Transmission Spring 2012

Sport, and the Olympics

An exploration of the status and prophetic role of the Special Olympic Movement in light of the London 2012 Olympic and .

Reflection on disability sport to date has primarily But there are voluminous amounts of evidence that focussed on issues surrounding embodiment, demonstrate that modern commercialised professional competitive classification, social exclusion, sport is plagued with moral and ethical issues. More biomechanical study of prostheses, governance and often than not, these are rooted in a prideful heart, media and cinematic representations of athletes with that seeks to ‘win-at-all-costs’, resulting in cheating, . Theological analysis has been virtually verbal and physical violence, alienation in relationships, non-existent. This is not surprising, considering that doping, political boycotts, financial greed and corruption, historically the world Church (the Catholic community self-exaltation and on the horizon genetic performance have arguably led the way in inclusion and provision enhancement technologies for athletes. for the disabled) has had a poor record in regard to the Nick It is therefore interesting to consider Paul’s paradoxical inclusion of those with physical or Watson ministry of ‘power through weakness’ (the self-emptying in ecclesiological praxis. In recent times though, there gospel of Christ), described in 2 Corinthians, and the self- Nick Watson is a are very positive signs of change.1 Senior Lecturer in exalting cultural setting of first-century Corinth. Is not Sport, Culture and My aim in this article is to provide some provisional this in many ways a mirror-image of the self-promoting, Religion at York St thoughts on how Christians may understand disability celebrity culture of today and twenty-first century sport? John University, a sport. In particular, I will focus on athletes with As theologian, Amos Yong notes, ‘Paul would be critical founder member of the Centre for intellectual disabilities and the , the of the values that prevail over the contemporary culture Sport, Spirituality movement that represents them, who I contend are an of sport. More precisely, when read across the Corinthian and Religion and incarnational prophetic message for the big-business letters, Paul’s model athlete is less the champion of the is part of a church world of professional sport.2 Isthmian games than today’s Special Olympian.’4 The leadership team. provocative image of a disabled wheelchair athlete on The Modern Sporting Institution: Setting the the front cover of Jonathon Lamb’s recent commentary Scene of 2 Corinthians, also further illustrates this link.5 In Consultant psychiatrists working in sport have noted relation, there is a consistent biblical mandate that also that thoughts of weakness, vulnerability and humility are permeates the classical writings of Thomas á Kempis, an ‘anathema’ to the modern able-bodied professional Oswald Chambers, Francois Fenelon, Andrew Murray athlete.3 I do not in any way denigrate the quest for and CS Lewis, which instructs us ‘to humble ourselves’ excellence in sport or any other human endeavour (e.g. Phil 2.1–11; 1 Pet 5.5–6), that is, we must choose (e.g. music, dancing, art, parenting, preaching, peeling to prefer others and not exalt ourselves in the quest for a potatoes, etc.), determined performances, disciplined worldly reputation or riches. Success, status and winning, training regimes and the emotional intensity that often while neutral concepts in themselves, when corrupted characterise modern sports participation and fandom. by humans for selfish ends, are values diametrically

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opposed to the gospel. As Oswald Chambers counsels, act as sources of existential meaning and identity for ‘our Lord’s teaching is always anti-self-realization … his many sports fans (i.e. a pseudo-religion). The enduring Notes purpose is to make a man exactly like himself’.6 To be forces of secularisation (1800–) on Western modern 1. J Swinton, B Brock, A sure, according to modern cultural standards of success, social history have left a spiritual void that sports Yong, J Hull, H Nouwen, S Hauerwas and J Vanier Jesus Christ was the greatest failure in human history, he now partially occupy. The aesthetic, communal, ritual, have all made insightful was ‘crucified in weakness’ (2 Cor 13.4), something that mythic, symbolic, heroic and transcendent features of contributions. was clearly prophesied by Isaiah (52.13–15; 53) in the modern sports provide new liturgies for participants and 2. Ideas and sections suffering servant discourse. fans, which substitute those of the Christian tradition. of this article