There is something going on in UK sport and it has people talking. I am not talking about Tim Henman once again failing to advance through Wimbledon, or the dicey form of the English cricket team. The chatter is about the rise of Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton. For those that have not been following the motor sport racing news, Lewis Hamilton is a 22 year old from England who has debuted this season and has been on the podium at every race and currently leads the championship. He qualified fastest for the British Grand Prix – the first Brit to do so in eleven years. Oh, and he is ‘black’.
Although we are far removed in little ole New Zealand, the emergence of a new minority role model in a non-traditional sport is something that resonates in a country with an ethnically diverse population.
Immigration brings together different languages, cultures and social norms. In a lot of countries these differences can lead to barriers to integration, but there is one activity that can transcend all this: sports. In New Zealand we are lucky to live in a largely socially mobile society that allows kids from differing backgrounds to get together in a variety of sporting settings. I am not saying that all is perfect, but we are lucky that there are perceived to be fewer barriers to entering certain sports than in some other countries. Rugby union, rugby league, cricket and netball are some of most widely played sports, and present quite a good representation of New Zealand society. Expand this out to badminton and table tennis and I would nearly say you have a microcosm!
Like it or not, these sports-people are considered heroes by many and role models to a large number of young people. Successful sports-people give an insight into the rewards that skill, tenacity and dedication can bring. Subsequently our sports-people have a role in shaping the aspirations of children. This means that high profile sports stars are no longer able to operate within a bubble of anonymity – their actions both on and off the field are under scrutiny. For example, a lot of the Warriors league players are drawn from communities that are in need of strong role models, and I don’t think that it is wrong that these players should bear some weight of public expectation on their personal actions.
Back to the UK. The rise of Lewis Hamilton in a notoriously expensive – and subsequently somewhat elitist – sport has shown that there are opportunities for kids from all walks of life to join in non-traditional sports and succeed. Until now motorsport has largely been ignored by the UK’s black population but that is now changing. I am sure the British grand prix will have had its largest number of viewers for some time. Lewis Hamilton is a role model to youth, to the British public and to ethnic minorities. A big burden, but one that may prove to help encourage youth in a way that sportspeople have not in a long time. Perhaps sport really is more than just a game.
Note: Lewis Hamilton finished third in the British Grand Prix, but still leads the championship.