Is sport political?
Adult education centre: Lecture and discussion on 11 October, 7 p.m., TIETZ, event hall
On Tuesday, 11 October at 7 pm, interested parties are invited to a lecture entitled "Is sport political?" followed by a discussion in the TIETZ event hall. Author and journalist Ronny Blaschke will address the question of the extent to which political aspects characterise the world of sport.
Participation is free of charge. Registration is possible online at www.vhs-chemnitz.de/kurs/w2210120 or by telephone on 0371 488-4343.
Criticism of major sporting events is becoming ever louder. The main criticism is the choice of host countries, in which the rulers of autocratic regimes want to present themselves favourably and profit economically through so-called "sportswashing". In Germany, for example, numerous fan initiatives are mobilising for a boycott of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The regime is accused of numerous human rights violations, including during the construction work in preparation for the World Cup. Organisations such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the football association FIFA are countering the criticism of the choice of venues. They argue that sport is and must remain "apolitical".
Speaker Ronny Blaschke disagrees with this statement. In his opinion, major sporting events and politics have always belonged together and cannot be clearly separated. At the adult education centre event, he will discuss these questions, among others, with the audience: Are events such as the World Cup or the Olympics instrumentalised by dictators? Should they be boycotted? And which political movements are utilising sport, for example?
Ronny Blaschke studied sport and political science and works as a freelance journalist mainly in the field of sport and sport politics, focussing on violence, discrimination and geopolitics. He is also a presenter and is involved as a speaker in political education. As an author, his current book "Machtspieler. Football in Propaganda, War and Revolution", he examines how politics instrumentalises football.
The event is a cooperation between the Saxon State Centre for Political Education and the Chemnitz Adult Education Centre as part of the "Kontrovers vor Ort" project.