are based Consider, for example, the ritual and communal upon two previous Arguing from this standpoint, radical Christian scholars, publications: NJ Watson, dimensions of the opening and closing ceremonies of the such as William Stringfellow and Jacques Ellul, and ‘Special Olympians as Olympic and Paralympic games. These evolved in-part, a “Prophetic Sign” to more recently the Old Testament theologian, Walter from the vision of the founder of the modern Olympics, the Modern Sporting Brueggemann, claim that many of the national, Babel’, in NJ Watson & A Baron de Coubertin, who regarded the philosophy of political and institutional structures of Western Parker (eds), Sports and Olympism as a ‘universal humanistic religion’ bathed in Christianity: Historical industrialised societies are to some degree driven by ritual and ceremony. This is something that theologian, and Contemporary the principalities and powers (e.g. Lk 8.29–33, Gal Perspectives (New York, Ashley Null, suggests is ‘completely antithetical to 4.3; Eph 1.21; 6.12; Col 1.15–16; 2.15). Conversely, Routledge, 2012); NJ Christian doctrine’8 and which has led to many of the Watson & A Parker, more liberal theological voices have often confused ethical quandaries that now permeates the sports realm, ‘Christianity, Disability (even supplanted) the meaning and spiritual reality and Sport: A Case Study not least the idolatrous worship of sporting icons. of the ‘principalities and powers’ with earthly forces/ of the Role of Long- Distance Running in the institutions themselves. There is a middle ground here This said, it is an extremely positive shift in cultural Life of a Father and a that John Stott communicates well: if ‘we become too norms, that a number of high-profile physically disabled Son who is Congenitally negative towards society and its structures … we find athletes have in recent times become celebrities, Blind and has Profound Intellectual Disabilities’, it hard to believe or say anything good about them, so thus providing positive role models for the disabled Practical Theology (under corrupt they do appear. Advocates of the new theory community. To my knowledge, however, there are and review). warn us against deifying structures; I want to warn them never have been, any Special Olympians who have 3. D Begel & RW Burton against demonizing them. Both are extremes to avoid.’7 attained ‘celebrity status’ in the orbits of Western (eds), Sport Psychiatry: Thus, I fiercely champion thepotential good of sport but media. This reflects a series of deeply entrenched (and Theory and Practice (New York: WW Norton and also argue the case that the institution of professional unconscious) societal values that marginalise and Company, 2000). commercialised sport is one edifice in the modern tower devalue those with intellectual disabilities. China’s 4. A Yong, ‘Running the of Babel. Herein lays the prophetic potential of athletes so-called ‘celebration of the Paralympics’ at the 2008 (Special) Race: New with intellectual disabilities and the movement that Beijing Olympiad, perhaps demonstrates a more (Pauline) Perspectives on represents them, the Special Olympics. conscious marginalisation, oppression and devaluing Disability and Theology of Sport’, Journal of Religion, of the disabled (e.g. sex-selective abortion and genetic Disability and Health. The Special Olympics: An Incarnational Prophetic foetal testing to identity abnormalities with the goal 5. J Lamb, Discovering 2 Sign? of abortion), which was largely a smoke-screen for their Corinthians (Leicester: continued emergence on the global stage. Indeed, Crossway Books, 1999). ‘God chose things the world considers foolish in order many Olympics scholars and human-rights organisations to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose 6. O Chambers, My (e.g. Amnesty International) seriously questioned the Utmost for His Highest, things that are powerless to shame those who are International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision (Uhrichsville, OH: Barbour, powerful. God chose things despised by the world, 1935, 2 September, ‘The to allow China to host the 2008 games, noting that Sacrament of Sacrifice’). things counted as nothing at all, and used them to the ‘moral authority’ of the IOC as a force for ‘global 7. J Stott, God’s New bring to nothing what the world considers important. peace’ (one aspect of the philosophy of Olympism) As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of Society: The Message was consequently diminished. Here is an example of of Ephesians (Leicester: God’ (1 Cor 1.27–29, NLT). where ‘strength and power’ (in making the decision in Inter-Varsity Press, 1980), p. 274. If we accept