Sport as a contested racial/ethnic discourse: Processes of racialization in Dutch sport media and sport policy

Abstract

In this article, we draw on key concepts from cultural studies, post-colonialism, whiteness theory, and sport media studies to search for and discuss shared processes of racialization/ethnization in three sport-related cultural practices – soccer commentary, sport media viewing, and sport policy making. Our analysis reveals how discourses surrounding race/ethnicity in Dutch society are reflected in these sport-related cultural practices and how these sport-related cultural practices can reinforce but also challenge societal discourses surrounding race/ethnicity. We discuss the main, overlapping findings from the three case studies and attend to the operation of whiteness, color blind racism, and the use of so-called ‘sincere fictions’ by White sport media professionals and policy makers. We conclude by offering some suggestions to sport policy makers and sport media professionals for alternative, more inclusive ways of dealing with race/ethnicity.