Global Sport Matters

With just six months to go, the International Olympic Committee and Japan are battling rumors about whether or not the games will take place. In a recent poll conducted by Japanese news agency Kyodo and the Tokyo Broadcasting System, 80% of respondents said the games should not happen as COVID-19 continues to rise in the island country. Last week the London Times reported that the Japanese Government has already privately concluded the games need to be cancelled and are looking for a way to announce the news while saving face, according to an unnamed senior member of the ruling coalition.

Even without local fans, should the games go on without proper infrastructure and enforcement, many say it has the ingredients for a superspreader event.

On the show today we talk about the fate of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics with Jules Boykoff, professor at Pacific University and expert on politics of the Olympic games, as well as Lori Okimura, former chair of USA Volleyball and International Technical Official for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

As we enter 2021, we continue to have tough conversations about the problems facing our communities. The COVID-19 pandemic, racial injustice, and political tension have exacerbated divisions and inequities in all aspects of life, including sport. However, it is vital to remain optimistic and support one another during these disruptive times.

On today’s podcast, we talk to the experts who are doing the work to create solutions that impact the future of sport. This conversation comes from our virtual event series, GSM Live.

The Dream and the WNBA brought national attention to the Georgia run-offs when players spoke out against team co-owner and former senator Kelly Loeffler. The resulting action has many wondering, can there be more leagues and organizations like the WNBA? And will there be real progress with demands for social justice through the power of coalition?

As the host and founder of Sports Business Radio, Brian Berger gives his audience a look into the sports industry on and off the court. Berger adapted his broadcast to a podcast several years ago and is now reaping the benefits in full effect. He has noted a significant boom in podcast listeners and subscribers as people search for new entertainment throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Berger finds the medium to be incredibly educational, genuine, and almost therapeutic.

This year was not an anomaly, it was a breaking point and so many of us are ready to change direction, disarm the old guard, and push forward into a world that represents what sport is: For everyone.

Here are 10 people who have done the work, and will continue to make progress in 2021.

In this final stretch of 2020, it’s important to pause and reflect on what we can learn from this year. Everyone has faced unprecedented challenges, primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Joining us to discuss what the impact of this year meant to them, and what 2021 might look like are Bill Rhoden, Kurt Streeter, and Ken Shropshire.

In this year's final GSM Live, experts from around the world share their reflections on sport in 2020 and their predictions for 2021.

Last Wednesday marked a sad day in the world of sport. Rafer Johnson, the iconic American decathlete, passed away at the age of 86. Johnson made a lasting impact on the world and individuals like Anita Lucette DeFrantz, a former Olympic rower, the first woman vice president of the IOC, and former president of the LA84 Foundation. Johnson’s legacy will live on, and he will be remembered by generations for his courage, excellence, and humanitarianism.

Bill Rhoden and Ken Shropshire welcome Wendell Haskins, an entrepreneur with a vision of paying homage to African American pioneers in the sport of golf. And we also pay tribute to Rafer Johnson, Athlete. Philanthropist and Civil Rights Leader, who passed away this week.

*A warning that this episode does contain content that references historic recounts of violence against Native people, and specifically a historic account of sexual violence against Native women.

On July 13th, it was announced that Washington Football Team would retire their racist name and logo. While this change is a victory, it does not eliminate the racial injustices faced by the Native American community. The battle has been fought in and out of court for decades. Joining to discuss are Amanda Blackhorse, along with Mojave American Poet Natalie Diaz, Olympic Gold Medalist Billy Mills, and Arizona State University Professor of Indigenous education and justice, Bryan Brayboy.