Sport and Migration Flashcards
What is sports labour migration?
The movement of athletes, coaches, trainers, fans, and ancillary staff across the globe due to globalization.
What does Appadurai (1990) mean by “ethnoscape”?
An “ever-shifting ethnoscape” describes the dynamic interactions among mobile people and cultures in a global context.
How does sports labour migration relate to commodification?
It’s a key aspect of late-capitalist commodification, where sport becomes a market-driven entity requiring mobility and labor.
Who migrates in the sports sector?
Not just athletes; coaches, trainers, fans, and ancillary staff also participate in sports migration.
What challenges do sports migrants face?
They encounter various circumstances, barriers, and incentives that create unique patterns, issues, and conflicts.
What are “labour cosmopolitans”?
Migrants who enjoy financial and geographical mobility in the sports sector
What does Miller et al. (2003) say about sports workers?
There is a “huge army of labour and ancillary workers” often subjected to massive exploitation.
What is Maguire’s view on sports migrants?
Sports migrants must do “body work” in various locations, facing degrees of exploitation, dislocation, and cultural adjustment.
What was the Grannygate case?
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.
What changes occurred in eligibility regulations in 2000?
International players could only represent one national team, halting interchanges between Pacific island nations and New Zealand.
How many caps did Howarth earn for New Zealand and Wales?
4 caps for New Zealand (1994) and 19 caps for Wales (1998-2000).
How does talent migration affect Samoan rugby?
Many Samoans seek opportunities in NZ rugby for economic reasons, weakening Samoa’s position as players become ineligible after representing NZ.
What is the concern regarding island rugby?
There’s a fear that island rugby will become a feeder program for Australia and New Zealand, diminishing its independent status.
What impact did IRB Regulation 8 have on Samoa?
It weakened Samoa’s rugby standing by rendering many players ineligible if they had represented New Zealand.
What happened to players from Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga in the 2003 RWC?
Over 10 players were unavailable due to club commitments in Europe, reflecting the tension between club and national duties.
What did Trevor Leota express regarding club commitments?
Leota felt sad for Samoa but prioritized family financial needs over national representation, highlighting economic pressures on players.
What is the economic hierarchy in global rugby?
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).
What is ‘player drain’?
The out-migration of players seeking lucrative opportunities, leading to a loss of knowledge and experience for their home countries.
What are some forms of protectionism in rugby?
Selection eligibility restrictions and domestic clauses, such as foreign quotas in national competitions.
What are key features of sports labour migration?
Symptomatic of broader global flows.
Varying opportunities and experiences.
Reflects economic imbalance (core-periphery dynamics).
Influenced by gender, race, and socio-political factors.
What is the functionalist view on sports labour migration?
It emphasizes athlete mobility as a functional aspect of global sport, viewing migration as a strategy for individuals to access higher income and opportunities.
How does migration contribute to economic value in sports?
Attracting skilled migrants enhances the economic value of the host country, optimizing talent distribution within the global sports system.
What do Bale & Sang (1994) argue about the global sports system?
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.
What are the key relationships of sports labour migration?
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.
What defines the economic hierarchy in global soccer leagues?
Economically strong leagues (e.g., La Liga, Premier League) attract elite players, while less wealthy leagues compete for established or secondary talent.
What dilemma did Ryan Nelsen face regarding club vs. country?
He expressed frustration about prioritizing club commitments over national representation, fearing injury could jeopardize his contract during a friendly match.
How does the Samoan diaspora influence sports migration?
Historical, cultural, and colonial linkages facilitate the migration process, creating ‘talent pipelines’ between countries, especially between New Zealand and Samoa.
What historical events shaped the NZ-Samoa relationship?
From 1916-1962, NZ administered Samoa, granting independence in 1962. Samoans born 1920-1947 received NZ citizenship, encouraging immigration to address underemployment.
How has Samoan migration influenced New Zealand culture?
A sizeable Samoan presence has significantly influenced NZ culture, particularly in rugby, fostering crossover between the two rugby cultures until 2000.
