the National Basketball Association featured the black lives matter call on their basketball courts and merchandise (Calow, Emma 9). Different teams also highlighted the movement on their jerseys and on the court in protest of the murder of Jacob Blake, a black citizen who was murdered in the US by the police (Walker et al. 215). The NBA teams also refused to play their playoff games in protest of the increased racial discrimination around the country, demonstrating the power that athletes have in the social world.
Mental Health
Naomi Osaka has hit the headlines on many occasions due to her braveness and stand on essential matters neglected by governments and the sports fraternity. Recently, she came out to talk about the mental challenges that athletes face (Walker et al. 215). Although athletes are seen as happy people enjoying life, a lot is hidden from the public. To cope with the ever-growing competition in sports, athletes have to overcome immense pressure from their sponsors and trainers. As the pressure continues to grow, most of these athletes succumb to mental health issues. According to Osaka, many athletes fear coming out to speak about their struggles (Walker et al. 216). In an interview, Naomi broke down and revealed that she no longer enjoys playing tennis. As an athlete activist, Naomi encouraged athletes to consider their mental health over victory in the field. She used her break from competitions to insist on the importance of keeping mental health in check.
Mental health well-being is an issue that cuts across all disciplines. Keeping mental well-being in check should always be a top priority for every individual, and support systems should be availed for individuals suffering from mental health disorders. Sports sponsors and organizers should prioritize emotional training with the same emphasis on physical activity. Naomi claims that athletes are constantly under pressure to perform, but their mental health is not considered (Gervis et al. 459). The challenges have been witnessed in all sports disciplines, and many athletes have promoted and emphasized the issue. However, the leading players in this issue are the sponsors and coaches who constantly pressure their athletes to seek recognition and money gains.
With many athletes speaking out about their mental struggles, responsible organizations are under pressure to implement policies on mental health. Such has been done by Penn Athletics, where they offer mental support for their athletes through the Sports Performance Department (Henriksen et al. 405). This initiative ensures that the athletes are physically and mentally in shape. In my opinion, this should be a forefront issue for every individual, irrespective of profession. Depression is a mental health disorder that is neglected in society. It is a crucial topic of discussion that does not receive the recognition and attention it deserves (Henriksen et al. 407). Naomi Osaka commented in an interview that the sports fraternity had neglected this topic reflecting on what happens in society. Many athletes have openly spoken about their struggles with cognitive challenges to create awareness among athletes that it is okay to seek psychological assistance.
Pressure for Performance
Athlete activism has faced criticism from the public since athletes are viewed as entertainers. Many people view sports and athletics as a source of entertainment by many people without considering the people who struggle to stage that entertainment. In most of her interviews, Osaka insists that their sponsors and fans expect athletes to be at their best every time without considering their life struggles (Feitelberg 68). Sports fans make the profession entertaining in many aspects. However, they are responsible for the tribulations that most athletes undergo in their daily routines. They have to put up an excellent performance to quench the thirst for entertainment from their fans (Feitelberg 71). With that in mind, an athlete should be mentored and encouraged to promote their well-being. Young athletes should be nurtured to be self-aware and taught how to deal with pressure from different departments in their profession. As an athlete, recent incidents have significantly impacted my career. I know when to take a break from sports and when to give my fans what they want. A balance between these two is essential for every athlete because it helps avoid future mental disorders.
Support from Management
As an athlete, sponsorship from popular brands is a significant achievement. Most popular athletes have huge sponsorship deals with big brand names. Following her incident in the 2018 tennis tournament, there was criticism from the media and the public about her conduct (Calow, Emma 17). Many people expected her sponsors to terminate their sponsorships, but they stood by her side. Her courage drew a large support base from her sponsors. However, the support from her sponsors meant that the impact she had was above any of the conditions of her contract. Big brands avoid being dragged through public scandals for fear of losing their reputation (Henriksen et al. 393). However, these brands take the risk when the cause is greater than the risk. As an athlete, the impact of your activism is felt around the world. Athletes should endeavor to make a difference for a cause in every aspect of their professionalism. Naomi had a significant impact in that big brands compromised their image to support her call.
The media is a critical player in an athletes success in the social world. Some people argue that it is an athletes job to face the media. With this argument, it is clear that the press and public have big expectations from athletes. The media is responsible for creating or destroying an athletes image in society. To face the media takes courage since whatever you say can be twisted and used against you. Naomi Osaka knew how to handle the media during her career (Prasad 1). Whenever controversies arose, she was never seen around media personalities. People believe what the media feeds them without the need for evidence. Athletes have faced depression and social anxiety in this decade at the hands of the media. After her loss to Naomi Osaka in the finals, Serena Williams burst into tears because she termed theft from the umpire.
However, the main highlight of the day was when she confronted the referee. She was fined for the conduct, but what angered her was the stereotype that was being spread that black women should not get angry. Since the 19th century, this stereotype has existed when black women were not expected to push back when oppressed (Prasad 1). After the final, her image was in ruins and a cartoon depicting this myth circulated all over the media. After delivering her baby, Serena had challenges getting her top performance back on track, and the press was on her back, trying to destroy her reputation. Some argued that she should quit, retire from sports, and concentrate on her family. This tore her down to the extent that she fell into depression despite the blessing of having a newborn child. It takes courage to get up and stand against such atrocities against athletes.
With such treatment, an athlete needs to know how to handle pressure from the media. Stories in the media are responsible for some of these athletes falling into depression and anxiety. In the same final, the winner, Osaka, received jeers and negative comments from the stands. After monetizing their stories, the media will always look for loopholes in an athletes personality to create captivating stories that pay huge (Calow, Emma 5). Being a young athlete, Osaka has mastered ways to deal with the pressures in the sports world. Her activism has faced criticism even from fellow athletes, but she has always stood her ground.