that sporting locales are frequently defence of human rights), rather than ‘weakness and 8. A Null, ‘Finding the characterised by values and behaviours that are vulnerability’, would have been the Christ-like response Right Place: Professional the antithesis to the Christian gospel, it is then from the IOC. Returning to the notion that the Special Sport as a Christian proposed that the weakness, vulnerability, openness Olympic movement has an incarnational prophetic Vocation’, in D Deardorff & J White (eds), The and humility that is often demonstrated in Special message for the big-business world of sport, I argue, Image of God in the 9 Olympians (and other types of disability sports) carries building on the framework of Wolf Wolensberger, the Human Body: Essays on an incarnational prophetic message. Following other following ways in which it fulfils this mandate: Christianity and Sports disability theologians, I in no way suggest that those (Lampeter: The Edwin People with intellectual disabilities are much more Mellen Press, 2008), p. with intellectual disabilities are foolish but that their 325. public and visible and are internationally recognised. lives interrogate and critique culturally bound notions The Special Olympics, which is the world’s largest 9. W Wolfensberger, of ‘normality’ and self-worth. In this way, the movement organisation for persons with intellectual disabilities ‘The Prophetic Voice acts as a foil, an intentional offence from God to an and the Presence of serves 3.1 million athletes (children from eight years Mentally Retarded institution built largely on human effort and driven by and adults) and their families in 175 countries and People in the World a secular self-exalting spirit. Sporting demi-gods, such as Today’, in W Gaventa has 805,000 volunteers, 244,000 coaches, 500,000 & C Coulter (eds), The David Beckham and Tiger Woods (until recently), often officials and organises 44,136 international and

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regional competitions around the globe each year. community. People with intellectual disabilities often Theological Voice of Wolf Wolfensberger The 7,500 athletes that attended the summer 2011 see beyond our masks and defences, in that they seem (Binghamton, New York: Special Olympics in Athens, in terms of numbers, far to have what some disability theologians have called a The Haworth Pastoral surpasses the projected 4,200 Paralympic athletes that ‘spiritual antennae’ that is not determined by intellectual Press, 2001), pp. 11–48. will compete at London 2012. This has led Timothy capacity (1 Cor 1.18–31). In their vulnerability and 10. T Shriver, ‘Opening Shriver (CEO) to call the Special Olympics a ‘civil rights transparency they relationally touch recesses of our Address of Timothy 10 Shriver (CEO)’, Special movement of the heart – powered by sport’. hearts that we may not normally reveal, for fear of Olympics Global Congress, appearing weak or incompetent in front of others due to Non-disabled and disabled persons are sharing their 7 June (2010), Marrakech, defensive pride and/or fear of difference. The spiritual Morocco. Available online: lives, often living together. This is personified in L’Arche giant, Oswald Chambers, experienced something of www.specialolympics. communities where those with disabilities (especially org/slideshow-global- this, when he was on the brink of psychic collapse intellectual disabilities) and ‘assistants’, live together congress-photos.aspx and in a spiritual desert during his inward journey of (accessed 15 September, in a ‘spirit of mutuality’, learning from one another. abandonment to God. During a Christian meeting that 2010). Jean Vanier agrees in principle with Wolfensberger he was leading, a girl with intellectual disabilities, known 11. RJ Farrell, PRE Crocker, that persons with disabilities carry a prophetic as ‘daft Meg’, approached Oswald and placed a bunch MH McDonough & WA message. Disability sport organisations and events, Sedgwick, ‘The Driving of withered flowers on a table next to him. Tied to the for example, the Special Olympics and Paralympics Force: Motivation in flowers was a piece of paper that, said, ‘With love from Special Olympics’, that have spawned thousands of regional and local daft Meg’. Oswald described this as a ‘tender touch from Adapted Physical Activity events worldwide, to some degree offer this community Quarterly 21 (2004), pp. the Father conveying His presence and love’.14 It is then spirit through relationships and social support. This is 160, 164. interesting to note, that in the tradition of the Special supported by the results of studies that have examined 12. G Stallings & S Olympics, each