ABSTRACT
This chapter critically examines progress being made on addressing negative human rights impacts on athletes at mega-sporting events (MSEs) through the lens of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) recently published strategic framework on human rights. While it is incredibly positive that the IOC and other sport governing bodies (SGBs) are beginning to address human rights issues as they relate to athletes, a gap continues to exist between the rhetoric and the reality of sport. The IOC, for example, has framed its three ‘spheres of responsibility’ and five ‘focus areas’ so as to maintain a high level of control over free or low-cost athlete labour and intellectual property. The chapter argues that progress on human rights for athletes, including labour rights, is not a zero-sum game and that all sport stakeholders would benefit if athletes could perform better for longer through a decent work agenda that guaranteed an independent social dialogue in the governance of their sport and a safe work environment free from discrimination and harassment with fair compensation.