Athlete activists have been seen supporting each other whenever controversies arise around any player. Such kind of support is what every athlete needs to propel their career. In 2020 in a soccer match, one of the black players was racially abused by a match official and what happened next took the fans by surprise. Players from both teams refused to continue with the match in solidarity with the racially abused player (Calow, Emma 3). Soccer fans worldwide sent the affected player messages encouraging him to push through the incident and concentrate on his soccer career. They praised his role in the event and in taking charge of the protests. With enough support, an athletes well-being is preserved. I would advise all sports disciplines to take control in supporting their athletes against atrocities against them from the fan base or other parties involved in sports. A call for policies protecting athletes and their managers from bullying should be drafted and enforced for the industrys growth.
Athletes play a big part in modeling future generations. They act as role models to the upcoming athletes in academics. They are the face of the sports industry, and having a positive impact on society matters motivates other sectors to follow suit. Sports are involved in almost every societys development. Different professions have supported the sports profession during this decade than in any other decade, from artists attending sporting events to politicians endorsing sports personalities (Doyle 1). The sports discipline is a multicultural sector that has enormously impacted society. Progress can be witnessed as different industries collaborate with sports personalities to spread awareness on various issues.
Activism cuts across the board and sports activists play a role in ensuring that the well-being of non-athletes is preserved. Across Europe and The Americas, many sporting teams come together to support health facilities within their locality. They have stepped out of their profession to ensure that the wellness of members of society is promoted. Athlete activism does not necessarily have to be within the sports docket, as evidenced by worldwide protests against police brutality in the US by sports personalities (Doyle 1). Naomi Osaka has set the pace for other activists protesting against police brutality.
Activists have come out to stamp their stand against different atrocities in the current decade. The recent war between Russia and Ukraine has caused an uproar from many activists citing the violation of human rights. Sports teams and athletes have promoted awareness about the issue through social media platforms and merchandise. This has put pressure on Russia since worldwide is watching (Henriksen et al. 402). Sports and athletics have worldwide coverage making them a better channel to spread information. Millions of people watch a single sporting event every minute. Therefore, a simple message can be circulated every minute in the media and received worldwide simultaneously. Using sporting events to promote awareness of different issues has proven effective in recent times.
Sporting events such as the World cup and the Olympics have comprehensive coverage. I would advocate for such platforms to be used to promote human rights and other vital issues in society. Athlete activists should take advantage of such platforms to promote culture, mental health, well-being, and racial discrimination, among other significant challenges facing humanity. The events bring different activists together who should take the opportunity to collaborate and create a strong campaign about specific issues that governments do not talk about (Henriksen et al. 407). The collaboration between athletes from different disciplines encourages the world and creates an urgency on particular matters. Racial discrimination is the most prevalent challenge in our current society, and such platforms where many cultures and races converge to compete should be utilized to tackle this issue.
Naomi Osaka is of Japanese origin but lives in the US, making her susceptible to racial profiling and discrimination. Through her active involvement in the protest against police brutality and racial discrimination, she has empowered many women to stand for their human rights and demonstrated how sports and athletics are affected by such issues. Athletes should be taught to be societal leaders rather than trained to be the best in their disciplines (Henriksen et al. 395). With leadership comes responsibility, and an athlete nurtured to be a leader learns responsibility. Learning institutions factor in raising professionals and neglect the crucial aspect of leadership. Sports activists are leaders that do not receive enough recognition. With recent developments in sports, leadership and responsibility are being instilled in young athletes through multi-departmental programs.
Conclusion
Athlete activism is the most used method in promoting awareness about specific issues in society. The rise of discrimination in the sports world has called for the urgency of creating awareness across all sports disciplines. Athlete activists have had their voices on different issues that most people avoid talking about. Naomi Osaka has gained popularity due to her stand against police brutality and racial discrimination in the United States of America. She is among the few sports personalities that have come out in protest of issues that most athletes fear speaking out about. She is an example of what leadership and self-awareness in sports should be.
As an athlete, I am challenged to stand for my rights and mental well-being despite the pressure from society. I would urge every athlete to emulate famous activists who stand their ground against discrimination in the sports world. Sports should not only be about entertainment and money but also responsibility. We are responsible for our well-being and image, and balancing between these two is a challenge that every athlete is faced with. The fame that comes with being an athlete should not blind an athlete to thinking that they have the support of everyone because the media can be an athletes enemy.
Works Cited
Calow, Emma. Well, what was the message you got?: The discursive power of Naomi Osaka and her peaceful protest at the 2020 US Open. European Journal for Sport and Society (2021): 1-21.
Doyle, J. Newcastle United fans send message to Demba Ba following racism incident during PSG clash. 2020, Chronicle Live.
Feitelberg, Rosemary. Naomi Osaka Exits Tennis Tournament over Racial Injustice, Western & Southern Open Pauses Play . 2020, Yahoo.
Gervis, Misia, Helen Pickford, and Thomas Hau. Professional footballers association counselors perceptions of the role long-term injury plays in mental health issues presented by current and former players. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology 13.3 (2019): 451-468.
Henriksen, Kristoffer, et al. Athlete mental health in the Olympic/Paralympic quadrennium: a multi-societal consensus statement. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology 18.3 (2020): 391-408.
Prasad, R. Serena Williams and the trope of the angry black woman . 2018, BBC News.
Walker, Isobel, et al. Mental health among elite sportspeople: Lessons for medical education. Medical Teacher 44.2 (2022): 214-216.
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