athlete is not only given a medal but also the motivations for athletes participation in the Special Cook, Another Season: A ‘a hug’ after competing, something that unfortunately Coach’s Story of Raising Olympics, in which they found that ‘athletes identified in modern society, may be questioned because it an Exceptional Son friendships in the program as the key reason they (New York: Broadway could encourage ‘inappropriate social behaviour’ with enjoyed Special Olympics … the importance placed on Publishing, 1997), p. 66. strangers. relatedness by these participants was striking’.11 13. J Kersh & GN Siperstein (2010), ‘The Disabled people are gentling others, through their Conclusion Positive Contributions vulnerability, weakness and presence. This, I would of Special Olympics to Let us hope and pray that the London 2012 Olympic the Family’, available argue, is Wolfsenberger’s most pertinent point for the and Paralympic games are a force for good, celebrating on the Official Special sports world. It is suggested that those with intellectual Olympics website www. human excellence, building communities and positive disabilities have a ‘gentling’ influence on others, making specialolympics.org, p. 4. international relations. In turn, let the Christian them more compassionate, patient and tender in 14. D McCasland, Oswald community wholeheartedly support Lord Coe’s vision relationships; a humanising influence on others, through Chambers: Abandoned of a ‘positive legacy’ for this sporting mega-event in to God (Grand Rapids, which we meet with the vulnerability and brokenness our nation, as demonstrated by the work of the inter- MI: Discovery House of others. Similarly, Timothy Shriver suggests that it Publishers), p. 84. denominational Church organisation, More than Gold. is ‘soul power’ that gentles others and leads them to But I also ask Christians to pause and remember that 15. J Moltmann, ‘Liberate consider spiritual and relational issues. Ideally this would Yourselves by Accepting our Lord’s gospel was not one of success, winning and always be the case. However, it is also important to One Another’, in NL competition. Conversely, it was characterised by a Eiesland & DE Saliers acknowledge that persons with intellectual disabilities ‘theology of vulnerability’ and an ethos of ‘downward (eds), Human Disability can be violent, stubborn and very challenging in their and the Service of God: mobility’ that is seldom witnessed in the sports world. behaviour, something that any parent of a disabled Reassessing Religious In Jesus words, ‘the first shall be last, and the last shall Practice (Nashville, TN: child or carer will testify to. The ‘hardening of the heart’, be first’. Moltmann, recognised this in stating that ‘a Abingdon Press, 1998), rather than gentling, is then always a potential outcome p. 121. person with disabilities gives others the precious insight for those who are in regular contact with individuals into the woundedness and weakness of human life’.15 16. C Whitney-Brown, with intellectual disabilities. Jean Vanier: Essential Perhaps the Special Olympics have a prophetic message Writings (Maryknoll, New In wider sporting circles, the story of Gene Stallings, York: Orbis Books, 2008), for the world of sport and a Church which at times can pp. 167–8. a highly competitive professional American football be too closely linked to the celebrity culture of the age, coach who has a son with Down syndrome, provides a rather than those broken in mind, body and heart … good example.12 Through his relationship with his son, the marginalised, addicted, homeless and lost: ‘There Stallings quickly realised that he ‘was becoming more is a beautiful story of a young man with a disability tolerant, more compassionate, and it was carrying over who wanted to win the Special Olympics; he got to the into work’. This is supported by research that indicated hundred meter race and was running like crazy to get increased patience, benevolence, tolerance, appreciation the gold medal. One of the others running with him of health and family, improved relationships/friendships slipped and fell; he turned round and picked him up and and a ‘re-examination of personal values’ as the result they ran across the finishing line together last. Are we of consistent interaction with a family member with prepared to sacrifice the prize for solidarity? It’s a big intellectual disabilities.13 question. Do we want to be in solidarity with others? … I also have experienced something of this in my We have to look at the poorest and the weakest. They 16 coaching disability sport and spending time in a L’Arche have a message to give us.’

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