A conceptual model and research agenda for bidding, planning and delivering Major sport events that lever human rights

Abstract

In this conceptual paper, the authors propose a framework for how progressive human rights outcomes may be obtained in the context of bidding, planning and implementing major sport events (MSEs) through the implementation of four pathways, including good governance, the democratic participation of stakeholders, the formalisation of human rights agendas, and the deployment of sensitive urban development. The authors argue that there is a need for adherence to internationally recognised standards, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights if rhetorical statements from MSE awarding bodies and host organisers are to be accountable to a wider set of actors. If researchers and practitioners want to address some of the critical issues related to human rights and MSEs, it is imperative that key actors working in the rights sphere are involved in shaping the research agenda and monitoring its implementation. Academics need to take a proactive approach aimed at achieving both theoretically grounded and practically relevant solutions, with engagement occurring over an extended period of time. This approach, avowedly political and concerned with genuine action, is a key way in which MSE stakeholders can be held to account for their actions in regard to human rights.

The role of advocacy organisations for ethical mega sport events

“…While previous studies have explored the relationships between MSE hosting and human rights and the related ethical aspects, there is little research and managerial advice that has considered the role of advocacy organisations in leveraging these events to improve human rights outcomes. This is despite the fact that McGillivray et al (2019) have suggested that NGOs should be integrated into the bidding, planning and delivering MSEs from early on, to ensure "transparency and inclusiveness of the governance structure" (p. 184). In what follows, we explore the role of advocacy organisations in the context of MSEs.…”

“…Specific to the potential of MSEs to promote progressive human rights agendas, McGillivray et al (2019) proposed a conceptual framework highlighting a life-cycle approach to embedding human rights in the bidding, planning and delivery of MSEs. This model advocates that MSEs include "good governance, democratic participation of stakeholders, formalisation of human rights agendas and urban development for strengthening human rights" to realise their potential for positive social change (p. 185).…”

“…This model advocates that MSEs include "good governance, democratic participation of stakeholders, formalisation of human rights agendas and urban development for strengthening human rights" to realise their potential for positive social change (p. 185). Inclusiveness of stakeholders by international sport organisations and hosting committees within the governance structure is critical to the development of human rights-based change through MSEs (McGillivray et al, 2019). However, with respect to MSEs, threats to embedding a human rights agenda have often included a lack of transparency and inclusiveness in governance structures and a resistance to adopt human rights-based governance models.…”

“…Without collaboration, sport governing bodies and host committees may face pressure and disruption from stakeholders, preventing the formalisation of human rights agendas. McGillivray et al (2019) suggest that their human rights-based MSE governance model may be dependent on the work of NGOs seeking to promote human rights issues and specifically change practices of MSEs and sport governing bodies in relation to human rights. In this sense, the role of advocacy organisations may act similarly to what Schulenkorf (2012) calls change agents related to sport for development and peace efforts.…”

Sustainability in Mega-Events: Beyond Qatar 2022

“…Other pillars of sustainability, such as the economic [92][93][94][95] or social sustainability [96][97][98][99][100][101][102][103], attract less individual attention, even though they are equally important to consider as the environmental issues because they are all interrelated. However, several studies consider these topics under the study approach of multisectoral legacies [3,14,19,22,[104][105][106][107][108][109][110][111][112][113][114][115][116][117][118][119][120], with "legacy" as one of the most important concepts in the conception of SMEs.…”