Feb 18 2022 to Feb 18 2022 5 p.m.

EVENT HAS ENDED

Where

Bangalore International Centre

7 4th Main Rd, Stage 2, Domlur 560071

Event Description

South Africa, Cricket and the Challenges of Social Transformation

South Africa has imposed transformation targets (quotas) in sports for over a decade. These aim to correct the under-representation of people of colour due to historical discriminatory segregation during the apartheid era.

The tragic murder of George Floyd in May 2020 sparked a worldwide conversation on racism and structural discrimination in the form of the Black Lives Matter movement (BLM). Several South African cricketers came forward with their stories of having suffered due to the institutionally racist nature of the game in South Africa. In July 2021, Cricket South Africa (CSA) appointed the Social Justice and Nation Building (SJN) Ombudsman to contribute to truth, healing, and reconciliation in the game of cricket.

The Ombudsman heard the affected cricketers and officials. It presented its Report in December 2021. It concluded that CSA unfairly discriminated against players on the basis of race and recommended that a permanent ombudsman be appointed and funded to consider race and gender-based complaints and the question of reparations. In organised sports contexts, there is a renewed spotlight on the differential treatment of historically disadvantaged communities on the basis of race, religion, caste, gender, and other such identities. This discussion will throw light on the findings in the Report, the issues emerging from it, and the lessons for the cricketing world, the global sports community, and society at large.

In collaboration with the Sports Law & Policy Centre

The Sports Law & Policy Centre focuses on interdisciplinary research, scholarship, education and institutional support for public and private enterprises in areas relating to the legal, policy and ethical issues affecting amateur and professional sports in India. For more about the organisation and its work visit the website.