FRG25 LC-Diversity- SPORT AND COMMITMENT

During this school term, students explored the lives of various sportsmen and sportswomen, focusing on their political and social commitments. From Colin Kaepernick to Teddy Riner, this sequence helped raise students’ awareness of freedom of expression and civic engagement in sports.

From late May to the end of June, we carried out a sequence in English class with 8th grade students on the topic of sport and its social and political commitments.

The sequence began with the analysis of an iconic image of Colin Kaepernick refusing to stand for the national anthem. Students then studied a Nike advertisement featuring the civil rights activist. This led them to write short texts explaining why it is important for athletes to raise awareness of social issues. In a second session, we explored the case of Muhammad Ali and his role in the civil rights movement, using a short article excerpt and an interview in which he expressed his opposition to the Vietnam War. Students gave their own opinions on the influence such a charismatic figure may have had on American public opinion. We also looked at sportswomen such as Megan Rapinoe, a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, gender equality, and racial justice, as well as Serena Williams, who publicly supported the Black Lives Matter movement.

To conclude the sequence, students created posters about socially and politically engaged athletes, including local or international figures such as Thierry Henry, Teddy Riner, and Marie-José Pérec..

This chapter allowed our students to realize that, due to their fame, athletes can have a significant impact on their country’s social and political life. They gained awareness of the importance of freedom of expression and civic engagement, both as students and as athletes.