The year sport and politics became inseparable

Sport and politics have always been intertwined, but this was the year they became joined at the hip. Yorkshire racism; the growing protests about China’s sportwashing at the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022; anger about the Saudi takeover of Newcastle United; and the long-simmering anxiety about the Qatar World Cup. And with it, growing and very welcome, activism from sports-people: Lewis Hamilton’s rainbow helmet for gay rights in Saudi Arabia, Marcus Rashford’s indefatigable campaigning over child deprivation, and Michael Holding’s powerful interventions over everyday racism.

But the gutless performance of the year should go to men’s professional tennis, which has resolutely failed to join the Women’s Tennis Association in boycotting China over the plight of the Grand Slam doubles champion Peng Shuai, who disappeared from public life after accusing a Communist party boss of sexual assault. She has recently only been seen in the company of government goons, making anodyne comments about being fine. There have been no tournaments in China recently because of Covid, but a gesture carries a weight of meaning.

In the meantime, pressure is growing on China over its human-rights record and treatment of Muslim minorities. But should there be a boycott of February’s Winter Games? The problem with a boycott is that the ones who suffer are the athletes, who have spent their lives preparing for this. And would a boycott change the Chinese mindset? I rather doubt it.

Is there a compromise, such as the athletes wearing the Aids ribbon, or some badge or symbol indicating support for the Uighurs? The Americans have said they will stage a diplomatic boycott, and the British may well follow suit. At the very least we should make things difficult for China by prevaricating until the last moment.