Sport and Migration

Question 1

What is sports labour migration?

Answer 1

The movement of athletes, coaches, trainers, fans, and ancillary staff across the globe due to globalization.

Question 2

What does Appadurai (1990) mean by “ethnoscape”?

Answer 2

An “ever-shifting ethnoscape” describes the dynamic interactions among mobile people and cultures in a global context.

Question 3

How does sports labour migration relate to commodification?

Answer 3

It’s a key aspect of late-capitalist commodification, where sport becomes a market-driven entity requiring mobility and labor.

Question 4

Who migrates in the sports sector?

Answer 4

Not just athletes; coaches, trainers, fans, and ancillary staff also participate in sports migration.

Question 5

What challenges do sports migrants face?

Answer 5

They encounter various circumstances, barriers, and incentives that create unique patterns, issues, and conflicts.

Question 6

What are “labour cosmopolitans”?

Answer 6

Migrants who enjoy financial and geographical mobility in the sports sector

Question 7

What does Miller et al. (2003) say about sports workers?

Answer 7

There is a “huge army of labour and ancillary workers” often subjected to massive exploitation.

Question 8

What is Maguire’s view on sports migrants?

Answer 8

Sports migrants must do “body work” in various locations, facing degrees of exploitation, dislocation, and cultural adjustment.

Question 9

What was the Grannygate case?

Answer 9

Howarth, who had no Welsh ancestry, played for Wales by claiming eligibility through a Welsh-born paternal grandfather, leading to stricter international eligibility regulations in 2000.

Question 10

What changes occurred in eligibility regulations in 2000?

Answer 10

International players could only represent one national team, halting interchanges between Pacific island nations and New Zealand.

Question 11

How many caps did Howarth earn for New Zealand and Wales?

Answer 11

4 caps for New Zealand (1994) and 19 caps for Wales (1998-2000).

Question 12

How does talent migration affect Samoan rugby?

Answer 12

Many Samoans seek opportunities in NZ rugby for economic reasons, weakening Samoa’s position as players become ineligible after representing NZ.

Question 13

What is the concern regarding island rugby?

Answer 13

There’s a fear that island rugby will become a feeder program for Australia and New Zealand, diminishing its independent status.

Question 14

What impact did IRB Regulation 8 have on Samoa?

Answer 14

It weakened Samoa’s rugby standing by rendering many players ineligible if they had represented New Zealand.

Question 15

What happened to players from Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga in the 2003 RWC?

Answer 15

Over 10 players were unavailable due to club commitments in Europe, reflecting the tension between club and national duties.

Question 16

What did Trevor Leota express regarding club commitments?

Answer 16

Leota felt sad for Samoa but prioritized family financial needs over national representation, highlighting economic pressures on players.

Question 17

What is the economic hierarchy in global rugby?

Answer 17

Peripheral nations (like Pacific nations) are underdeveloped compared to semi-periphery (e.g., NZ), which is underdeveloped relative to core economies (e.g., Britain, France).

Question 18

What is ‘player drain’?

Answer 18

The out-migration of players seeking lucrative opportunities, leading to a loss of knowledge and experience for their home countries.

Question 19

What are some forms of protectionism in rugby?

Answer 19

Selection eligibility restrictions and domestic clauses, such as foreign quotas in national competitions.

Question 20

What are key features of sports labour migration?

Answer 20

Symptomatic of broader global flows.
Varying opportunities and experiences.
Reflects economic imbalance (core-periphery dynamics).
Influenced by gender, race, and socio-political factors.

Question 21

What is the functionalist view on sports labour migration?

Answer 21

It emphasizes athlete mobility as a functional aspect of global sport, viewing migration as a strategy for individuals to access higher income and opportunities.

Question 22

How does migration contribute to economic value in sports?

Answer 22

Attracting skilled migrants enhances the economic value of the host country, optimizing talent distribution within the global sports system.

Question 23

What do Bale & Sang (1994) argue about the global sports system?

Answer 23

They highlight a structure of inequality resembling global political and economic systems, with a sports-core, semi-periphery, and periphery, emphasizing trans-national migration of sports talent.

Question 24

What are the key relationships of sports labour migration?

Answer 24

It involves a relationship between host countries (in-migration) and donor countries (out-migration), often reflecting economic hierarchies between developed (core) and underdeveloped (periphery) sports systems.

Question 25

What defines the economic hierarchy in global soccer leagues?

Answer 25

Economically strong leagues (e.g., La Liga, Premier League) attract elite players, while less wealthy leagues compete for established or secondary talent.

Question 26

What dilemma did Ryan Nelsen face regarding club vs. country?

Answer 26

He expressed frustration about prioritizing club commitments over national representation, fearing injury could jeopardize his contract during a friendly match.

Question 27

How does the Samoan diaspora influence sports migration?

Answer 27

Historical, cultural, and colonial linkages facilitate the migration process, creating ‘talent pipelines’ between countries, especially between New Zealand and Samoa.

Question 28

What historical events shaped the NZ-Samoa relationship?

Answer 28

From 1916-1962, NZ administered Samoa, granting independence in 1962. Samoans born 1920-1947 received NZ citizenship, encouraging immigration to address underemployment.

Question 29

How has Samoan migration influenced New Zealand culture?

Answer 29

A sizeable Samoan presence has significantly influenced NZ culture, particularly in rugby, fostering crossover between the two rugby cultures until 2000.