Geneva, 2 July, 2026.- Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance remain deeply embedded across all levels of sport, a UN expert warned today, calling for urgent, coordinated action to address structural inequalities and ensure equal participation for all.
“Sport has the power to promote inclusion, equality and social cohesion, yet it continues to reflect and reproduce patterns of systemic racism and racial discrimination seen in broader society,” said Ashwini K.P., Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, presenting her latest report to the Human Rights Council.
The report highlights how poverty, conflict, discriminatory regulations and lack of representation create significant barriers for marginalised racial and ethnic groups. “Access to sport remains unequal,” the expert said. “socio-economic inequality – often rooted in historical and structural racism – continues to disproportionally impact marginalised groups.
The Special Rapporteur observed that discriminatory eligibility criteria and policies have disproportionately excluded athletes from racially and ethnically marginalised groups.
“Persistent stereotypes continue to influence how athletes are identified, trained, selected, and perceived,” the Special Rapporteur said. “I am concerned about the underrepresentation of racially and ethnically marginalised groups, including minorities, caste-oppressed communities, and other racialised populations.”
The expert called for for safe, inclusive environments that protect the dignity, bodily autonomy and rights of transgender and intersex women.
The report documents persistent racist incidents, including hate speech and abuse targeting athletes and fans both offline and online.
The Special Rapporteur noted that conflict and displacement intensify existing inequalities, leaving affected athletes with disrupted infrastructure, constrained freedom of movement, and little to no access to sport and related opportunities. She stressed that addressing racism and discrimination in sport requires a human rights-based and intersectional approach.
“States and sports bodies must move beyond symbolic commitments and tackle the root causes of inequality, including structural and historical injustices,” she said.
The Special Rapporteur urged States to ensure equitable access to sport by prohibiting discrimination, combating hate speech and ensuring accountability. She also called on sports organisations, private actors and civil society to promote diversity, strengthen safeguards and inclusive governance.
“Transforming sport into a space of true equality requires sustained political will, collective action and a commitment to confronting historical injustices” she said. “Only by dismantling the legacies of exclusion and discrimination can sport fulfil its potential as a force for dignity, justice, inclusion, and social change.”