Indigeneity as scandal : mediation and governance of sport

As a key social institution in Australia that is often called upon to describe, define and even to stand for the nation (Rowe 2013), sport has sometimes refused the Indigenous/non-Indigenous distinction. That is, some people playing, administering and watching sport have been inclined to adopt the position that, if sport is to bring people together in equality, it should not draw attention to the fact that some of the people involved in sport are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, and others are not. From this perspective, it is best to emphasise what unites people – their ‘Australianness’, love of the game, skill and sense of fair play – rather than what divides them. The idea that sport can and should give rise to a ‘colour-blind’ sensibility appeals powerfully to a certain ideal of an Australian community. However, the refusal of Indigenous/ non-Indigenous difference has been open to two criticisms: (1) that it fails to recognise the distinct and valuable contribution that Indigenous Australians have made to Australian sport (Tatz 1996); and (2) that it obstructs critical attention to the harm that racism can do to sport and to the nation. There has been a notable shift in Australian culture from demanding ‘colour-blindness’ to insisting on the relevance of the Indigenous/non-Indigenous distinction. Many contemporary sporting organisations are now committed to making that distinction in the name of fairness and respect: they honour the distinct Indigenous athletic contribution and explicitly commit to eliminating any practices – by players, fans or organisations – that can be identified as ‘racist’.