Could sports stars make a difference? – DW – October 22, 2024

In the blue corner, basketball star Steph Curry appears at the Democratic National Convention. In the red corner, UFC boss Dana White appears at the Republican National Convention. If the line between US politics and sports has been blurred over the past decade, it has dissolved in the run-up to the 2024 US elections.

Athletes across different sports and backgrounds have become increasingly politicized in recent years, whether through supporting a candidate, protesting or simply advocating for people to exercise their right to vote. But will any of this make a meaningful difference on November 5th? Betina Wilkinson thinks so.

“Professional athletes are incredibly powerful, especially those who are successful and have made a name for themselves. “They often have more social media followers than the president of the United States,” Wilkinson, an associate professor in the department of politics and international affairs at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, told DW.

“Individuals look up to professional athletes because their identity is tied to those athletes,” continued Wilkinson, who has studied sports activism and will publish a book on the subject with colleague Lisa Kiang later this year.

“If I’m a big basketball fan, I live in this city and follow a certain player and look at him because he’s so cool and wonderful. If they tell me it’s important, that means I’m more likely to do it.”

Athlete support is pouring in

Curry and White are far from the only US sports stars making their politics public ahead of the fight between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. Professional golfer Jon Daly said: “We’re all in it [professional golf] Tours want Daddy Trump back,” although it’s not clear how much he speaks for others. Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has also endorsed Trump.

“I support the most pro-life president, and I think Donald Trump is the most pro-life president,” he told Fox News earlier this month.

Harris has since sought and received the support of players such as Billie Jean King (tennis), Ali Truwit (Paralympic swimmer) and NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson. All have joined the group “Athletes for Harris,” which was founded in September.

“To all the athletes out there, don’t be afraid to use your platforms – we need all of you to get involved. “Let your friends know that Vice President Harris has an agenda that will move the country forward,” Johnson said.

While Wilkinson believes endorsements have the potential to influence the election, perhaps even in battleground states, she believes athletes simply advocating for people to exercise their right to vote could have a more profound impact. She points to the “More than a Vote” initiative, which was founded by basketball player LeBron James and is now led by basketball player Nneka Ogwumike. Initial advocacy for criminal justice reform began following the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, but under Ogwumike’s leadership the focus has shifted.

Demographics are important

“Women’s sports have experienced incredible growth over the course of my 13-year career in the WNBA. But during that same period, I have witnessed lawmakers abridge my rights and the rights of all the female athletes who make these teams and leagues shine,” Ogwumike said in a statement.

“We cannot stand idly by as women’s freedoms erode, and that’s why I’m leading the way with More Than A Vote to educate and take action on this issue.”

James and Ogwumike are both black athletes. And Wilkinson says studies she and her colleagues have conducted have consistently shown that race and gender are important in spreading a political message in this way.

“Race plays a role sometimes. For example, if a Black athlete makes a statement about criminal justice reform, Black people are more likely to change their stance. But interestingly, this is not true across the board. When people who identify as… Change their minds When white people were exposed to a statement from a white female athlete – for example, from Megan Rapinoe about criminal justice reform and raising awareness about police brutality – they were less receptive to it. It actually had the opposite effect [turned them away from her perspective].”

Trump and Harris see the power of sports

Given the slim margin of victory and the importance placed on advertising in US election campaigns, it is perhaps unsurprising that both candidates have recognized the power of sports to influence voters. Earlier this month, Trump’s campaign ran ads attacking Harris’ stance on transgender issues during NFL and college American football games. Similarly, Harris put banners on planes during a recent round of games, specifically choosing games and venues in swing states where her messages are believed to have the best chance of making a difference.

“We know that those who have a strong sporting identity are more likely to change their stance on an issue. If they’re exposed to the professional athlete making a statement on this issue, then that makes sense to Kamala.” “Harris is supposed to be advertising at the games, right? And it makes sense for Donald Trump to run ads,” Wilkinson said.

“When individuals see these ads, they think, ‘The NFL is associated with this particular candidate, and here I am at the game, and therefore my identity is associated with the NFL,’ which can have a big impact on their ability to be more open to be in favor of electing a candidate.”

But such tactics can also backfire. Wilkinson noted that this is particularly true among white conservative voters who view sports as escapism and resent the encroachment of politics on them.

“Whether it’s pro-Trump or pro-Harris, they don’t like it when sports and politics mix, and they have a visceral reaction where they’re very angry about it,” she added.

It is clear that the words and political actions of athletes will play a role in the upcoming election, whether through support or encouragement to get involved. It may not be the sole deciding factor, but in elections, as in sports, marginal gains matter.

Will Trump or Harris create or destroy NATO?

To view this video, please enable JavaScript and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 videos