IOC needs radical change

Food for thought: The Olympic Movement needs to get rid of conformity by confronting the reality of its condescending European past when conformity and homogeneity ruled the day.

Recently, Elon Musk said, “Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are propaganda words for racism, sexism and other ‘isms’. The whole idea (DEI) is morally wrong and must die”.

Musk’s words serve as a wake-up call for DEI advocates and activists. DEI has been hijacked and weaponised by ulterior motives. That’s why Donald Trump, Musk et al can capitalise on an anti-DEI agenda.

Thinking differently and confronting racial injustice

Two years ago this month, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) took the decision to rescind the lifetime bans of 1972 Olympic 400 metres champion Vince Matthews and his American compatriot, silver medallist Wayne Collett. Matthews and Collett were exiled from the Games by then IOC president Avery Brundage after their medal-winning performances at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. It was a 50-year racial injustice that the Olympic movement swept under the carpet.

On reflection two years later, what has changed? Did the effort to get the ban rescinded inspire sport leaders to embrace historical injustices as a forethought and not an afterthought?

A false dawn, nothing changed. The Olympic movement is still a bureaucracy struggling to attain scalable diversity and inclusion. What is antagonising progress?

What can be done? What are we doing wrong? Is it that no matter what good is done it’s just the signs of the times?

Maybe the first question leaders should be asked is: “Why do you lie?”

The concept of equality of opportunity is central to my thoughts on leadership and governance. As are social capital and social cohesion. The challenge is always bridging the gap between idealism and being practical. How are such concepts scalable?

Economist Raj Chetty, who is studying the science of economic opportunity with his Harvard-based group “Opportunity Insights”, asserts that an opportunity economy prioritises equality of opportunity rather than equality of outcomes. It makes interesting reading even though I may not agree with every conclusion.

When people speak about diversity, it’s usually focused on race and gender, not diversity in personality (neurodiversity). We conform to survive rather than embrace confrontation and challenges and as a result, we perpetuate the idea that leaders are above the law.

Question, are we disconnected based on the divide-and-rule culture of European-dominated colonialism, slavery and the plantation economy?

The us-and-them social stratification is embedded in our education system in our business, economic, social and political construct. Look at the unplanned and corrupt way in which spatial and infrastructural development has happened in many parts of the post-colonial world.

Some have the opportunity some don’t. Should the focus be on equality of opportunity rather than equality of outcomes?

If social capital is built on strong social infrastructure, there is an urgent need for reprioritisation and reinvestment in building trust and cohesion; Community-led; Bridging the “me and we”.

The IOC needs change and radical change that will empower meaningful DEI. Anything else will give additional credence to Musk and others who share his perspective.

Neurodiversity – Nothing can flourish without the integration of ideas, cultures and practices given the flow of goods, money, people and information.

I end this week’s Things That Matter with these words – there are things you should not say but then you have to consider the price of not saying them.

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